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Article Date: January 22, 2023 • Meyer Lansky, also known as “the Mob’s Accountant,” was a major figure in organized crime during the mid-20th century. He is best known for his role in the development of the National Crime Syndicate, a group of organized crime families that controlled much of the illegal activity in the United States during the 1930s and 1940s.
Lansky’s influence was felt in many cities across the country, but perhaps nowhere more so than in Las Vegas. In the 1950s, Lansky and his associates invested heavily in the city’s burgeoning casino industry, using their connections and illegal proceeds to secure a foothold in the city’s most profitable gambling establishments.
One of Lansky’s most notable Las Vegas ventures was the Flamingo Hotel and Casino. Originally opened in 1946 by mobster Bugsy Siegel, the Flamingo struggled financially in its early years. Lansky and his associates stepped in to provide financial support and guidance, turning the Flamingo into a major success.
Lansky’s involvement in the Las Vegas casino industry was not limited to the Flamingo. He and his associates also had a stake in the Sands, the Desert Inn, and the Dunes, among other casinos. These investments allowed Lansky and his associates to exert significant control over the city’s gambling industry and to use the casinos as a source of illegal income.
Despite his criminal activities, Lansky was able to avoid prosecution for much of his career. However, in the 1970s, increased law enforcement scrutiny and changes in the political climate led to increased pressure on Lansky and his associates. In 1972, Lansky was indicted on charges of tax evasion, but was ultimately acquitted.
In the end, Lansky’s time in Las Vegas came to an end as law enforcement agencies began to crack down on organized crime. He died in 1983, but his influence on the city’s casino industry can still be felt to this day. He was an American mobster, racketeer, and criminal mastermind, who, along with his associate Charles “Lucky” Luciano, was instrumental in the development of the National Crime Syndicate in the United States.
In conclusion, Meyer Lansky was a key figure in the development of Las Vegas as a major center of gambling and organized crime in the mid-20th century. His investments in the city’s casinos and his control over the gambling industry allowed him to exert significant influence over the city’s economy and politics. Despite his criminal activities, Lansky was able to evade prosecution for much of his career, but eventually law enforcement caught up with him and his associates in the 1970s. His legacy still lives on as a reminder of the shadowy side of Las Vegas’s rise to become the gambling capital of the world.
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