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Article Date: January 22, 2023 • Bugsy Siegel, also known as Benjamin Siegel, was a notorious American mobster and one of the most infamous figures of the early days of Las Vegas. He is credited with playing a significant role in the development of the Las Vegas Strip and the establishment of the city as a major gambling destination.
Siegel was born in 1906 in Brooklyn, New York, and began his criminal career as a member of the notorious New York-based gang known as the “Murder, Inc.” During the 1930s, he moved to California and became a member of the Los Angeles crime syndicate known as the “Combination.”
In the 1940s, Siegel became interested in the potential of Las Vegas as a gambling destination. He saw the potential for the city to become a major tourist destination and began investing in casinos and other businesses in the area. In 1946, he opened the Flamingo Hotel and Casino, which is widely considered to be the first true luxury hotel in Las Vegas.
Despite initial struggles and financial losses, the Flamingo eventually became a success and helped establish Las Vegas as a premier gambling destination. However, Siegel’s involvement in organized crime and illegal activities eventually caught up with him and in 1947, he was murdered in his home in Beverly Hills, California.
Siegel’s legacy in Las Vegas lives on to this day. The Flamingo is still in operation and is one of the most iconic and recognizable hotels on the Las Vegas Strip. Siegel’s vision for Las Vegas as a major tourist destination has been realized many times over, and the city has become one of the most popular tourist destinations in the world.
Bugsy Siegel’s life and death are a reminder of the seedier side of Las Vegas history and how it has grown to be the entertainment and gambling capital of the world. His story is a cautionary tale of ambition and greed, but also of vision and determination. Siegel’s influence on the development of Las Vegas can still be felt today, and his legacy will continue to be an important part of the city’s history.
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