I hear this phrase quite a bit. Ask any old-timer what Vegas was like before the corporate structure took over. The answer is always the same. "Everything was better when the Mob ran the town". The Mob sold out Las Vegas a long time ago. The money being offered by the corporate machine was to much for them to resist. Could the Mob be making its way back to Vegas? I have a few theories that I deem very unlikely but certainly plausible.
1. A number of these casino's are buried in massive debt. They were leveraged to their "eyeballs" during the go-go days and were poorly prepared for the crash. Sooner or later they are going to have to be sold-off to the highest bidder. Who better to take over a "joint" then the Mob?
2. A lot of people think that "black market" money hitting the "free market" would be the most sensible way for our nation's economy to recover. "Legalize it and tax it". The Gaming Control Board is in charge of over-site in Nevada. I am sure that with a little "arm-twisting" (just a pun) they could be convinced to look the other way. No question that the revenue needs to hit. After all, "cash is king".
3. This is my favorite analogy of the situation. I was at my friends house and his teen age daughter was wearing bell-bottoms. I told her that bell-bottoms were before my time. She looked like she was getting ready to go to a "70's themed" party. She made one prophetic statement that I will never forget. "Everything is retro". The Mob having an influence in Vegas again would certainly qualify as "retro".
In all honesty I would not be totally shocked if the Mob gained a foothold in Vegas. They will never have the power or control that they once had. Vegas is to big for one outfit to control. In the next five years a number of casino's will have to be sold to "independent operators". Maybe the Mob might be one of them? Rob Astle
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