He's based off real life Chicago Outfit enforcer Anthony John "The Ant" Spilotro. Nicky Santoro is the main antagonist of Casino. The ultimate downfall however was the arrogance. In Casino ( movie), why doesn't Ace have Nicky Santoro murder Lester Diamond and bury his body in the desert so that he cannot bother Ginger. Nicky Santoro: You want me to get out of my own fuckin town? Ace Rothstein: Yeah I said l-let the bullshit blow over for a while, so I can run the casino. Ginger is his personal downfall, and Nicky the cause of him having issues with the mob bosses. .