Frank Rosenthal
| Frank Lawrence Rosenthal | |
|---|---|
| Born |
June 12, 1929 Chicago, Illinois |
| Died | October 13, 2008 (aged 79) Miami Beach, Florida |
| Spouse(s) | Geri McGee (m. 1969; div. 1981) |
Frank Lawrence "Lefty" Rosenthal (June 12, 1929 – October 13, 2008) was a professional sports bettor, former Las Vegas casino executive, and organized crime associate. Martin Scorsese's film Casino (1995) is based on his career in Las Vegas.
Rosenthal, born in Chicago, grew up in the city's West Side. As a youth, Rosenthal learned sports betting in the bleachers of Wrigley Field and would often skip classes to attend Chicago sporting events. By the mid-1950s, he was working with the Chicago Outfit. Chosen for his gambling ability, Rosenthal ran the biggest illegal bookmaking office in the U.S. on behalf of the American Mafia. Based in Cicero, Illinois, under the guise of the Cicero Home Improvement company, the Outfit and Rosenthal bought "contracts" from sports bribers to fix sporting events.
After being indicted as a co-conspirator on multiple sports bribery charges, Rosenthal moved the operation to North Bay Village in Miami, to avoid attention.
By 1961, Rosenthal had acquired a national reputation as a sports bettor, oddsmaker, and handicapper, and was frequently seen in the company of prominent Chicago Outfit members Jackie Cerone and Fiore Buccieri while living in Miami. At this time Rosenthal was issued with a subpoena to appear before U.S. Senator John McClellan's subcommittee on Gambling and Organized Crime, accused of match fixing. He invoked the Fifth Amendment 37 times and was never charged. Due to this, he was barred from racing establishments in Florida.
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