The Argent Corporation Scandal (mid-1970s) was the pivotal event that ended organized crime's control of the Las Vegas Strip. Fronted by attorney Allen Glick but controlled by the Midwest Mafia, Argent epitomized everything wrong with mob ownership.

The Structure

Allen Glick was the owner of record—a young, seemingly legitimate businessman. Behind him stood the Chicago Outfit and Kansas City mob, who actually controlled operations. Frank "Lefty" Rosenthal managed the casinos while Anthony Spilotro provided muscle on the street.

The Properties

Argent utilized a $62.75 million loan from the Teamsters Central States Pension Fund to acquire the Stardust, Fremont, Hacienda, and Marina casinos. It was the largest mob-controlled portfolio in Strip history.

The Collapse

The scheme collapsed due to aggressive intervention by the Nevada Gaming Control Board (specifically the denial of Rosenthal's license) and the FBI's Operation Strawman, which utilized wiretaps to trace the flow of stolen cash to mob bosses.

The Aftermath

The fallout resulted in the imprisonment of major crime figures, the seizure of the Teamsters' pension fund, and the forced sale of Argent assets to legitimate operators like the Boyd Group, clearing the path for the corporate consolidation of the 1980s. The story was immortalized in Martin Scorsese's "Casino."