The Birth of Vegas | Nevada Doubles Down | 3

Business Wars

Wondery

History, Business, David Brown, Management

4.6 • 13.2K Ratings

🗓️ 18 August 2021

⏱️ 29 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

The mob faces its biggest threat yet when Nevada governor Grant Sawyer wants control of the state’s top-grossing industry—gambling. The attack includes a strictly-enforced gangster blacklist to keep hoods out of their own casinos. Things get worse when Attorney General Robert Kennedy mounts his own war against the Syndicate, aided by the FBI.

But as the mob and the law battle it out, tourism gets a massive boost when Frank Sinatra’s Rat Pack comes to town. They define a swinging image of Sin City that proves unshakable.

Meanwhile, the mob is down but not out, hoping the incoming governor will ease the legal scrutiny. But their hopes are not going to be fulfilled.

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Transcript

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0:00.0	Hey, prime members, you can listen to business wars, add free on Amazon music.
0:04.6	Download the app today.
0:07.0	A note to listeners, this episode contains adult content.
0:17.8	It's July 1st, 1959 in Carson City.
0:24.9	Nevada's Democratic governor, Grant Sawyer, has been in office for six months.
0:29.6	At 40 years old, he's the youngest man ever elected.
0:33.3	Sawyer's a straight shooter who ran on an agenda that targeted the mob-infested gaming industry
0:38.4	of Las Vegas.
0:40.6	Sawyer steps up to the podium inside the Nevada State Capitol.
0:44.8	Good afternoon, gentlemen.
0:46.7	He surveys the crowd with his trademark-wide grin.
0:50.4	Sawyer's an affable guy, but he's not to be messed with.
0:54.0	After serving in the army during World War II, he took home a bronze star for heroism.
1:00.3	As you know, Nevada has been highly criticized in recent years for widespread organized
1:05.4	crime operating in the gaming industry in Las Vegas.
1:10.6	Today I'm signing the Gaming Control Act.
1:13.6	They will establish strict rules aimed at eliminating gangsters from our licensed casinos.
1:20.7	That crime is skimming millions of dollars from casino profits, money that should be accounted
1:26.7	for and taxed, both by the state and the federal government.
1:32.0	Mob representatives in the crowd exchange worried glances.
1:35.9	The bosses aren't going to like this, and Sawyer's not done.
1:40.3	I am also appointing a five-member gaming commission to establish gambling policy and
	...

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