The Rise and Fall of a 'Casino' Mobster: The Tony Spilotro Story Through A Hitman's Eyes

by Frank Cullotta

The true crime story behind the film Casino from the mob enforcer who lived it and the author of The Accidental Gangster.


Tony Spilotro was the Mob's man in Las Vegas. A feared enforcer, the bosses knew Tony would do whatever it took to protect their interests. The "Little Guy" built a criminal empire that was the envy of mobsters across the country, and his childhood pal, Frank Cullotta helped him do it. But Tony's quest for power and lack of self-control with women cost the Mob its control of Vegas, and Tony paid for it with his life.



From Dennis N. "I was a little nervous before my first meeting with former mobster Frank Cullotta. It turned out we had a pleasant conversation that ended with an agreement for me to write his book. As I drove home, I realized I had made a deal with a career thief and killer on a handshake. What was I thinking?""Extraordinary insights."--Nick Pileggi, #1 New York Times-bestselling author and screenwriter of Casino

Genres: True Crime, Crime, Biography, Nonfiction

275 pages, Kindle Edition

First published April 19, 2017

About the author

Starting as a tough kid and thief on the streets of Chicago, he went on to become a trusted lieutenant in Tony Spilotro's gang of organized lawbreakers in Las Vegas.

Cullotta's world was one of high-profile heists, street muscle and information-lots of it-about many of the FBI's most wanted. In the end, that information was his ticket out of crime, as he turned government witness and became one of a handful of mob insiders to enter the Witness Protection Program.

Reviews

[Valerity (Val) · Rating 4 out of 5]

My thanks to NetGalley and WildBlue Press for providing me with an ARC of this book for review purposes. This mob book by Frank Cullotta looks back on the life of Tony Spilotro, one of the major characters in the movie Casino who was formerly such a close friend and associate of his for so many years.

Having already written his own memoir and getting up in years, Frank decided he wanted to set the record straight in respect to Tony Spilotro, friend and feared enforcer. People are often curious and he was the closest to Tony for so many years. This book gives the story of their dealings in Chicago and in Las Vegas later when they worked together. All of the gory details of crimes, murders, rumors and myths. And where he feels things went all wrong. A very gripping read.

[Denise Wallace · Rating 5 out of 5]

A hitman's perspective--from living the "good life" or getting "whacked" to who killed Marilyn Monroe--all while history is being made.

[Tara Brown · Rating 4 out of 5]

**This review is for the audiobook on Audible.**

The Rise and Fall of a Casino Mobster: The Tony Spilotro Story Through a Hitman's Eyes by Frank Cullotta and Dennis N. Griffin, narrated by Clay Lomakayu caught my attention one morning after having watched the movie Casino the night before. I love the movie, so I figured I couldn't go wrong in reading up on those who inspired it. Being that the only prior knowledge I had when starting this audiobook was the movie, I found myself a little lost in places, due to the many people surrounding the real-life events. However, the author does make references and connections to the movie throughout, so this helped clear up some of my confusion. Had I given myself a longer break in between watching the movie and listening to the book, I may have enjoyed the book more because the names and events from the movie were still too fresh in my mind. This is, most likely, why I found myself consfused in parts of the book. As ridiculous as this may sound, I think I was secretly wishing the book to be more of a replica of the movie, rather than a book about the real people and actual events that inspired it. Either way, it was informative and well-delivered.

The narration kept me engaged and was consistent from start to finish. However, I noticed that the chapter before part two plays through two times (within that same chapter block). This did not take away from my overall enjoyment because I was able to skip ahead by advancing to the next chapter (the first chapter of part two), but I still felt it worth mentioning.

The Rise and Fall of a Casino Mobster: The Tony Spilotro Story by Frank Cullotta and Dennis N. Griffin, narrated by Clay Lomakayu grabs an overall rating of 4/5 stars. The book helped me get a better picture how everyone was connected and allowed me to understand the relationships on a deeper level, starting when they were kids. It was a really good book, and reading it made me want to learn more. I would have liked if a pdf download came with this audiobook showing pictures, names, and a "family tree" outline showing the ranking and status of each of the key players because I would have liked to place faces with names. I recommend this audiobook to those who enjoy nonfiction books about mobsters and the time period in which they reigned.

Thank you for reading my review. I hope it was helpful.

[John Magee · Rating 4 out of 5]

Like a season of "The Sopranos". Very entertaining but hard to believe that people make that many bad decisions.

[Forrest · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is part biography and part personal memoir. The story is actually told by Frank Cullotta, a notorious mobster in his own right. Even though this is presented as a biography on Tony Spilotro, Cullota expands on his own story as well.


Hole in the Wall Gang (Left-right) Ernie Davino, Larry Newman, Wayne Mateki, Leo Guardino, Joe Blasko, Frank Cullotta.

Cullota comes across a bit narcissistic which doesn't sit well with me considering the people he murdered. He served prison terms for some of his crimes and avoided further prison time including, undoubtedly, a life term. This is due to him having turned on the mob, Spilotro, and his Vegas cohorts as an FBI informant and placed in the witness protection program. He does tell a good story here and the book is well written and very interesting.

This story is particularly interesting to me personally as both of my parents were raised in Las Vegas through the 1960's and 70's when the mob was most active there. They remember in particular how impactful the mafia was in Vegas during that period of time.

Cullota briefly details Senator Harry Reid's involvement with Spilotro, The Outfit, and the LV Gaming Commission. True or not, I always viewed Reid (a fellow Mormon) as a corrupt and shady guy. I wouldn't gamble a dime on his honesty (pun intended).

He also explains why he believes Marilyn Monroe was murdered rather than having committed suicide and he reveals who he believes was responsible for her death.

Frank Cullotta stuck around in Las Vegas and together with his wife owned and operated The Upper Crust, a pizza restaurant he mentions often in the book. The restaurant is now closed and he died in 2020.

[Jim · Rating 4 out of 5]

Frank Cullotta, Dennis N. Griffin's The Rise and Fall of a 'Casino' Mobster: The Tony Spilotro Story Through A Hitman's Eyes goes over much of the same ground as the Martin Scorsese's film Casino and the Nicholas Pileggi novel upon which it is based. Cullotta was a Mafia "made man" who was involved in several murders but who escaped prosecution by "rolling" against his mob bosses and joining the Witness Protection Program.

What I found particularly interesting is that the first half of the book deals with Tony "The Ant" Spilotro's crime career before moving west to Las Vegas. (In the movie Casino, the character was named Nickie Santoro and played by Joe Pesci).

I am not 100% sure of Cullotta's veracity, but it is nevertheless interesting to see how the Mafia worked in both Chicago and Las Vegas (which was controlled by the Chicago mob).

[Mickey Mantle · Rating 4 out of 5]

You have to be a Chicago "OUTFIT" afficianado to truly appreciate this book.
What strikes me is how little these mobsters reveal to each other about themselves.
It is the"business they chose".

[Steven jb · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tony Spilotro's life of crime with the Chicago outfit, and as their representative in Las Vegas as told by close associate Frank Culotta.

[Craig McGuire · Rating 5 out of 5]

Highly addictive reading for fellow True Crime fans, “The Rise And Fall Of A 'Casino' Mobster” delivers an engaging depiction of one of the more interesting, and certainly psychotic gangsters in mob lore. Mining Frank Cullotta’s remarkable recollections of his close personal relationship starting from childhood with Mafia legend Tony Spilotra, the authors provide a compelling narrative. There have been other works on this subject, but not with this level of intimate detail, offering a gritty first-hand, front-lines perspective of both the Chicago and Las Vergas underworlds. Not only does Cullotta know where the bodies are buried, but he shares what they did and how they got there, making for quite the harrowing ride for the reader. Well-paced and exceptionally detailed, with plenty of page-turning crimes and capers, I highly recommend this book.

[Peter Eichstaedt · Rating 5 out of 5]

When it comes to true crime, truth is stranger than fiction. This could not be more true than with this latest book by former mob hit man Frank Cullotta, writing with former police investigator turned crime writer, Dennis Griffin. The duo has written others in the same genre. This one is the real story behind the life and times of Tony Spilotro, whose story became the 1995 hit move "Casino." Frank was a street lieutenant for Spilotro and did what hit men do with calculated ferocity. To read his insider accounts of the sinister underbelly of Las Vegas is all the more chilling because it's real. Not only is it hard to put down, it will be hard to forget.

[Amanda Forry-Fino · Rating 5 out of 5]

1o stars!!! I been waiting for a book about Tony Spilotro for years now, and Frank Cullotta delivered this wonderful story that no one else can write a book like this but him!! If you want to get know the "REAL" Tony Spilotro then this is definitely the book. I highly recommend this amazing book! :)

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A DIFFERENT VIEW OF “CASINO”

Most of us by now have seen the movie CASINO starring Robert DeNiro. We became acquainted with real life mob boss based on Tony Spilotro as portrayed by Joe Pesci. Brash, explosive and extremely violent, the picture painted there as told from the point of view of Frank Rosenthal, the man in charge of the casinos placed the by the mob. But there are always two sides to every story.

This book tells the tale from a much different perspective, that of mob member and hit man Frank Cullotta, a man who turned informant when a contract was put out on him. Cullotta gives us plenty of background into his life with organized crime, one that he really was on the fringes of rather than being made a permanent made man.

Cullotta knew Spilotro, fought with him as a youngster before the pair became lifelong friends. At the same time his association with Tony brought him to the point where Spilotro actually put the contract out on him which resulted in his providing evidence that brought about Spilotro’s demise, a brutal killing that is still talked about to this day.

As the book progresses we witness the rise of Tony Spilotro from a rank and file member of organized crime to a top earning member placed in charge of the growing investment known as Las Vegas. He was an ambitious player in the mix but his own personal vices brought him down. A major earner for himself and the organization back home, his greed and lust for power would do him in. Cullotta was there to witness it all and describes events from the start, middle and end.

Books like this can provide an interesting look into the mind of a professional criminal. At the same time we need to realize we’re not talking about someone most of us would like to call bosom buddy. They’re a dangerous group who would just as soon take your money as say hello. But revelatory books like this one and HIT #29 by “Joey” give us a look behind the scenes without the danger it would involve being there.

Perhaps the most surprising thing to learn in this book is that Spilotro and Rosenthal were not the close friends that were depicted in both the book and film CASINO. According to Cullotta Spilotro despised Rosenthal. While no proof or confirmation is given the odds are that he was even involved in the car explosion that almost killed Rosenthal. Even with that discussed here, Rosenthal actually is mentioned very little in the book.

Instead if focuses squarely on Spilotro. Cullotta presents the story in a conversational tone, relating incidents from their shared past, jobs he was given and sights he was witness to. He comments on murders that he was aware of and who was responsible for each. He discusses other members of organized crime and their relationship to Spilotro. But being his friend, it is more about Spilotro than anyone else.

The book is an easy read and interesting to those who enjoy reading about criminals and organized crime. While there is little doubt they haven’t gone away, the attention they had brought on them in the sixties and the filmic versions of their lives in the seventies seem to be a thing of the past. As the first generation passes away or retires the new seem to have retreated back into working behind the scenes. While the chance of reading their exploits is nearly non-existent we can read about what it was like when they began. Cullotta’s book is a nice introduction to this world

[patrick Lorelli · Rating 4 out of 5]

A book about Tony Spilotro, who was the enforcer for the mob in Vegas, and was one of the characters in the movie Casino. The author begins with how they met and then takes you through their childhood and the different crimes they committed together or that he heard about. Both of them growing up in Chicago and knowing the same people this is not so hard to believe. You begin to see the rise of Tony and slowly the author takes you through the different crimes that maybe you have read about or heard about, I had at least had heard of some of them. Then it was off to Vegas and not only was he to work with running, watching the outfit’s take of the casinos they owned but also Lefty Rosenthal. Lefty had also grown up in Chicago and for Lefty he was always into betting and point spread. He would take that to Vegas and really Vegas was the down fall for both of them. One in Lefty’s book he began to think he was bigger than everyone including the mob and so when he was denied a gambling license by Vegas he would not stay out of the casinos. It would become Tony’s job among other’s to make sure he would stay out but he could not do that because he could not keep his pants away from Lefty’s wife, and now you have the one of the many beginnings of Tony’s downfall. There are many others, money, drugs, unauthorized killings, and other things all of which bring notice to the wrong people. Not only was Tony killed, but also his brother. Lefty survived his car bomb because of the way his Cadillac was made. Not in the book was that about ten years ago also in a field Illinois a farmer found many graves with bones in them it was thought to have been the place where Tony and his crew would take the people for their death, and why he was beaten and buried the way he was. Overall not a bad book a good story if you want to know about the Chicago mob. I received this book from Netgalley.com I gave it 4 stars. Follow us at www.1rad-readerreviews.com

[Ariadna · Rating 5 out of 5]

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[Heather V · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic book, but I'm a bit partial. I loved the movie Casino and I've always loved Mob stories, they intrigue me. The old world mobsters had a code. They dressed nice, they were about actual family. Not like the now a days thugs that think they're "gangster". Old mobsters actually stood for something. It wasn't until the 80's when the drugs got involved did it all go super south. The actual history of the mob is pretty interesting. But anyhow, the book.... the book is a tell all about what actually went on that the movie Casino is built around. Frank Cullotta bares all and doesn't care what people think. I was intrigued through the whole thing. Great book.

[Troyvonn Barlow · Rating 5 out of 5]

The movie Casino is in my top 5 favorites so I was curious to learn more about the real Tony Spilotro. This book is by Frank Cullotta who not only grew up with Tony but served as his underboss in Las Vegas as well. Frank gives a good insight on Tony Spilotro, The Chicago Outfit, many mobsters, and himself. I love that a lot of the stories from the movie Casino were talked about and elaborated more from the people involved to the details of how it happened. A good listen for anyone into mafia stories and the movie casino.

[Kathy · Rating 4 out of 5]

The story is compelling especially because I’ve lived in the Chicago suburbs my whole life and Las Vegas is one of my favorite places to visit. I know where a lot of the places were that are mentioned in the book. The tone is very conversational as if you sat down with an older relative that is telling you his version of events from his life. This was a quick and easy read that covered most of the facts and gave enough information for further research.

[Geoffrey · Rating 3 out of 5]

Maybe I have just read too many of these mob books, but basically, these guys put no value on human life (except for their own). It's a disgusting life lived by caveman that is overglorified - these guys end up with nothing in the best case scenario - but generally just end up dead. This is the story of Spilotro, a dishonest murderer, who ends up dead - with an attempt to somewhat glorify many of the things that he did by another dishonest murder - Frank Collotta.

[Carlos Martinez · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great book about Frank and the vegas mob

As a film student, Scorsese's Casino had a big influence on me. I was recommended this book and I too would highly recommend it. It's an easy read, yet very detailed. To go more in depth into the story of Frank Cullotta, the mob and Casino (All the more intriguing since I live in Las Vegas), has been very delightful for me. Easily 5/5.

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[Tom mosedale · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent

hands down the best and most informative book I have read about Tony spilotro, the accounts from his right hand man are brutal in some cases. Great read and I would recommend to anybody who loves reading about "the mob".

[Diana · Rating 5 out of 5]

Couldn't put it down

If you enjoyed the movie Casino you need to pick this book up. Written by a man who was there w all the main real life characters I the movie. Mr Cullotta is open and honest, makes no apologies and gives the reader the truth behind the Hollywood fiction.

[Mila Pool · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really like this book. Much better than his 1st book and the other tony book was told from the law enforcement side. I like his ability to recall such good details of events. I give this a 5 star and I recommend it. You also get some peripheral info on quite a few people.

[Stefanie Robinson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I always forget about the Mafia being in Las Vegas, and I have no idea why. This was a short read, but it was really interesting to read and learn about some of the shenanigans that these mob guys get themselves into. Plus, I got it on sale on Audible.

[kate · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gripping

Gripping story of what really happened, film is close to the book
But the book is more detail. Good book if you enjoy these books.

[Mart · Rating 4 out of 5]

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[Jeff Hoop · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 rounded down.

[Jeanie Musil · Rating 4 out of 5]

Easy read :) If you have an interest in the Chicago Outfit and the Las Vegas connection, Frank Cullotta’s book and position is quite interesting. The mob verbiage was fun to read too.

[Andrew · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's OK, narration is not great, but it was interesting to learn about mafia without it being filled with hours of pointless fluff.