Published on: February 4, 2026, 11:44h.
Updated on: February 4, 2026, 11:44h.
The Las Vegas shopping center where Frank “Lefty” Rosenthal narrowly escaped death from a car bomb 43 years ago has been acquired, per the Las Vegas Review-Journal. This bombing, likely an assassination attempt by the mob, gained notoriety after being depicted in the opening sequence of Martin Scorsese’s 1995 film “Casino.”
The purchaser of the Sixth & Sahara Center is Roi Zalach, a previous proprietor of the Gold & Beyond pawn shop based in Las Vegas. According to the R-J, Zalach sold Gold & Beyond to the Texas-based pawn shop franchise FirstCash Holdings last year. He subsequently acquired the 2.6-acre property for $4.95 million, with the deal finalized on December 31.
Who Was Frank “Lefty” Rosenthal?
Frank Rosenthal was a sports betting analyst who established the first modern race and sportsbook within a Las Vegas Strip casino at the Stardust in the 1970s, operating initially without a Nevada gaming license. His applications for licensing were rejected twice by the Nevada Gaming Commission due to his extensive criminal history involving illegal bookmaking and sports manipulation.
Furthermore, Rosenthal managed the illicit skim from the Stardust and three other Las Vegas casinos on behalf of the Chicago mob from 1974 to 1979. By the time of the bombing incident, he had departed from the casino world and was making a living as a sports betting advisor.
The authorities were never able to ascertain who was responsible for the bomb placed under his car, but numerous theories exist. Many revolve around his tumultuous ties with mob street boss Anthony “Tony the Ant” Spilotro, who allegedly had an affair with Rosenthal’s wife, Geri.
Additionally, it wasn’t publicly disclosed until 2008 that Rosenthal had been an informant for the FBI for years.
Key Facts About the Incident
When Rosenthal turned on the ignition of his 1981 Cadillac Eldorado, flames erupted from the defroster vents.
His survival is attributed to three primary factors:
- His driver’s side door remained ajar, causing the explosion to propel him out of the vehicle, enabling him to roll on the pavement to extinguish his burning clothes.
- A steel stabilizing plate installed beneath the driver’s seat, specific to that Cadillac model year, directed the majority of the explosion downward, preventing extensive damage inside the car.
- Two onlookers rushed in to help him just moments before the vehicle’s gas tank ignited, resulting in a second blast that lifted the 4,000-pound automobile several feet into the air, creating flames that soared up to two stories and shattered the back windows of both Tony Roma’s and Marie Callender’s.
Frank Rosenthal passed away from a heart attack at his home in Miami Beach in October 2008 at the age of 79.