Category: History Publisher: Al W Moe
ISBN-10: 1483955559
Type: Non-Fiction
Pages: 187
Copyright: April 5, 2012
ISBN-13: 9781483955551
Price: $4.99 (eBook)
The true story of how the Mob took over Las Vegas and skimmed the casinos dry!
Las Vegas was the Mob’s greatest venture and most spectacular success, and through 40 years of frenzy, murder, deceit, scams, and skimming, the FBI listened on phone taps and did virtually nothing to stop the fun. This is the truth about the Mob's control of the casinos in Vegas like you’ve never heard it before, from start to finish.
Two of the nation’s most powerful crime family bosses went to prison in the 1930’s: Al Capone, and Lucky Luciano. Frank Nitti took over the Chicago Outfit, while Frank Costello ran things for the Luciano Family. Both men were influenced by their bosses from prison, and both sent enough gangsters into the streets to influence loan sharking, extortion, union control, and drug sales.
Bugsy Siegel worked for both groups, handling a string of murders and opening up gaming on the west coast, and that included Las Vegas, an oasis of sin in the middle of the desert – and it was legal. Most of it. The FBI watched as the Mob took control of casino after casino, killed off the competition, and stole enough money to bribe their way to respectability back home.
By the 1950’s, nearly every major crime family had a stake in a Las Vegas casino. Some did better than others. Casino owners watched-over their profits while competing crime families eyed each other's success like jealous lovers. Murder often followed.
Excerpt
In 1943 the Mob moved in on the casino owners of downtown Las Vegas and explained why they needed partners: because their front man, “Bugsy” Siegel, was a ruthless killer who never took no for an answer. The casino owner’s instincts for survival were greater than their fear of associating with the Mob, and they accepted their fate. Along the way, the FBI watched, mesmerized by Siegel, Meyer Lansky, and Frank Costello’s ability to infiltrate the casinos in Las Vegas and Cuba and take control of the money while tormenting both their competitors and their own partners. “Vegas and the Mob” tells the story of the Mob’s growth from the era of bootlegging, turf wars, and unbridled greed, to forty-years of frenzy, mayhem and murder in the casinos of Las Vegas where anything could happen, and usually did.
Professional Reviews
Fast and Entertaining Vegas Mob History
This is a concise, entertaining, well-written history of the mob's role in the development of Las Vegas. The period covered is from prohibition to present day, with a particular focus on the 1940-1970s when mob influence was greatest. Moe names the main players and tells their stories with energy and verve, moves at a fast pace, and never writes a boring sentence. Names include Capone, Luciano, Anastasia, Lansky, Rothstein, Bugsy Siegel, Virginia Hill, Dave Berman, Sinatra, Giancana, the Kennedys, Marilyn, Hoffa, Lefty Rosenthal, Howard Hughes, and many more. His stories tell of the hopes, aspirations, and difficulties faced by Vegas builders and the ensuing criminal activities (gang warfare, murder, bribery, skimming, money laundering), and attempts by law enforcement and political bodies to investigate and prosecute the parties involved (mostly unsuccessful). (Some of these stories will reverberate if you have seen such Scorsese films such as Casino and Donnie Brasco.) An easy read and highly entertaining. The book was well researched, and includes a bibliography and index. Highly recommended to readers with an interest in Las Vegas history or organized crime.
Fantastic Read
This book is a must read. Once I started it I could not put it down. I have a thing for Capone and the mob so I had to read it. The book is well written and holds your attention from start to finish. The way Moe describes key players, and the day to day run of things you feel like your living it. The right amount of action. And Vegas is the perfect place for it all to unfold. I cant wait to read more of your books Al.
This is a very concise, fun to read, look at how the Mob stole most of the early Las Vegas casinos and built an empire never before seen or even dreamed. Al W Moe used hundreds of FBI documents to verify details about the big names like Meyer Lansky, Bugsy Siegel, Benny Binion and so many others. His fact checking is terrific and details presented are amazing. You will love this book!
Reviewed by Laurie Franco
5/27/2013
Once again Al Moe has hit it out of the park with Vegas and the Mob. I have to say that so far this one is my favorite, although his others are amazing too. Anyone looking for some easy to read history of Vegas will never go wrong with his books!
I absolutely love all of the "insider" peeks at what went on not all that long ago in Las Vegas and all of the references to celebrities are fantastic! As someone who loves Marilyn Monroe, I was more than a little shocked at how....friendly she was.
Al Moe's book have a way of giving you so much history, without making it seem as though you're back in high school history class, and I highly recommend his books! They are always a safe bet!
Reviewed by Celeste Dowdell
5/16/2013
This book is a must read. Once I started it I could not put it down. I have a thing for Capone and the mob so I had to read it. The book is well written and holds your attention from start to finish. The way Moe describes key players, and the day to day run of things you feel like your living it. The right amount of action. And Vegas is the perfect place for it all to unfold. I cant wait to read more of your books Al.
True indeed, Al..."Meyer Lansky" is actually responsible for how most casinos around the world operate today. He's the guy who figured out how to set the odds (multiple decks and such) so the house always ends up winning big in the end. You might say he wrote the book. He actually put an end to out right cheating and rigged crooked games that were so prevalent at the time. "We don't need to cheat the customers..that only gets them mad and they don't come back.... Outright cheating is bad for business." But don't get me wrong,, they were all a bunch of murdering thieves...including " Mr. Lansky"
This is the story of the author’s great great grandparents, Edward Lewis and Sarah Crosby, who were convicts transported to Van Diemen’s Land in the 1840s. It is told from the perspective of a detective agency searching for what happened to Edward, w
