Really? Is Anybody Worried the Mob Might Have an Eye on Gambling in Chicago?
- Posted on June 4, 2011 at 5:46pm by
Scott Baker
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CHICAGO (AP) — The way Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel sees it, thousands of craps players and slot machine pullers would flock to his cash-strapped city if it gets into the gambling business. It’s a safe bet a seedier element will be right behind them.
This is Chicago, after all, where the shadow of Al Capone still looms, federal corruption trials appear like television reruns, and the remnants of the mob are sure to try for a piece of the action.
Illinois lawmakers voted this week to allow legal gambling for the first time in Chicago. Backers envision a new casino and video poker machines across the nation’s third-largest city, from its two international airports to corner bars. It’s part of an ambitious statewide expansion of gambling lawmakers have sent to Gov. Pat Quinn.
None of it sits well with the Chicago Crime Commission, whose public enemies list once included Scarface and other gangsters who based their bootlegging and other criminal enterprises out of Chicago.
“If the gaming legislation that passed becomes law, political corruption and crime syndicate infiltration will follow,” said J.R. Davis, president and chairman of the 92-year-old nonprofit organization that studies and promotes crime prevention in the city.
At least one former mobster agrees: Millions of dollars would be too enticing for the corrupt and the criminal.
“It’s a lifeline that whatever outfit guys are left are going to use,” said Frank Calabrese Jr., who wore an FBI wiretap to help convict his mobster father and later wrote a book about it. “As an outfit guy … I am going to get a piece of something somewhere.”
Lobbying by Emanuel, Chicago’s first new mayor in two decades, is credited for facilitating the plan’s approval. But neither he nor lawmakers who sponsored the legislation are talking specifics about how the city would thwart Davis’ prediction.
Emanuel said this week that there would be a “blue ribbon group” appointed if Quinn signs the legislation into law. Quinn has opposed an ambitious expansion of gambling in the state but supports the idea of a casino in Chicago, which is facing a budget shortfall of between $500 million and $700 million. Proponents say gambling will mean the state will collect $1.6 billion in upfront fees to those who what to set up shop in Illinois and then another $500 million a year. Emanuel said the casino also would keep gamblers and their money from crossing the state line to casinos in Indiana. “We lose $20 million, around, a month to Hammond, Ind.,” he said.
A leading proponent, Chicago Democratic Rep. Lou Lang, said there have been “zero scandals” with the state’s existing casinos. Lang argued that if the mob tried to move in, regulators would clamp down, like they did a few years ago when the state nixed a planned casino in suburban Rosemont after getting word investors may have had mob ties.
“To automatically link casinos with organized crime when there is no hint of that in Illinois to date … is a stretch,” said Lang, who has worked for years to expand gambling in Illinois.
But this is Chicago, where Capone based his bootlegging empire during Prohibition and Tony “Big Tuna” Accardo ran the show after that with, according to one estimate, 10,000 gambling spots. Chicago was Sam Giancana’s base of operations until his mob career ended in 1975 when he was gunned down as he fried up sausages at home. So notorious is the city‘s history of organized crime that tour guides offer specific routes to show off mob bosses’ former hangouts.
While the outfit is a shadow of its former self, it’s still here, and it has an interest in gambling.
Just last year, reputed mobster Michael “The Large Guy” Sarno was convicted of orchestrating the 2003 bombing of the suburban Chicago office of a rival video gaming company. The bombing, federal prosecutors said, was designed as a message to the company to stop horning in on a lucrative mob business.
Gambling expert William Thompson of the University of Nevada at Las Vegas said the mob would have a tough time gaining a foothold in Chicago casinos because investors wouldn’t shell out millions of dollars if there were even a hint of organized crime involvement.
“They’re wary of having criminal elements involved where they might lose their (gaming) license,” he said.
Regulation could be pricey, with some predicting it could cost millions to fund the small army that would be needed to monitor casinos, bars, restaurants, race tracks and other locations where thousands of slot and video poker machines could be set up.
“The way the Illinois Gaming Board operates, where people are able to gamble, we have agents present,” board spokesman Gene O’Shea said.
Still, Thompson believes mobsters would be lurking around the edges — many, many edges since the legislation calls for tripling the number of gaming tables, slot and video poker machines in Illinois to more than 39,000, including 4,000 in Chicago.
“The mob is going to come in on the side, run the loan shark businesses, have the prostitutes,” he said, adding that a loan shark could be someone sitting at a corner table or the bartender, pulling money out of the till. “There’s no way to police it.”
Even a weakened mob is strong enough to take advantage of a whole new revenue stream, said Gus Russo, author of a book about the Chicago mob called “The Outfit.” The mob’s history has been one of turning what people want — be it alcohol or gambling, drugs or prostitutes — into money.
“They’re like cockroaches. If they see a scam they will be a part of it,” Russo said. “And if they’re not a part of it, it will be the first time in history.”
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Comments (65)
Reality Shack
Posted on June 5, 2011 at 11:08amAnd the head mob member, the new mayor, will get a huge piece of that pie.
Report Post »LukeAppling
Posted on June 5, 2011 at 10:57amOf course, Emanuel, Quinn, Stroger, Blago all will have a hand in this -up to their elbows.
Report Post »jessieH
Posted on June 5, 2011 at 10:49amChicago got what they elected, a corrupt Mayor.
Report Post »threecats407
Posted on June 5, 2011 at 10:14amThe good news is that when it is mob run it will at least turn a profit and most will be untaxed and put back into the economy.
Report Post »BlackCrow
Posted on June 5, 2011 at 9:59amChicago? Mob = Democrat = Mob.
Report Post »Barry Soetoro
Posted on June 5, 2011 at 9:59amCitizens of Chicago, arn’t you proud of your little Raumy, You elected him, now you live with him.
Report Post »teddrunk
Posted on June 5, 2011 at 9:50amI fail to see the difference between The Mob, and Democrats. Well that’s unfair, The Mob has killed a lot less people.
Report Post »Redistributor
Posted on June 5, 2011 at 9:29am“To automatically link casinos with organized crime when there is no hint of that in Illinois to date … is a stretch,” said Lang, who has worked for years to expand gambling in Illinois.
and:
Gambling expert William Thompson of the University of Nevada at Las Vegas said the mob would have a tough time gaining a foothold in Chicago casinos because investors wouldn’t shell out millions of dollars if there were even a hint of organized crime involvement.
Cool…we’re good here in Chicago. They said so.
Report Post »teddrunk
Posted on June 5, 2011 at 9:19amThe story makes it sound like Chicago is not a vile crime ridden cess pool already. People in Illinois are proud that Chicago, that their entire state is one big criminal enterprise.
Report Post »Sean
Posted on June 5, 2011 at 9:18amyou have to remember that Chicago is not apart of the state of Illinois…the rest of Illinois just wants to push it in to Lake Michigan
Report Post »His Lamb is Satanic
Posted on June 5, 2011 at 9:17amWait! Rob Emanuel one of the last of his tribe, the Obamahicans, who were pushed into the Chicago area by Colonel Custer and the 7th cavalry. After the battle of the Little Weinerhorn the tribe had to scatter like the leaves from the trees. The only thing for certain was change would come in the form of Hope with Change. You know the Obama hope to turn us all into commies, and now you can expect 15 cents CHANGE out of every dollar earned. YO!……eleven! Pay the bar! Cocktails to table 7.
Report Post »Derfel Cadarn
Posted on June 5, 2011 at 9:05amLet us make the observation that elements do not get any seedier than government and Chicago government is vile. Organized crime is at least efficient and attempt to operate at a profit,of the two choices organized crime is the way to go.
Report Post »biglipnagger
Posted on June 5, 2011 at 8:39amThe mafia will clean up Chicago.
Report Post »exfire
Posted on June 5, 2011 at 6:48amThe thing that I like most about Rahm being mayor for Chicago…is that I live in Texas !!
Report Post »Anne G
Posted on June 5, 2011 at 6:11amHey, clear as a bell to me. Rahm would NEVER have to worry about financing his campaign again.
Report Post »Chicago, say hello to your FOREVER MAYOR.
wolverine
Posted on June 5, 2011 at 5:48amIllinois and Chicago has contributed the decline the USA than all the other states combined
Report Post »EP46
Posted on June 5, 2011 at 5:30amGreat way to ‘use’ the little people Chicago ! Let the corrupt rich set up gambling and poker machines and the fat calf will get fatter from the poor people gambling. Just another way to ‘use’ other people for their own means. I doubt Chicago could become ‘more’ corrupt, but it shows that they will use whatever means to increase their own wealth and power. Gambling, drugs, prostitution…..making money from human misery. I guess rahm promised this in order to get elected.
Report Post »nzkiwi
Posted on June 5, 2011 at 8:30amFagedaboudid!
Report Post »Cherynn
Posted on June 5, 2011 at 3:31amThis is Chicago, what do you expect? Just a little redistribution of wealth action going on here.
Report Post »neverending
Posted on June 5, 2011 at 2:02amI far more worried about the mob in Chicago having their eye on the 2012 election.
Report Post »BoilitDown
Posted on June 5, 2011 at 2:19amTrue, that is a very big concern. Just about the dirtiest politics in the country are centered in Chcago.
Report Post »BoilitDown
Posted on June 5, 2011 at 1:59amThe sign might as well read, “The Illinois & Chicago Mob Casino”. It‘s not like it’s a big secret.
Report Post »BoilitDown
Posted on June 5, 2011 at 2:05amThey could use the same motto as the State of Illinois“Bleed The Poor Saps Dry”.
Report Post »264win
Posted on June 5, 2011 at 1:59amIt really doesn’t make any difference because the mob or government are both criminals.
To be honest I trust the mob more than I do the politicians!
Steal the money from the tax payers and give it to the special intrst groups.
Politicians enjoy your lobster and 300 dollar bottles of wine because it is comming to a end soon.
Report Post »Rowgue
Posted on June 5, 2011 at 1:58amThey didn’t clamp down on the Rosemont deal after they found that the investors were possibly tied to the mob.
They ignored the blatant mob ties. It was investigative journalists that brought the shady investors to light. The “regulators” tried to ignore the story and poo poo it as rumor mongering and slander. They pressed on stating that the casino would continue as planned. It was only after months of story after story about the ludicrous situation, and public outrage that reached a fever pitch that they finally bowed to public pressure and revoked the gaming license that had been issued for the casino.
Report Post »Bonnieblue2A
Posted on June 5, 2011 at 1:13amOh please. The casinos in Chicago were a payback to Donald Trump for making birthers look stupid.
Report Post »SageInWaiting
Posted on June 5, 2011 at 1:58am“The Donald” got the gambling concession on our ships… the USS Ronald Reagan pulls into port and opens her hanger deck to the public. What are a few less planes when that space can be used for Black Jack and one-armed bandits? Besides, due to deficit driven cuts in the defense budget, we don’t have the money for those planes anyway and those assets can be used for more peaceful and productive purposes. In Resident Obama’s eyes, making the Reagan into a floating casino is poetic justice.
Report Post »Cold War Vet
Posted on June 5, 2011 at 1:04amAdd your comments
Report Post »Cold War Vet
Posted on June 5, 2011 at 1:03amThis is right up Chicago’s alley. Crime and corruption. Soon, the whole city counsel, mayor’s office, maybe even Rahm himself, along with law enforcement and judges can get in on it. Crime and corruption is Chicago’s number-one export! They gave us voters in cemeteries, Acorn, Blagojevic, the list goes on and on.
Report Post »Polwatcher
Posted on June 5, 2011 at 5:59amI go to a gambling casino once every two or three years and have a good time. What bothers me are the “regulars” who are gambling addicts that I see all around. Just like drinking, some people can’t stop. Maybe there should be places where addicted gamblers can go to dry out.
Report Post »The_Almighty_Creestof
Posted on June 5, 2011 at 6:06amDon’t forget to award extra “High Roller Points” to those gambling with their welfare/unemployment/food stamp money.
Report Post »nzkiwi
Posted on June 5, 2011 at 7:19amRahm Emanuel is tough, bright, and a nasty piece of work. Not eligible to stand as mayor? Taken care of. Need support of a less virtuous kind? Open casinos. Need cash? Ditto.
If Mr Emanuel was seriously trying to promote his city and improve the lot of its inhabitants, then he would make the city more business friendly. As it is, neighbouring states are trying to woo businesses to their states – most notably Gov. Christie. And its working, too.
This is not the 1930′s Mr Emanuel. People are better educated, better supplied with information, harder to fool, and more mobile. There is competition amongst states now for the best business people to set up shop in their state.
I don’t think that the residents of Chicago are going to like the eventual outcome.
Report Post »canuck44
Posted on June 5, 2011 at 8:15amWrong headline…should have read: “Does anyone not think the mob will be deeply involved in the Illinois Gambling?”
Report Post »MidWestMom
Posted on June 5, 2011 at 8:50am“The way Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel sees it, thousands of craps players and slot machine pullers would flock to his cash-strapped city if it gets into the gambling business.”
Wow. Another fund raiser for the progressive socialist movement.
Report Post »pavnvet
Posted on June 5, 2011 at 8:53am@ polwatcher… There are warnings at every casino… If you have a problem call Gamblers Anonymous. If everyone went to a casino once every two or three years, you wouldn‘t be going at all since the wouldn’t be in business.
Gambling can be addiction or it can be a diversion and entertainment. I am not married, retired and have a lot of time on my hands. So, once a week I take a nice drive through the country side here and spend about 6 hours at the Casino. I have a limit, and if reached I will get something to eat or just leave. Your insinuation that most people that regularly go to a casino are somehow degenerates is way off base.
I use to go to Vegas back in the day when organized crime was part of the scene. You know what? It was more fun, better comps and better entertainment. Today, Vegas reminds me of a made up prostitute past her time prostitute. You can kind of get the same service, but it sure wasn’t as good as it once was.
Atlantic City over regulated the industry and that took its toll. Who knows what Chicago will do? Wait, when I was last there, I got pulled over by a cop and handed him a fifty so he wouldn’t write a ticket… I think we all know the answer to this question.
Report Post »oldbullsfan
Posted on June 5, 2011 at 9:30amYour list is incomplete. You forgot numero uno. You forgot about Balack Insane O’vomit in your list of Chicago contributions to the downfall of America?
Report Post »dizzyinthedark
Posted on June 5, 2011 at 9:46amHistory repeating itself. The 1920′s & 30′s bootleg and depression: no booze, no jobs=no money, people out of work=depression and the need for drink. Add to this prostitution. Capone saw the opportunity to make some money off this disaster so he took advantage and built an empire, so did others–start of the turf wars. Greasing of the politician’s palms, money for the city, parks being built to put up a false front that Capone was for the people, money for the hospitals, etc. Police too getting some of the payoff to keep them looking the other way and the merry-go-round keeps on turning. I see Rahm’s reasoning here, his city is unable at this time to bring in money and he sees this is the only way. Yeah right, let’s deal with the devil, shall we?! Sure, they are on the up and up. We‘ll ’legalize’ it, it will all be above board–wink, wink!
I foresee Mt. Carmel Cemetery, outside the City of Chicago will be a very busy place in the near future. Make room Al, your blood brothers coming home!
Report Post »TAXLORDCOMETH
Posted on June 5, 2011 at 9:46amCasinos have worked out so well in saving Detroit. Why wouldn’t Chicago follow such a successful model.
Report Post »VerySeniorCitizen
Posted on June 5, 2011 at 10:06amDidn’t Iowa have the same outrage a few years ago. What happened in Right-Wing Iowa? Well, the riverboats happened (between Iowa, Illinois and Wisconsin.
What do you all think the Powerball is, or scratch tickets. Are they NOT gambling??
Report Post »Vickie Dhaene
Posted on June 5, 2011 at 10:16amChicago and the whole state of Ill. deserve what ever hell that is about to break loose. They vote these people in knowing full well how everything works in “CHICAGO”. I HAVE NO SYMPATHY OR EMPATHY FOR THESE PEOPLE !!!
Report Post »Cemoto78
Posted on June 5, 2011 at 10:47amJust think of the revenue they will receive from food stamps, welfare checks, and the like. Money laundering, what’s that? Nothing to see here
Report Post »TomFerrari
Posted on June 5, 2011 at 11:22amREALLY?
That is going to cause Chicago to BECOME corrupt???
REALLY?
Report Post »GODSAMERICA
Posted on June 5, 2011 at 9:28pmWell what’s new about this story? If it is made legal and Rahm is using it, is there any difference between him and the mob doing it (or perhaps their both the exact same thing)?
Report Post »jackrorabbit
Posted on June 6, 2011 at 9:12amGambling is the only thing left to save Chicago’s economy.
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