It's so weird upon watching this that Las Vegas only exists because a mobster decided to have a huge casino hotel built on a bunch of worthless desert property. And that he wasn't even supposed to build it. Most everyone thought he was nuts. The Mafia had him killed for it. It wasn't supposed to exist. It's weird to think about.
shareThey had him killed because (1) they thought it was a stupid idea to make Las Vegas a gambling Mecca, and (2) his gf embezzled a ton of money. Number 2 had some merits. Number 1 was, to be kind, wrong on about 13 trillion levels.
shareLas Vegas didn't even really exist though from what the movie shows. It was a bunch of worthless desert property.
shareWasn't the deal that gambling could only be allowed in the United States, if at all, in Nevada?
That empty "worthless" desert state was chosen as the place where America could (1) gamble, (2) get divorces, (3) dump radioactive waste and (4) have legalized prostitution.
Over the decades, Atlantic City became a second gambling mecca, followed by Indian Casinos in many states. Divorces could be granted everywhere.
It looks like hookers and radioactive waste are all that got to stay.
Siegel didn't invent Las Vegas nor the concept of a gambling Casino.
What he did do was spark interest in developing it into a high end resort destination as well as a major entertainment venue.
https://lasvegassun.com/news/2021/jan/15/oldest-las-vegas-casino-golden-gate-celebrates-115/