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Product Description
From the 1970s through the mid-1980s, the Chicago Outfit dominated organised crime in Las Vegas. Unreported revenue, known as the 'skim' from Outfit-controlled casinos made its way out of Vegas by the bagful, ending up in the coffers of the Windy City crime bosses and their confederates around the Midwest. To ensure the smooth flow of cash, the gangsters installed a front man with no criminal background, Allen R Glick, as the casino owner of record, Frank 'Lefty' Rosenthal as the real boss of casino operations, and Tony Spilotro as the ultimate enforcer, who'd do whatever it took to protect their interests. It wasn't long before Spilotro, also in charge of Vegas street crime, was known as the 'King of the Strip'. Federal and local law enforcement, recognising the need to rid the casinos of the mob and shut down Spilotro's rackets, declared war on organised crime. This book relates the story of the fight between the tough guys on both sides, told in large part by the agents and detectives who knew they had to win.
From the Inside Flap
"Tony Spilotro was the organized crime kingpin in Las Vegas for
several years. I was a cop there at the time, and was in charge of the
police department during four of the most eventful years. The Battle for
Las Vegas tells it like it was, and is a story long past due. Even though I
was part of those times, I still have trouble believing it actually
happened."
several years. I was a cop there at the time, and was in charge of the
police department during four of the most eventful years. The Battle for
Las Vegas tells it like it was, and is a story long past due. Even though I
was part of those times, I still have trouble believing it actually
happened."
Sheriff John McCarthy, Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department (retired)
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
An honest balanced account of the good, the bad and the ugly of crime fighting in the battle for Las Vegas.
10 Jun 2007
Format:Paperback
I owe Mr Griffin an apology. I expected a book by a "law enforcement" pro to be biased. It wasn't! An honest balanced account of the good, the bad and the ugly of crime fighting in the battle for Las Vegas. I was surprised at the corruption in the judiciary and law enforcement of the time - I hope that has changed too. My romanticised view of Tony Spilotro was well and truly bashed - his stupidity lost the skim for burglaries and thuggery.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
This is a fascinating glimpse into the seamy world of the mob and how the promise of Las Vegas as a source of gambling profits lured mob men from Chicago and the East coast towards the mid-West. From there it became a deadly power struggle among the ruthless, larger-than-life mobsters and the sometimes corrupt, sometimes incompetent but always persevering police force bringing them to book. These beautifully graphic tales are brought to life lovingly by Griffin, who obviously knows how to spin a yarn or two, and with such juicy material to go from he could hardly get it wrong. Apart from the many violent deaths contained within these pages, every anecdotal detail and nuance of the battle for power and supremacy has been thoroughly researched, but written in a thoroughly entertaining way. Imagine the Sopranos shipped from Jersey to Vegas and you wouldn't be far wrong, with Tony Spilotro playing the Tony Soprano anti-hero role. Splendid stuff and a true page-turner! :)
5 of 6 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Computer Times
October 2006
Editor's Choice Book
The Battle for Las Vegas
Reviewed by Terrance Kibiloski
The Battle for Las Vegas: The Law vs. The Mob, by Dennis N. Griffin (ISBN 0-929712-37-4), from Huntington Press Publishing, is a great read and a fascinating walk through the history of Las Vegas as you have never seen it before. Forget the glitzy lights and action on the casino floors; the real action was happening behind the scenes, in the penthouses, the offices, the police departments, the bars, and the homes, in Chicago, in Cleveland, in Kansas City, and Las Vegas. While you may be familiar with some of the players like Bugsy Siegel, Lucky Luciano, and Jimmy Hoffa, you will also meet Moe Dalitz, Tony Accardo, Joe Aiuppa, Lefty Rosenthal, Anthony Spilotro, and many others who fought the battles behind the glitz. This was during the time when the customer was king, long before the corporations came in to make it a family entertainment and convention center. This was the time when Vegas was truly Sin City.
If you gambled in Vegas in the 50s, 60s, 70s and 80s, you witnessed the growth of the city, from gambling and prostitution to gaming and hostesses. You may remember the free shrimp cocktails with shrimp bigger than your middle finger, and the free, or extremely cheap, flights, food, rooms, and money to get you started on the casino floor. While the mob ran Vegas, gamblers could count on being pampered and provided every luxury in the world as they were treated like Kings and Queens, knowing full well the mob always had the Ace in the hole. But, it was fun and it made you feel a little bit wicked and sinful, like you were getting away with something, even though you left most of your money in Vegas, well, most of the time. There was always that chance of hitting it big or bumping into the likes of Liberace, Sinatra, or Elvis, or any number of stars who played on the same casino floor as you. You were always treated like a part of the family, while the real "family" did the dirty work behind the scenes.
The Battle for Las Vegas is a history of this dirty work, like the work of the servants and staff behind the scenes of a wealthy estate, but slightly different. In this case, the servants and staff are busy stacking the deck to become richer than the guests they are serving. Griffin's well-researched book is so packed with incredible detail and quotes that you feel like you were there while the battle was taking place. While I have read many books on Las Vegas, this is the first one that made me feel like an eyewitness to the battle between the mobsters, who rolled out the red carpet for the guests, and the lawmen, who brought the mobsters down on the carpet.
Having gambled in Vegas since the 60s, I was extremely pleased to see the many photos in this book of people I felt I remembered seeing in the casinos. Now, with Griffin's excellent story-telling style of exposing the hits, the bluffs, the threats, and the real off-the-casino-floor gambling with money and lives, I have a much different view of the history of Vegas. Much like the person who went to a family reunion and finally heard the real stories of Uncle Tony, Uncle Moe, and Aunt Bertha. I feel more connected to the family who gave me so many pleasures while hiding the family secrets of the real price paid for all the luxury. This book is a great read and the closest to a sure thing that you will ever find in Las Vegas. It is sure to bring you many hours of reading pleasure and a better appreciation of the battle for Las Vegas.
October 2006
Editor's Choice Book
The Battle for Las Vegas
Reviewed by Terrance Kibiloski
The Battle for Las Vegas: The Law vs. The Mob, by Dennis N. Griffin (ISBN 0-929712-37-4), from Huntington Press Publishing, is a great read and a fascinating walk through the history of Las Vegas as you have never seen it before. Forget the glitzy lights and action on the casino floors; the real action was happening behind the scenes, in the penthouses, the offices, the police departments, the bars, and the homes, in Chicago, in Cleveland, in Kansas City, and Las Vegas. While you may be familiar with some of the players like Bugsy Siegel, Lucky Luciano, and Jimmy Hoffa, you will also meet Moe Dalitz, Tony Accardo, Joe Aiuppa, Lefty Rosenthal, Anthony Spilotro, and many others who fought the battles behind the glitz. This was during the time when the customer was king, long before the corporations came in to make it a family entertainment and convention center. This was the time when Vegas was truly Sin City.
If you gambled in Vegas in the 50s, 60s, 70s and 80s, you witnessed the growth of the city, from gambling and prostitution to gaming and hostesses. You may remember the free shrimp cocktails with shrimp bigger than your middle finger, and the free, or extremely cheap, flights, food, rooms, and money to get you started on the casino floor. While the mob ran Vegas, gamblers could count on being pampered and provided every luxury in the world as they were treated like Kings and Queens, knowing full well the mob always had the Ace in the hole. But, it was fun and it made you feel a little bit wicked and sinful, like you were getting away with something, even though you left most of your money in Vegas, well, most of the time. There was always that chance of hitting it big or bumping into the likes of Liberace, Sinatra, or Elvis, or any number of stars who played on the same casino floor as you. You were always treated like a part of the family, while the real "family" did the dirty work behind the scenes.
The Battle for Las Vegas is a history of this dirty work, like the work of the servants and staff behind the scenes of a wealthy estate, but slightly different. In this case, the servants and staff are busy stacking the deck to become richer than the guests they are serving. Griffin's well-researched book is so packed with incredible detail and quotes that you feel like you were there while the battle was taking place. While I have read many books on Las Vegas, this is the first one that made me feel like an eyewitness to the battle between the mobsters, who rolled out the red carpet for the guests, and the lawmen, who brought the mobsters down on the carpet.
Having gambled in Vegas since the 60s, I was extremely pleased to see the many photos in this book of people I felt I remembered seeing in the casinos. Now, with Griffin's excellent story-telling style of exposing the hits, the bluffs, the threats, and the real off-the-casino-floor gambling with money and lives, I have a much different view of the history of Vegas. Much like the person who went to a family reunion and finally heard the real stories of Uncle Tony, Uncle Moe, and Aunt Bertha. I feel more connected to the family who gave me so many pleasures while hiding the family secrets of the real price paid for all the luxury. This book is a great read and the closest to a sure thing that you will ever find in Las Vegas. It is sure to bring you many hours of reading pleasure and a better appreciation of the battle for Las Vegas.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Great but too short
Loved this book, you get an unbiased view, my only gripe is it wasnt long enough! I was left wanting more
Published 5 months ago by gambling_man
Excellent!
Does exactly what it says on the cover - Tells the story of the Mob in Las Vegas and very much appears to be an honest account. Very good read.
Published 9 months ago by KevBhav
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