Frank "Lefty" Rosenthal ran multiple Las Vegas casinos for the Chicago mob without ever holding a gaming license. His repeated license denials and the creative workarounds he employed became a symbol of the era's regulatory limitations.

The Sports Betting Genius

Rosenthal was a legendary sports handicapper who had been arrested for fixing collegiate basketball games. His expertise made him invaluable to mob-controlled casinos, but his criminal history made him unlicensable under Nevada law.

The Creative Titles

To circumvent licensing requirements, Rosenthal held positions that technically didn't require gaming licenses: "entertainment director," "food and beverage manager," and similar titles. In reality, he ran day-to-day operations at the Stardust and other Argent Corporation properties.

The G-22 Application

When Rosenthal finally applied for a gaming license in 1976, the Gaming Control Board denied him after extensive hearings revealing his mob connections and criminal history. The denial was a rare victory for regulators against organized crime's presence in casinos.

"They said I couldn't run a casino. I just ran it without their permission."— Frank Rosenthal

The Car Bombing

In 1982, Rosenthal survived a car bombing outside Tony Roma's restaurant—likely ordered by mob associates who feared he might cooperate with authorities. The incident, dramatized in the film Casino, marked the violent end of his Vegas career.

The Legacy

Rosenthal's story exposed the limitations of licensing requirements that could be circumvented through creative job titles. It led to expanded definitions of "key employee" and stricter enforcement that made such arrangements impossible in modern casinos.