Jewish urban gangs were much bigger than Italian gangs before Prohibition, and dominated urban rackets. Because of their size and influence, Jewish gangs also dominated the booze trade and other rackets in most cities during Prohibition. In NYC: Arnold Rothstein, Meyer Lansky and Bugsy Siegel, as well as Dutch Shultz. In New Jersey: Abner (Longy) Zwillman. In Boston: Charles (King) Solomon). In Detroit: The Purple Gang (Davey Bernstein and his brothers). In Cleveland: The Mayfield Road gang, headed by Moe Dalitz. In Philadelphia: Moe Annenberg. Jewish mobs also were big in booze and other rackets in Kansas City, Denver, San Francisco and LA. Even in Chicago, a Jew, Jack Guzik, was mentor and second in command to Capone.

After Prohibition was repealed, most Jewish gangsters went "legit," although Lansky continued to sit with (although he was not a member of) the Commission and advise various Dons, especially Luciano and Costello. Louis (Lepke) Bucholter, who some say was the wealthiest gangster of the Thirties, dominated the garment and trucking rackets in NYC. The biggest "legit" opportunities for Jewish gangsters was Nevada gaming. Although Siegel gets most of the credit, the real builder of Las Vegas was Dalitz.