notorious vegas legend dies.

How on EARTH did I miss this? From the Los Angeles Times:

Frank 'Lefty' Rosenthal dies at 79; sports betting expert inspired movie 'Casino'

Frank "Lefty" Rosenthal, the onetime Chicago bookmaker who ran four Las Vegas casinos in the 1970s and whose turbulent life and near-death experience with a car bomb inspired the movie "Casino," has died. He was 79.

Rosenthal, who was barred from casinos because of alleged mob ties, died of a heart attack Monday at his home in Miami Beach, a Fire-Rescue spokeswoman told the Associated Press.
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In the annals of Las Vegas/casino movies, Casino is easily one of my favorites.