Who Was the Real Nicky in Casino?

In the Martin Scorsese film Casino, there are two characters based on real people: Sam “Ace” Rothstein (played by Robert De Niro) and Ginger McKenna (played by Sharon Stone). However, the character of Nicky Santoro (played by Joe Pesci) is entirely fictional.

Despite this, there are many theories about who the real Nicky was.

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Some believe that the character was based on Frank “Lefty” Rosenthal, a famous gambler and bookmaker who ran several casinos in Las Vegas. Rosenthal was known for his connections to organized crime, and he was also involved in a number of controversies.

PRO TIP:Nicky Santoro, the character portrayed by Joe Pesci in the 1995 Martin Scorsese film Casino, was actually based on the real-life mobster Anthony Spilotro. Spilotro was a mob enforcer for the Chicago Outfit and ran Las Vegas casinos during the 1970s and ’80s. Although much of his story is fictionalized in the movie, his character is largely based on Spilotro’s life and criminal activities.

However, Rosenthal has always denied any involvement with Santoro.

Others believe that Santoro was based on Tony Spilotro, a mob enforcer who was also involved in running casinos. Spilotro was known for his brutality, and he was eventually murdered by the mob.

Like Rosenthal, Spilotro has also denied any connection to the character of Nicky Santoro.

So who was the real Nicky? It’s hard to say for sure, but it seems likely that he was based on either Rosenthal or Spilotro – or possibly both. Whoever he was based on, one thing is clear: the character of Nicky Santoro is one of the most memorable in all of Scorsese’s films.