Mafia in Gambling Today
August 30th, 2012 at 8:06:55 AM
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I wonder: is the Mafia still heavily involved in casino gambling today?
How many "front men" or for that matter "front families" are propped up to deflect true ownership and control?
As for public corporations, how has the mob worked an angle?
Demaris clearly described how the Mafia was heavily involved in the siting, ownership and control of casinos in Atlantic City in "The Boardwalk Jungle," but that was thirty years ago; what about the mob and casinos in The New Millenium?
How many "front men" or for that matter "front families" are propped up to deflect true ownership and control?
As for public corporations, how has the mob worked an angle?
Demaris clearly described how the Mafia was heavily involved in the siting, ownership and control of casinos in Atlantic City in "The Boardwalk Jungle," but that was thirty years ago; what about the mob and casinos in The New Millenium?
"What, me worry?"
August 30th, 2012 at 8:18:19 AM
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Much of the mob's role has been more legendary than real.
Originally the skimming was open and notorious, later things got complicated.
Most mob influence is exerted thru pressures brought by labor unions and suppliers than real "muscle". Just as cops are told your citation book is more powerful than your gun, the mob has learned how to influence in a subtle manner.
Maybe its just too far to drive out to the desert to dig a hole anymore?
Originally the skimming was open and notorious, later things got complicated.
Most mob influence is exerted thru pressures brought by labor unions and suppliers than real "muscle". Just as cops are told your citation book is more powerful than your gun, the mob has learned how to influence in a subtle manner.
Maybe its just too far to drive out to the desert to dig a hole anymore?
August 30th, 2012 at 8:34:54 AM
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Many of the casinos that came to Atlantic City clearly WERE mob-owned, or mob-controlled.
Yes, the mob also was involved in the unions and vendors who built and supplied casinos, but thirty years ago there was documented ownership /control.
Yes, the mob also was involved in the unions and vendors who built and supplied casinos, but thirty years ago there was documented ownership /control.
"What, me worry?"
August 30th, 2012 at 8:48:56 AM
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I have to agree the mob gets their money via unions and even an occasional mob-owned gaming agent. To steal from the count-room today seems too obvious and too big a risk. Smart mafiosi know you make more money bleeding a little here and a little there than taking off so much at one place that it will instantly be missed.
All animals are equal, but some are more equal than others
August 30th, 2012 at 9:05:28 AM
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I have long suspected that some of the companies that "assisted" the Indian tribes with getting their casinos up and going are mob owned.
"What, me worry?"
August 30th, 2012 at 12:43:51 PM
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Quote: FleaStiffMuch of the mob's role has been more legendary than real.
How do you figure? The mob was the major influence in
Vegas until the 70's. Art Linkletter was on a talk show a
few years ago. He died 2 years ago at 98. He was talking
about Frank and Dean and Sammy and Jerry Lewis being
involved with the mob in the 40's and 50's.
Linkletter said if you were a nightclub entertainer in the 30's
thru the 60's, like he himself was, you didn't work in this
country unless you were mobbed-up. They owned all the
nightclubs and all the Vegas casinos that were worth working in.
NY, Miami, Chicago, St Louis, Vegas, LA, if you didn't have
contacts with the mob, you didn't work. He said it was laughable
that Frank had to testify about his mob friends, he had no
career without them. Nobody did.
This is just one influence organized crime had in Vegas. They
ran everything.
"It's not called gambling if the math is on your side."
August 30th, 2012 at 2:29:37 PM
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They influenced everything.Quote: EvenBob
This is just one influence organized crime had in Vegas. They ran everything.
Steve Allen said he knew who owned the clubs and how doing a Mafia skit could cost bookings.
The various starlets that had difficult habits were often sent from Hollywood to Vegas. The money was good and the Wise Guys knew to get theirs first. They never had to worry about the gambling addicts... paying them huge amounts was fun. It often came back that very night.
The first time I went to Vegas the headlines were full of items about bodies being found out in the desert. It was based on an off-hand comment by one of the green eye shade types that on the second swing shift one table was running at a loss. Turns out it was a faux chip stack...Reds on the outside and Red on the top but a hollow core for higher denomination chips to be paid out with. Everything looked fine to the cameras.
August 30th, 2012 at 2:42:17 PM
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Quote: FleaStiffThey influenced everything.
.
No, they ran everything, big difference. Like Linkletter
said, they OWNED the joints, they didn't influence them.
There was no Fed involvement until the 60's and it was
slow. Jerry Lewis hated the mob, Dean just accepted
them as a part of the life. Frank embraced them. But
everybody had to get along, or they blacklisted you and
you disappeared from entertainment. If they asked a
favor, like doing a benefit show for free, you did it no
questions asked. Even Frank and Dean did it, and they
didin't take orders from anybody. Except the mob.
I've said this here before. When the NV gaming commission
was born in the 50's, they found every game in every
casino in Vegas was rigged. House poker dealers cheated,
dice were loaded, roulette wheels gaffed, slots were
manipulated, there wasn't an honest game in town because
it was all run by organized crime. If you were caught cheating,
they buried you in the desert. If you won too much, they
found ways to get it back. When I started going in the mid
70's, they were still there, but on the way out.
"It's not called gambling if the math is on your side."
August 30th, 2012 at 4:31:08 PM
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Quote: AZDuffmanTo steal from the count-room today seems too obvious and too big a risk. Smart mafiosi know you make more money bleeding a little here and a little there than taking off so much at one place that it will instantly be missed.
I saw a show that said that the corrupt Batista regime in Cuba deliberately chose Meyer Lansky to oversee their casino operations because he was the one mobster who never operated rigged games, knowing that by offering fair games, the house edge would always favor him anyway. Don't know if it's true or not, but he did have a lot of history in legitimate gaming operations at that point by way of his partnership with Bugsy Siegel.
August 30th, 2012 at 6:21:32 PM
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Quote: heatherI saw a show that said that the corrupt Batista regime in Cuba deliberately chose Meyer Lansky to oversee their casino operations because he was the one mobster who never operated rigged games, knowing that by offering fair games, the house edge would always favor him anyway. Don't know if it's true or not, but he did have a lot of history in legitimate gaming operations at that point by way of his partnership with Bugsy Siegel.
Meyer Lansky and Bugsy Siegel, "legitimate?"
Uh ... no ...
"What, me worry?"
August 30th, 2012 at 6:24:09 PM
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August 30th, 2012 at 6:58:30 PM
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Times have changed. In the 1980 when the Feds tried the Bananno family, Gambino, etc., the guys beat the racketeering
charges, but drew prison sentences for usury. Loan sharking at 300% annual interest.
Now pay day loans charge 2-3,000% annual and all is legal.
charges, but drew prison sentences for usury. Loan sharking at 300% annual interest.
Now pay day loans charge 2-3,000% annual and all is legal.
August 30th, 2012 at 8:17:36 PM
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Quote: midwestgbFWIW...
http://www.global-mma.com/t706-proof-fertitta-family-is-100-yr-old-mafia-family-not-just-ties
Yeah, and who can forget that old man of mystery, that half-blind legend ...
"What, me worry?"
August 30th, 2012 at 8:32:17 PM
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John Gotti, the Teflon Don was embarrassing the Feds in court. So they denied him the use of the attorney who had beat them in court twice.
And Sammy the Bull Gravano turned rat and got a 5 years sentence, which after time served amounted to less than a year.
The previous 4+ years served were in hotels with room service waiting to testify. This for a guy who murdered 30+ people, including civilians. He was also allowed to keep all the NY properties he had bought over the years.
And then there is this tidbit : The judge said that Gravano's testimony against John Gotti was the bravest thing he had ever seen.
And Sammy the Bull Gravano turned rat and got a 5 years sentence, which after time served amounted to less than a year.
The previous 4+ years served were in hotels with room service waiting to testify. This for a guy who murdered 30+ people, including civilians. He was also allowed to keep all the NY properties he had bought over the years.
And then there is this tidbit : The judge said that Gravano's testimony against John Gotti was the bravest thing he had ever seen.
August 31st, 2012 at 1:19:54 PM
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Here is a photo of Frank and Dean at the Sands, with the Sands' manager, Jack Entratter.
Jack was installed by the mob to keep an eye on their investment.
Jack was installed by the mob to keep an eye on their investment.
"What, me worry?"
August 31st, 2012 at 1:25:04 PM
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Quote: MrVHere is a photo of Frank and Dean at the Sands, with the Sands' manager, Jack Entratter.
Jack was installed by the mob to keep an eye on their investment.
Frank had a piece of the Sands until he gave it up
and they pulled his credit line. Frank went nuts and
broke the front window, among other things, and
him and his buddy Entratter never spoke again.
"It's not called gambling if the math is on your side."
August 31st, 2012 at 2:02:34 PM
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Frank getting punched in the mouth in Las Vegas by Carl Cohen is priceless.
"What, me worry?"
August 31st, 2012 at 2:32:35 PM
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Quote: MrVMeyer Lansky and Bugsy Siegel, "legitimate?"
Uh ... no ...
As in, "not a juice joint". Suppose I should have chosen my words more carefully there....
August 31st, 2012 at 3:15:34 PM
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Don Rickles was new in Vegas when frank came in mid-show to catch his act.
Don said " Sit down Frank. Feel right at home. Punch somebody in the mouth "
Don said " Sit down Frank. Feel right at home. Punch somebody in the mouth "
August 31st, 2012 at 3:18:11 PM
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Quote: heatherAs in, "not a juice joint". Suppose I should have chosen my words more carefully there....
Poor Virginia Hill Bugsy's girlfriend. She died on the ski slopes of Salzburg, Austria after ingesting a heavy dose of sleeping pills.
April 25th, 2015 at 7:11:43 AM
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Quote: EvenBobNo, they ran everything, big difference.
and they
didin't take orders from anybody. Except the mob.
.
Yes, bookmaking as well as the casino ties. But the interesting thing is that they took care of their own, not running and calling to mommy to report the big bad boogie man.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qPnCotgE9GM
April 25th, 2015 at 7:29:05 AM
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Forget Amelia Earhart, I want to know what happened to Russian Louie.
Yeah, I know. It was Jimmy Fratianno.
Yeah, I know. It was Jimmy Fratianno.
