NCJ Number
163687
Date Published
1993
Length
157 pages
Annotation
A strong association between casinos and organized crime has historically prevailed in the United States, and casino gambling will always be a big "money maker" for organized crime.
Abstract
In 1967, the President's Commission on Law Enforcement and Administration of Justice estimated the annual amount of illegal gambling varied from $7 to $50 billion. Using the low side of this estimate, the commission projected that bookmakers experienced a $10 billion turnover, along with a $3 billion plus profit. Other Federal commissions and social science researchers began exploring the structure of organized crime, recognizing that organized crime's trademark surfaced in the forms of extortion, violence, corruption, and physical harm to anyone who threatened profits. The history of legalized casino gambling in the United States is reviewed, the lifestyle of organized criminals is discussed, and the role of foreigners in the casino gambling industry in the United States is considered. The author confirms organized crime's involvement in casino gambling, the importance of investigating racketeers, and the need for effective law enforcement. References and endnotes