How Much of Casino is a Real Life Story: Top Facts

The November 1995 masterpiece Casino was directed by Martin Scorsese and immediately attracted thousands of enthusiasts. Nearly thirty years later the Martin Scorsese movie sounds, looks, and plays as good as ever. Casino cast includes the main characters: Sam Ace Rothstein (Robert De Niro), Sam’s wife Gina McKenna (Sharon Stone), and his mate Nicky Santoro (Joe Pesci).

Starring Joe Pesci, James Woods, Alan King, Robert De Niro, and Sharon Stone – was based on a real life story. The lifestyle of Frank Rosenthal inspired the movie director. The Martin Scorsese Casino may not be the best film, but Las Vegas has never looked more exciting. Scorsese came up with a brilliant movie showcasing the hottest crime scenes, the bright lights of Vegas, and a revolutionary history of gambling.

Which part of the Casino was based on real life events? And is casino based on a true story? Several scenes in the Casino remain true to life. Figure out these moments that were too exciting for Martin Scorsese to avoid.

How Much of the Martin Scorsese Movie is a True Story

Casino was developed from the non-fiction crime book written by Nicholas Pileggi. In his book, Nicholas Pileggi tells the true story of a professional gambler, Frank Lefty Rosenthal, Las Vegas glamor, and the mafia. Is Casino movie true story or fiction? Here, we check the top facts and fiction about Martin Scorsese movie to reveal the truth.

The central character, Sam Rothstein, portrays a Las Vegas icon who managed four gambling establishments. Frank Rosenthal was a manager of the four Las Vegas casinos owned by the Chicago Outfit. There are three key movie heroes: Sam Ace Rothstein (Robert De Niro), his close friend Nicky Santoro (Joe Pesci), and Sam’s wife Gina McKenna (Sharon Stone).

In the Casino movie, Sam Rothstein manages only the fictional Las Vegas Tangiers casino. Sam’s wife (Sharon Stone) is a hot model and showgirl, Geri McGee. They were married for more than ten years and had two kids. Because of the domestic argument, they broke up, and Geri McGee died alone. The Casino movie tells how the story was. The similarities in the true Casino are everywhere, and you will find out why.

Lastly, Pesci’s portrayal of Tony Spilotro was very realistic. According to a Casino book author Nicholas Pileggi – some casino bosses who knew Spilotro very well almost fainted when they saw him walking into the casino in character.

The True Story Inspiration Behind Martin Scorsese Casino

A newspaper report made a scriptwriter write about Frank Rosenthal. In the local newspaper, Scorsese read about a domestic argument between Frank Lefty Rosenthal and his wife, Geri McGee (in the cast of Casino as Sharon Stone). A De Niro character, Frank Rosenthal, was a professional sports betting enthusiast, a casino executive in Las Vegas, and a gangster. Furthermore, Frank Rosenthal was good at sports betting and worked with the most powerful organization, Chicago Outfit.

Frank Rosenthal moved to Las Vegas to escape police attention. He secretly ran the Stardust and three more casinos, which were under the control of the Chicago Outfit, with Anthony Spilotro (Nicky Santoro) managing the profits. Just like in the movie, Frank survived an assassination attempt. A bomb detonated the moment Rosenthal started the car. After that, Frank Rosenthal daughter and his father moved to California. This story inspired Martin Scorsese and helped him show the gangster life on Vegas streets.

Rosenthal Didn’t Possess a Gaming License

The man running four Las Vegas hotels never held a Nevada gaming license. It was a real life story, and Rosenthal didn’t possess a casino gaming license. Due to his attitude toward organized crime and the mafia in Las Vegas, the mob understood that it would be too risky to try and apply for a gaming license at that period.

For this reason, the gangster gave Frank less high-profile titles in the casino industry where he used to work, such as entertainment director and food manager. The Chicago Outfit knew Rosenthal’s connections would make it impossible for him to get the gaming license.

Allen Glick was the man who owned Argent, the company that legally owned the casinos. Rosenthal and Glick would revolutionize sportsbook opportunities in Sin City by adding sports betting at Stardust. Later, the mob bankrolled Argent’s purchase and ‘owned’ Glick. As a result, Rosenthal became the only boss in Las Vegas.

Anthony Spilotro Was Killed Alongside His Brother

The author showcases the most iconic death of gangsters in movie history. Pesci Santoro and his brother, Dominick, are ambushed by Marino after the car bombing of Sam Rothstein. They thought Santoro was behind Sam’s car bombing and got out of control. In the movie, they are buried alive in a cornfield.

This story happens to Santoro’s real life counterpart Anthony Spilotro. Nicky Santoro casino owner, and his brother were buried in a cornfield in Indiana by mobsters.

Geri Had an Affair

The love triangle between Rothstein, McKenna, and Santoro in the movie plays a key role. In the Casino movie, Ginger stays in contact with her former lover, Lester Diamond (James Woods). What’s missing from Casino is that a beautiful Geri McGee daughter was born.

This adds a lot of nuance to the situation and may go a long way towards explaining the prolonged relationship between the couple.

Other Fiction and True Story Facts About the Casino Movie

Is Casino a true story or a fiction? Find out more details to watch the movie in a relaxing atmosphere and enjoy the brutality of a gambling atmosphere in Las Vegas.

• The moment when Rothstein survives a car bombing is based on true life events with Rosenthal. How did Frank Lefty Rosenthal come out of it? The thing is that the metal plate underneath the driver’s seat saved his life. Frank Rosenthal survived and had only minor burns.
• The FBI and police landed a plane on the golf course in the Casino movie, which was a true story and a fiction. In the Casino, the FBI makes an emergency landing on a golf course. Police and agents are inspecting Rothstein and the mobsters. This occurred at the Las Vegas Country Club. A plane, piloted by the FBI, landed in the water after narrowly avoiding a golf cart. They insist it was a training mission.
• Spilotro and Rosenthal were friends in the movie. Of course, it was a fictional story. Pesci and De Niro Casino actors are portrayed as childhood closest friends. In the movie, they were friends until Spilotro had an affair with the gangster`s wife.
• Frank Rosenthal was a trustworthy person was a lie. Rosenthal moved to another city and died of a heart attack. After his death, everyone revealed the truth: Frank Lefty Rosenthal was an FBI informant. He was known as Achilles and a top FBI informant for many years. Why did Frank Lefty Rosenthal inform? He took advantage of everything in his life.

Scorsese is the king of mafia themes. The music, Las Vegas vibes, and luxurious gambling atmosphere will catch your attention. You will enjoy it all: from the casino movie cast to real life story about gangsters in brutal Las Vegas.