{"id":7656,"date":"2021-09-07T01:10:00","date_gmt":"2021-09-07T06:10:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.casino.org\/blog\/?p=7656"},"modified":"2024-08-15T05:25:55","modified_gmt":"2024-08-15T10:25:55","slug":"real-life-story-casino-movie-is-based-on","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.casino.org\/blog\/real-life-story-casino-movie-is-based-on\/","title":{"rendered":"7 Completely True Events The Movie Casino is Based On"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

The 1995 movie Casino<\/em> – directed by Martin Scorsese and starring Robert De Niro, Joe Pesci and Sharon Stone – was based on a true story. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The plot was inspired by the life of Frank \u201cLefty\u201d Rosenthal <\/a>who managed the Fremont, Hacienda, and Stardust casinos<\/a> in Las Vegas for the Chicago mob back in the 1970s and 1980s. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

But just how much of the movie Casino<\/em> was based on real life events? As with most movies that are based on a true story, there are always some extra bits added in for dramatic effect, or some parts that get changed \u2013 and Casino<\/em> is no exception. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, there are a number of scenes that remain true to reality. Let\u2019s take a look at the real-life moments that were too good for the script writers to ignore.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1. The Main Characters Were Based on Real-Life People<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Every\nmain character in Casino<\/em> is based on a real-life individual. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sam \u201cAce\u201d Rothstein is based on famous mobster Frank Rosenthal and Ginger McKenna’s character is based on former Las Vegas show girl Geri McGee<\/a> (Rosenthal’s wife).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Frank
Frank “Lefty” Rosenthal and Geri McGee. Image: The Mob Museum<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Nicky Santoro is based on mobster Anthony Spilotro <\/a>and even Phillip Green is based on casino tycoon and mobster Allen Glick<\/a>, who recently passed away.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The\nsimilarities are everywhere, and they don\u2019t just end with the character traits.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2. Rosenthal Genuinely Did Not Possess a Gaming License<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Yes, true story. The real-life Rosenthal did not possess a gaming license. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Due to his links to organized crime, the mob knew that it would be too risky to try and get a license for Rosenthal. To get around the issue, the mob gave Rosenthal less high-profile titles at the casinos he worked at, including entertainment director and food and beverage manager.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This\ndeception comes to a head in a heated courtroom scene where Rothstein gives us\na very public glimpse into how corrupt the legal process was at the time. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Incredibly, Rosenthal was involved in a very similar court case and outburst as you can see in the video below!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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