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40 pieces from the Nevada Gaming History archive.

2026 · Nevada Gaming History

THE STARDUST: INSIDE THE OUTFIT’S FINAL EMPIRE

Before Frank Rosenthal ever walked into the Stardust, before Tony Spilotro enforced the Outfit’s will on the streets of Las Vegas, the casino was born from the impossible ambition of Tony Cornero—a man who refused to quit even when the law, the Mob, and fate itself pushed back. What followed became the last great skim in Nevada history, a quiet empire built behind the neon and dismantled under federal pressure.

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2026 · Nevada Gaming History

Moe Dalitz: The Desert Inn’s Quiet Architect (1947–1989)

Moe Dalitz didn’t build Las Vegas with headlines or muscle — he built it with discipline. From his Cleveland roots to the Desert Inn’s rise, this story follows the quiet architect who shaped early Strip development, stabilized casino operations, and helped turn Las Vegas into a real city.

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2026 · Nevada Gaming History

Nevada Casino History by Region: Las Vegas, Reno, Tahoe, and Beyond

Introduction Nevada’s gaming history is not defined by a single city. While Las Vegas became the global symbol of entertainment and excess, the state’s casino culture was shaped by multiple regions — each with its own identity, economic forces, and cast of characters. From the pioneering gambling halls of Reno to the glamorous lakefront resorts … Read more

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2026 · Nevada Gaming History

Meyer Lansky — a focused biography on Las Vegas, operations, and money movement

Meyer Lansky (born Maier Suchowljansky, July 4, 1902 — January 15, 1983) is remembered in twentieth-century American crime history less as a street-level gangster than as the architect of organized crime’s finances. Born in what is now Belarus and raised in New York’s Lower East Side, Lansky became the calculator and banker of the National … Read more

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2026 · Nevada Gaming History

El Cortez Hotel & Casino: The Last of Old Las Vegas

A Complete Historical Narrative of Ownership, Construction, Mob Influence, and Legacy Few casinos in Las Vegas carry the weight of history quite like the El Cortez Hotel & Casino. Opened in 1941 and still operating today, it is the longest‑running casino in continuous operation* in Las Vegas, a living artifact from the city’s pre‑Strip era. … Read more

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2026 · Nevada Gaming History

Hoffa, Dorfman, and the Teamsters: How a Union Pension Fund Helped Build Modern Las Vegas

Introduction Few forces shaped the early development of Las Vegas as profoundly as the Teamsters Central States Pension Fund, controlled by union president Jimmy Hoffa and administered by his trusted lieutenant Allen Dorfman. Between the mid 1950s and the late 1970s, the fund became one of the most important—and controversial—sources of capital for casino construction, … Read more

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2026 · Nevada Gaming History

Teamsters, Mob Influence, and the Financing of Las Vegas

Financing, Teamsters, and Mob Influence in Nevada Casino History Introduction Behind every Nevada casino is a story about money — who supplied it, who controlled it, and how it shaped the state’s gaming industry. From private investors and early entrepreneurs to the powerful Teamsters Central States Pension Fund and organized crime influence, the financing of … Read more

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2026 · Nevada Gaming History

Jay Sarno: The Showman who Themed the Strip

Jay Sarno, the visionary behind Caesars Palace and Circus Circus, transformed Las Vegas with bold themes, immersive design, and Teamsters‑backed financing that reshaped the modern resort era. His groundbreaking ideas set the foundation for the mega‑resorts that define the Strip today.

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2026 · Nevada Gaming History

Casino Owners of Pre‑1980 Las Vegas: A Complete Historical Guide

Introduction Before Las Vegas became a corporate resort powerhouse, it was shaped by a colorful cast of casino owners, operators, financiers, visionaries, hustlers, and risk takers. From the 1930s through the late 1970s, these individuals built the foundations of the modern Strip—often with limited capital, unconventional financing, and a willingness to gamble everything on a … Read more

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2026 · Nevada Gaming History

Kirk Kerkorian and the Reinvention of Las Vegas

Kirk Kerkorian, a significant figure in Las Vegas, shifted its landscape through innovative mega-resort development, transforming the city from a simplistic gambling hub into a mass-tourism destination. Born in 1917, he leveraged his aviation success to invest in unexploited hospitality opportunities, culminating in the creation of iconic establishments like the International Hotel and MGM Grand. Kerkorian’s strategic focus on scale, branding, and corporate legitimacy redefined the casino industry, paving the way for large-scale operations and solidifying Las Vegas’s global hospitality reputation.

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2026 · Nevada Gaming History

The Man Behind the Mirage – Steve Wynn

Few figures have shaped modern Las Vegas as profoundly as Steve Wynn. A developer with a showman’s instinct and an eye for luxury, Wynn transformed the casino from a gambling hall into a fully immersive resort experience. His properties redefined the Strip, set new standards for design and service, and ushered in an era of … Read more

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2026 · Nevada Gaming History

Howard Hughes and the Buying Spree That Changed Las Vegas Forever

How Howard Hughes quietly bought the Desert Inn, Sands, Frontier, and more—launching a corporate takeover that ended the mob era and transformed modern Las Vegas. The Billionaire Who Bought the Strip When Howard Hughes arrived in Las Vegas in 1966, he didn’t come to headline a showroom or host a grand opening. He came to … Read more

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2026 · Nevada Gaming History

Why Gambling Was Legalized in Nevada in 1931

The Economic, Political, and Social Reasons Behind the Decision Dispelling Common Myths About Nevada’s Gaming Legalization Many people believe that Nevada legalized gambling because of mob pressure or a desire to become “Las Vegas.” The truth may surprise you. Nevada experienced a boom-and-bust cycle as gold and silver mines flourished and faded just as California … Read more

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2024 · Nevada Gaming History

Was there really Mob Muscle in Las Vegas?

If anything is certain in life besides Death and Taxes, it’s that the Mob kept plenty of muscle in Las Vegas to protect its interests. In this case, the New York Mob started first, with a friendly visit from Meyer Lansky to the first club along what would become the Las Vegas Strip a dozen … Read more

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2023 · Nevada Gaming History

Benny Binion and Binion’s Horsehoe Las Vegas

Benny Binion, born Lester Ben Binion on November 20, 1904, in Plot Grove, Texas, was an American gangster and casino owner. He founded the World Series of Poker and Binion’s Horseshoe, a casino resort in Las Vegas. Benny Binion was known for his extensive criminal activities and contributions to the development of the Nevada gambling … Read more

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2023 · Nevada Gaming History

The Sands Hotel & Casino: Rat Pack glamour, Mob money, and Carl Cohen’s rise

The Sands Hotel & Casino blended Mob money, Rat Pack glamour, and Carl Cohen’s disciplined management into one of the most iconic eras in Las Vegas history. From Frank Costello and Meyer Lansky’s early financing to the Copa Room, Ocean’s Eleven, and the Hughes takeover, this is the real story behind the Strip’s most famous showroom.

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2023 · Nevada Gaming History

Moe Sedway and Las Vegas

Above: Moe Sedway enjoys a cigar with friend and casino partner Gus Greenbaum (Right) Moe Sedway was an American gangster and a close associate of the infamous mobster Benjamin “Bugsy” Siegel. Born in 1894 in Ukraine, Sedway immigrated to the United States as a child and grew up in New York City’s Lower East Side. … Read more

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2023 · Nevada Gaming History

Organized Ohio – The Mayfield Road Gang and Casinos

Today, Cleveland is best known as the home of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and the Cleveland Clinic. Plus, their pro sports teams are the Indians, Cavaliers, and Browns. The town and its weather are harsh, face-first against the cold winter winds that constantly blow from Lake Erie. Not the most inviting atmosphere, … Read more

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2023 · Nevada Gaming History

Your Desert Inn Casino Host – Wilbur Clark

Wilbur Clark was a prominent figure in Las Vegas’s development, recognized for his significant contributions to the casino industry and luxurious resorts. His friendly, approachable personality made him a relatable figure, inspiring trust and confidence among visitors. Las Vegas was never perfect, but the right frontman, like Clark, helped shape its welcoming image. In the … Read more

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2023 · Nevada Gaming History

Moe Dalitz as Mr. Las Vegas opens the Desert Inn Casino

Moe Dalitz was a prominent American businessman and organized crime figure who rose to prominence during the Prohibition era. Born on December 25, 1899, in Boston, Massachusetts, he grew up in a Jewish family and dropped out of school at 14 to work in the garment industry. However, he realized quickly he could make more … Read more

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2023 · Nevada Gaming History

The Stardust’s Founder – Tony Cornero

Tony Cornero (born Anthony Cornero Stralla in Northern Italy in 1899) was a leading figure in the California rum-running enterprises of the 1920s and an early Las Vegas casino owner. When his father lost the family farm in Italy due to gaming losses, young Tony vowed to be on the other side of the cards … Read more

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2022 · Nevada Gaming History

The Chicago Outfit and Skimming Las Vegas

This new book explores the roots of the Chicago mob, taking readers from its early days before Al Capone, through Prohibition and bootlegging, and finally to Las Vegas, where Chicago’s influence grew unnoticed. Discover how the Outfit’s beginnings and early leaders set the stage for its future dominance, making Las Vegas a key hub in … Read more

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2020 · Nevada Gaming History

Las Vegas Sports Wagering and Viewing

Betting on your favorite team wasn’t legal in Nevada until the 1940s, but you could always find a local bookie who would lay a line for you. At the Country Club in Lake Tahoe, you could talk to Doc at the bar, any night after 9 pm, and get a bet down. Nickel lines were … Read more

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2016 · Nevada Gaming History

El Rancho – First on the Las Vegas Strip in 1941

Thomas Hull built the El Rancho in Las Vegas as part of his chain of “El Rancho” hotels in Gallup, New Mexico, and Fresno and Sacramento, California. The 63-cabin resort was designed as a way-station, a break for families to enjoy on their trip through Nevada, featuring amenities like a large pool and horseback riding … Read more

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2015 · Nevada Gaming History

Meyer Lansky’s Mob Influence

Meyer Lansky was influential enough to draw hundreds of inquiries from law enforcement agencies during his lifetime, including the FBI, CIA, Highway Patrol offices in dozens of states, local police, and detective agencies, highlighting the widespread interest in his activities. Strange, because as dirty and sticky as his hands were for the Mob, no charges … Read more

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2013 · Nevada Gaming History

Vegas Used to Be Fancy?

Wow, people used to actually get dressed up to visit the casinos in Las Vegas! This scene from the mid-’50’s may have been staged, but there were many more people going to a nice dinner and a show back then. Back then, dinner shows to see stars like Rose Marie, Jimmy Durante, or Joe Brown … Read more

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2013 · Nevada Gaming History

Vegas and the Mob

The Mob didn’t start the gambling in Nevada, and especially not in Las Vegas. In fact, they were relative latecomers, since Nevada had gambling for years before it was officially legalized in 1931. Because Nevada was such a large state with such a small population, there wasn’t much reason to invest capital to set up … Read more

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2013 · Nevada Gaming History

"Bugsy" Siegel Still an Icon

“Bugsy” Siegel’s story begins with a tough childhood in Brooklyn’s Williamsburg district, where no one expected the skinny kid to leave a lasting impact, which can inspire curiosity and empathy in the audience. Siegel was already street-wise by the age of nine, rolling drunks and stealing from merchants, and he and Moe Sedway set up … Read more

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