Mob in Las Vegas Overview

Video compliments of the Travel Channel

From Mormons to the mob to modern-day glam, Las Vegas wouldn't be what it is today without a little help from some colorful gangsters.

What began as a small Mormon settlement had, by the early 20th century, morphed into a hot bed of prostitution, gambling and other naughty pursuits. Sensing untapped potential in this Nevada badland, New York organized crime bosses Meyer Lansky and Frank Costello sent Bugsy Siegel to Sin City in 1937. Less than 10 years later, Siegel had schmoozed his way into Vegas' inner circle and opened the first casino, the Flamingo, in 1946. To this day, Siegel is referred to as "the man who made Las Vegas," though he was murdered a year after his hotel opened.

The Chicago mob, commonly known as the Outfit, found its way to Vegas a few years later, opening the Desert Inn, the Riviera and the Stardust (the famous hang out of the Rat Pack). But their reign was to be short-lived. Mob activity was finally squelched in the 1970s and 1980s after a wave of arrests and legislation allowing corporations to own casinos. The mob was quickly bought out of Vegas, which left entrepreneurs, like Steve Wynn, a prime opportunity to revamp the Strip. He opened several new casinos starting in the 1990s, including the Bellagio and the Wynn.

Though the mob is gone, it certainly isn't forgotten. Visitors can get a taste of Vegas' mobster past through shows like The Soprano's Last Supper, tours like the Vegas Mob Tour and a forthcoming mob museum.