Legalization only goes so far, just look at how long Las Vegas has been around. Theoretically that one city should've knocked every illegal gambling operation around the country out the park, yet there's even illegal gambling operations going on in Vegas! There's always going to be activities being run outside of government regulation. Sure you can go to a bank or a payday loan place and get a loan, but what if you don't have credit? What if you don't want to do all the paperwork? What if you want more than they're willing to loan you? Go to a loanshark. What if your local illegal gambling business offers better odds than your nearest casino? None of these things are going away. Even cigarettes are legal, yet organized crime makes a lot of dough selling untaxed cigarettes because the taxes are so high.
Dilly, I don't know where you reside. Whether it's within the U.S., or in another country, but you gotta wake up out of this pipe dream you're in. Please listen to me for a split second here ok?
I just got finished saying there is still some bookmaking and shy business out there. But only "sports" action. No more horses which was the "cash cow" for bookies years ago. And yes, sometimes they offer better odds, pay you in cash if you win so that tax-free, and also offer "credit" which (for the time being at least) legal outlets do not. Shylocks will always be around for those who need them as well. But the "playing field" for both those mob "industries" has been reduced by what I mentioned above.
Las Vegas Casinos? Ya kidding right? Las Vegas today is run by big corporations, NOT the mob. And when mob guys ran em and earned if was way before "legalized" casino gambling became a thing across various states in the country. Today, a solid portion of the 50 states have legalized casino gambling which has knocked out 99.9% of illegal casinos the mob ran. NO more roulette, crap games, blackjack, poker, etc., etc., in places like NYC, NJ, CT, MA, Chicago, Miami, etc. Once in a blue moon, a "blue moon," you'll find a half-assed card game in some run down little shit-hole run by a wiseguy.
Cigarettes? Yah, there are a few guys doing it. But 99.9% of them are NOT Italian mob guys. They're Spanish, Chinese, Indian, or some other far-flung "non-mob connected" entity who took a shot. And it's generally nowhere the scale of what the mob "used to do."
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Lastly, let me say this about what I just wrote. This is NOT my opinion on the subject. These are facts backed up by deep-probe statistics, solid data, arrests and convictions (or the lack thereof), and FBI observations.
Italian-related organized crime in America has been reduced tremendously in both volume and scope of their activities. Basically, there is little left for them to engage in even if they were so inclined to do so, and accept the heavy consequences when they do....It's largely over.
PS: Big multimillion-dollar white-collar frauds that you see like Farese, Scarfo Jr., and others have engaged in? Nicky Jr is serving 38 years as a young guy. His life's ruined. Watch and see what Farese gets. He's already an old man and served over 20-25 years of his life behinds bars. This will finish him if he's convicted.
If you stop talking all this rhetoric for a hot moment, and really pay attention to what I'm saying you'll realize this for yourself.