Part II, Chapters 6-7 Summary and Analysis

Chapter 6: Into Atlantic City

If Las Vegas was Wynn's dream, Atlantic City was merely an up and coming passion, a beast that could be conquered by the industry giant. In 1977, Atlantic City legalized gambling in its seaside town. At that point, Atlantic City was nothing to behold. It was run down, shabby, and filled with all sorts of unsavory characters, from petty thieves to drug traffickers to the mafia. The hope was that the legalization of gambling would revitalize the city. New Jersey Governor Brendan Byrne expressed grave concern that the newly introduced gaming industry would attract members of the New York and New Jersey crime families. The mob had a good laugh over the fear, since the mob had a longstanding presence in Atlantic City and they weren't going anywhere.

The mafia presence may...