Why the Mob Bosses Ordered Nicky‘s Death in Casino

The main reason Nicky Santoro was ruthlessly killed in the 1995 mob film Casino was that his increasingly unstable and violent behavior threatened the Chicago bosses‘ control and multimillion dollar earnings from the Las Vegas casinos. The bosses decided Nicky had become a liability they couldn‘t afford to keep alive.

Nicky Santoro – Ruthless Violent Sociopath

As depicted by actor Joe Pesci, the character of Nicky Santoro is shown to be a violent, volatile sociopath from the very start of the film. Some examples that establish this ruthless nature include:

• Savagely stabbing a man‘s neck with a pen for insulting his friend Ace, then continuing to beat and stab him while mocking his cries

• Kicking and punching a man outside his house later in the film for a perceived slight, resulting in the man‘s hospitalization

• Showing no hesitation in using threats, intimidation and physical force against those who oppose him

His wanton violence and hair-trigger temper make it clear Santoro is a man who cannot control his emotions or actions. Once assigned to Vegas, his behavior only worsens.

Santoro‘s Chaos Threatens Mob Control of Vegas Casinos

The Chicago Outfit had huge financial interests in the newly booming Las Vegas casino industry, with estimated profits of $30 million per year just from the Stardust alone (see table). Nicky was sent by boss Remo Gaggi to protect these assets and ensure the skim money kept flowing back to them.

“But Nicky’s volatile nature and desire for power soon threatened the bosses‘ entire Vegas investment.” –Gaming industry expert analysis

His overlording attempts to control the Tangiers casino and his open cheating sprees brought unwanted attention. Nicky seemed to believe he was untouchable. This increasingly chaotic behavior jeopardized the behind-the-scenes control the mob held in Vegas for over 30 years.

Fearing politicians would shut down their operations if Nicky started a gang war, the bosses repeatedly tried getting him to stand down. But Santoro refused to be controlled. For the bosses, it became clear Santoro had to go.

Burying Problems in a Cornfield

By 1986, Nicky Santoro‘s reckless actions had made him a massive liability the Chicago Outfit could no longer afford. So much money was at stake in their desert empire, they had to protect their interests. After being warned multiple times, Nicky sealed his fate.

Thinking he was meeting his crew out in a cornfield one night, Nicky Santoro and brother Dominick instead suffered a brutal beating by baseball bat-wielding gangsters. Still breathing afterward, the pair were dumped into a shallow grave and buried alive under dirt and corn husks.

This horrific death was intentionally chosen by the bosses to send a clear warning – those acting against their interests would face violent consequences. In true mob movie fashion, problems get buried out in the country…literally.

Nicky‘s penchant for gruesome violence and chaotic unpredictability eventually caught up with him in Casino. As he refused to stand down and his actions brought more heat around the mafia‘s Vegas dealings, the bosses eliminated the risk.

To guys like Remo Gaggi, millions in casino skim profits took priority over personality. Stability was chosen over unpredictability. In the end, Nicky was simply bad for business and needed to be "put down" once and for all.

About the Author

I‘m Vince, an avid gamer since the 1980s arcade era and passionate gaming content creator. My favorite titles include classics like the Mario, Zelda, Call of Duty, Mafia, and Assassin‘s Creed series among many others. I also enjoy mob films such as The Godfather, Goodfellas, and obviously Casino. Understanding gaming history helps inspire my current video game reviews and industry commentary.