Riviera (Havana, Cuba) Archives

Anthony Zerilli Australia Bally Manufacturing Co. Bally Manufacturing Corp. Casino History Casino: Financings: Teamsters Pension Fund Chicago--Illinois Dino Cellini Gambling History Games / Races Games / Races: Games Creators / Manufacturers: Lion Manufacturing Co. Games / Races: Slot Machines / Fruities Gaming History Gerardo "Jerry" Catena It Really Happened Joseph D. Testa, Jr. London--England Meyer Lansky Michael Polizzi Mobsters / Gangsters / Syndicate Members (Alleged) / Organizations Nevada New Jersey Riviera (Havana, Cuba) United States

Mobster Ties: Blessing and Curse for Gambling Conglomerate (Part I)

1963-1970s With assorted help from Mobsters starting in 1963, a small Chicago, Illinois-based pinball game maker, which had begun as Lion Manufacturing Co. in the 1920s, grew into the world’s largest slot machine developer, Bally…

Albert Anastasia Casino History Charles "Lucky" Luciano Clifford "Cliff" A. Jones Cuba Desert Inn (Las Vegas, NV) Fremont Hotel and Casino (Las Vegas, NV) Gambling Gambling History Gambling Laws / Regulations Gaming History Governing / Regulatory Bodies: Nevada Gaming Control Board Hilton (Havana, Cuba) It Really Happened Jake Lansky Las Vegas--Nevada Meyer Lansky Nacional (Havana, Cuba) Nevada Politicians / Politics: Cuba President Fidel Castro Riviera (Havana, Cuba) Sands (Las Vegas, NV) Thunderbird (Las Vegas, NV) United States Wilbur Clark

Nevada Makes Gamblers Choose

1957-1959 During Nevada’s 1957 legislature, State Senator Kenneth Johnson (R-Ormsby), voiced his concerns about some of the state’s gambling licensees* simultaneously co-owning Cuban casinos. He feared that: • Nevada licensees might form alliances with U.S.…

Benjamin "Bugsy" Siegel Casino History Casino International (Havana, Cuba) Clifford "Cliff" A. Jones Cuba Desert Inn (Las Vegas, NV) Fremont Hotel and Casino (Las Vegas, NV) Gambling Gambling History Gaming History Hilton (Havana, Cuba) Hy Abrams It Really Happened Las Vegas--Nevada Moe Dalitz Morris Kleinmann Nacional (Havana, Cuba) Politicians / Politics: Cuba President Fulgencia Batista Riviera (Havana, Cuba) Thomas McGinty Thunderbird (Las Vegas, NV) United States Wilbur Clark

Cuban Casino Push

1952–1958 When Fulgencio Batista returned to power as president in Cuba in 1952, he aimed to foster a gambling empire from which he could generate revenue for his coffers. To facilitate casino development, he and…