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Detailed biographies, casino ownership histories, and investigations into the money and influence behind Las Vegas.

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

Lucky Luciano: Power, Structure, and the Making of the Modern American Mafia

Charles “Lucky” Luciano—born Salvatore Lucania in Lercara Friddi, Sicily in 1897—was the architect of the modern American Mafia. His career spanned the brutal street gangs of the Lower East Side, the Prohibition empires of the 1920s, the reorganization of the Mafia into the Five Families in 1931, and his eventual fall through prosecution, imprisonment, and … 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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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

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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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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