How come there was never a mob war in Vegas?

So those of you who are educated on the history of Las Vegas and what went on back in the 1940's and 50's, how come there was never a war between crime families for control of Vegas?

Why did the NY mob hand over Vegas so easily to Chicago and Kansas City?

As the years went on the NY Families must have drooled at the opportunity to take over Vegas and make it their own. All the proceeds from gambling, prostitution and drugs and so forth I mean Vegas is just a melting pot of opportunity for organized crime to flourish. We are talking about hundreds of millions of dollars here to be had.

Atlantic City is one thing but Vegas is just at another level.

Why are so many people interested in mob wars, it's actually the single worst thing that could happen to a Mafia family. It literally wiped out the Cleveland and Rochester groups, and severely crippled the Colombo Family as well as the Philadelphia Mafia.

Chicago was top dog out there, but NYC still had some interest. Especially guys from the Genovese.

too much money being made is simplest answer.
according to old bill roemer there was a war in the 80's...ha ha ha lol i know couldnt resist.

You ask why there was never a mob "war" over Las Vegas? Simple!

Because since the very beginning. From day #1. Las Vegas was declared by "The Commission" to be an "open city." A place where any family, crew, or mob guy could operate freely. NOBODY, no one family, had the ability to plant their flag there exclusively...Period!

For that matter, both Miami and Havana (Cuba), and later Atlantic City, were also declared to be "open cities."

Atlantic City was Bruno family territory but after gambling was legalized the Genoveses complotted to kill Bruno and can operate in AC without pay tribute.

What was the story about a NY family wanting to make a move out there? Other families said if you get in we're with you, but if it turns to shit you're on your own , or something?

And then midwest made guys opened fire on them in broad daylight at a construction sight or something? And they left. Saw it on an A and E Biogrsphy or something...years ago. Back home. Seriously.

Also the guys from LA.
Maybe someone has a hit list related to Vegas, there have been several murders Bugsy the most famous of course.

Lake Meade.

Two reasons why there have been no Mob wars in Vegas:

--Unlike other rackets the Mob was involved in prior to 1931, gambling was made legal—and regulated—in Nevada that year. Repeal of Prohibition was right around the corner (1933). Here were unlimited opportunities for mobsters to make piles of money legally—and be considered “legitimate.” Why screw it up by waging the same bloody wars they fought over booze? Why would tourists come to their hotels and casinos if they feared having to dodge bullets when all they wanted to do was gamble? For once, common sense trumped greed in organized crime.

--Bigotry and stereotyping: Nevada then and now is largely rural. Political life is dominated by Mormons. They share the same prejudice as other Americans, namely that organized crime is the exclusive province of Italians. But members of the Church of the Latter Day Saints believe that Jews are the “Chosen People,” and that Mormons share a common, literal ancestry with Jews. Jews got favorable treatment from the Tax Commission, which regulated gambling after it was legalized. Italians didn’t. Tony (the Admiral) Cornero was the only Italian to build a hotel in Vegas; Jews (sometimes fronting for the Mafia) built nearly all the other earlier hotels.

The prejudice against Italians was reinforced by televised Kefauver and McClellan hearings, which exposed and highlighted Mafia involvement in gambling and labor racketeering. In 1958, the Nevada Legislature took regulation of gambling out of the Tax Commission and put it into a new Gaming Control Board. One of the new Board’s biggest weapons was the Black Book—a list of people who could be permanently barred from even entering a casino, much less owning and operating one, because of criminal records, association with known criminals, or simply “unsavory reputations.” The vast majority of the 47 names in the Black Book were Italian. Only three Jews were listed, and two were removed from the Black Book within a month.

One of the Jewish names that was never in the Black Book was Moe Dalitz, a big-time rum-runner and gambling czar in Cleveland during Prohibition, who decided to go legit in Vegas starting in 1947. He not only built several hotel/casinos, he also built the Convention Center, the Sunrise Hospital, and was active in charities. He won the 1976 Humanitarian Award from the American Cancer Research Center. After Dalitz died, Grant Sawyer, Nevada Governor from ’59 through ‘66, said: “Moe Dalitz was probably as responsible for the successful gaming economy in southern Nevada as any one person. In my opinion, he was a good citizen in every way.”

Turnbull….

What a GREAT explaination
Thank YOU…..

Another example of Prejudice against Italians the “BLACK BOOK” only 3 Jewish gangsters ever added and two were removed within 30 days

N.Y.M………..Florida was always an open State, however, from what I have read it was customary for out of town LCN, to check in with Trafficante, due to his wealth, power and respect he commanded.

The Tampa-St. Petersburg section of northern Florida was "exclusively" Trafficante Family territory. But South Florida; Miami Beach, etc. (Dade County), Fort Lauderdale, Pompano, Hallandale, etc. (Broward County), (Palm Beach County), and so forth, was declared "open," as far back as wise guys started congregating there.

BH,

But I wanna add, that as you say, often times, most mob guys would touch base with Santo at some point. If not to do business with him (which I think many did), then certainly to say hello and pay respects. After all, he also operated down in Miami and the surrounding areas as well. In fact, at some point, Santo was spending so much time in the Dade County area, that he actually established another residence for himself in Miami.

BTW: The Jew who remained in the Black Book was Larry (Lefty) Rosenthal, the character DeNiro played in the movie "Casino."

That is a surprise, any idea how the 2 who had their names removed did so?

It was political:

Three men: Ruby Kolod, William ("Ice Pick Willie") Alderman and Felix (Milwaukee Phil) Alderisio. were convicted in 1965 of extorting a Denver lawyer in a shady oil deal. Nevada was experiencing a state budget crisis, and the Legislature was considering raising the tax on gaming revenues from 5.5% to 15.5%. Governor Grant Sawyer and the Gaming Board thought the tax hike would harm the gaming industry. The trio were placed in the Black Book, allegedly because the Governor wanted to "communicate" that they were keeping "unsavory elements" out of the gaming industry. But, Kolod was a major shareholder in several hotels and a member of the Dalitz Desert Inn Group; Alderman also owned stock in several Vegas hotels. Dalitz, the most respected and powerful gaming figure in Vegas, used his influence to get Kolod and Alderman out of the Black Book only three weeks after they were put in. Alderisio stayed in the Black Book. (See my earlier post on bigotry and stereotypes.)

Governor Sawyer was defeated for re-election; the Dalitz Group was the biggest contributor to his foe, Paul Laxalt, who did not put anyone in the Black Book during his term. Incredibly, Sawyer said, after Dalitz died, “Moe Dalitz was probably as responsible for the successful gaming economy in southern Nevada as any one person. In my opinion, he was a good citizen in every way.”

That's what I think. They were making money. Therefore no reason for war. Why screw up a profitable business?

Yeah, good point...Italians were put in the black book while politicians were giving Mo Dalitz man of the year awards !!

They were all making too much money. The smarter families had interests out there, I know even Patriarca had his hands into at least one casino in Vegas at one time if I'm not mistaken.