Gambling in the USA
Writer and Crime Historian with Family Ties to the Outlaw Entrepreneurship of Early Las Vegas Gaming Shares His Stories at Casino Collectibles Show

You might say J. Michael Niotta, Ph.D., has a personal interest in the roots of gaming in Southern California and Las Vegas. His great grandfather was LA “Godfather” Jack Dragna who, along with partners like Benjamin “Bugsy” Siegel, helped pioneer the offshore gambling industry and the racing wire service. Many of the early casino pioneers of Las Vegas cut their teeth as part of West coast organized crime. Dr. Niotta spent a quarter century researching Southern California’s sometimes sordid past to author a history of the fascinating life of his Great Grandfather, and three other non-fiction books covering old money, bootlegging, gambling barons and Italian life in the 1940s. He recently appeared in the documentary American Mafia: The Rise and Fall of Organized Crime in Las Vegas, which covers Guy McAfee and Jack Dragna’s part in shaping early Las Vegas. Dr. Niotta has appeared as a subject matter expert on Disney+, NatGeo, and the Travel Channel and has lectured at the Las Vegas Mob Museum. His new book on the floating casinos of Southern California is due for release later this year.
J. Michael Niotta is happy to share his stories of the early history of organized crime at the Casino Collectibles Association’s 29th annual show. He will greet those attending the World’s Largest Casino Chip and Collectibles Show on day two from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Friday June 17, at the South Point Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas. The show runs Thursday, Friday and Saturday, June 16 -18, 2022.
The World’s Largest Casino Chip and Collectibles Show is open to the public and offers the
greatest collection of casino memorabilia, souvenirs and keepsakes ever assembled in a single location. Attendees will be able to browse souvenirs of nearly everything casino related, including gaming table chips, slot machines, slot cards, tokens and glass, dice, playing cards, matchbooks, menus, dinnerware, swizzle sticks, post cards, photos and more. Over 50 worldwide dealers will be on hand to offer attendees the unique opportunity to examine, buy, sell, or trade casino collectibles.
The Casino Collectibles Association is a club with over 1,000 members who passionately share the hobby of collecting and preserving the past. Show registration and admission is open to the public June 16, 10 AM – 5 PM (admission $10), June 17, 9 AM – 4 PM (admission $5) and June 18, 9 AM – 4 PM (admission is free).
Gambling in the USA
Major Casino Operators Ready to Invest if Georgia Lifts Casino Ban

As discussions about legalizing gambling in Georgia gain momentum, major casino operators like Wynn Resorts and Boyd Gaming are poised to lead the charge if the state changes its restrictive laws.
During a recent Georgia House study committee meeting, Christopher Gordon, president of Wynn Resorts’ development arm, expressed keen interest in building a multibillion-dollar casino should legal barriers be removed. Similarly, Boyd Gaming’s government affairs vice president Ryan Soultz highlighted Georgia’s market attractiveness.
Wynn’s model would be similar to its $2.6 billion Encore Boston Harbor, suggesting that a new Georgia casino could employ up to 4000 workers and contribute substantial gaming tax revenue.
Although specific locations have not been chosen, both companies have indicated they would need constitutional changes to move forward. Their willingness to invest heavily in the Peach State demonstrates a strong belief in the untapped potential of the state’s gambling market.
Such developments offer a compelling argument for lawmakers to consider gambling expansion, marking a shift toward economic incentives as a primary motivator for legislative change.
Should Georgia proceed with legalizing casino gambling, the legislative language will be crucial in shaping the industry’s landscape. Key proposals may include requiring casino companies to invest at least $1.2 billion per resort and generate a minimum number of jobs, often set at around 10,000 per license. This ensures that any developments bring tangible benefits to the local economy.
Additional legislative demands include rigorous background checks for key personnel, proven industry experience, and adherence to strict technical and financial standards. Only companies with substantial capital and robust infrastructure, like Wynn Resorts and Boyd Gaming, are likely to meet these stringent requirements.
Gambling in the USA
Plaza Hotel & Casino to welcome the U.S. National Champions Summerlin South All Stars to be TNT Ignitors for Welcome to the Weekend Friday Fireworks, next Friday, Sept. 5

The Plaza Hotel & Casino will welcome the U.S. National champions, the Summerlin South All Star team to be the special guest TNT Ignitors of the property’s Welcome to the Weekend Friday Fireworks show, next Friday, Sept. 5 at 9:15 p.m., taking place on the Plaza’s rooftop pool deck.
“Getting to ignite the Plaza’s amazing fireworks show is a great honor for the team,” said Chris Mallory, president of Summerlin South. “And we thank the Plaza and Jonathan for the warm welcome and fun celebration planned for the team, including a pizza party for them and their families.”
“All of Las Vegas is proud of the accomplishments that the Summerlin South team made in the All Star postseason,” said Jonathan Jossel, CEO of the Plaza Hotel & Casino. “We look forward to hosting the team and their families, and we hope all of their fans come out to celebrate with them and enjoy the fireworks show.”
The summer fireworks shows are staged from the top of the Plaza’s South Tower every Friday at 9:15 p.m. from May through September.
The public can watch the Welcome to the Weekend Friday Fireworks Show for free at the rooftop pool, at Carousel Bar under the Plaza’s iconic dome, and from in front of the Plaza on Main Street, which will be closed to vehicular traffic during the show for viewing the fireworks from Carson Avenue to Ogden Avenue.
The Plaza’s fireworks will be dependent on weather conditions and are subject to change or cancellation. Updates will be available on the Plaza’s social media channels, including Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.
Gambling in the USA
New Hampshire Charitable Gaming Revenue Hits $24.8M in July

New Hampshire charitable gaming revenue has reached $24.8 million last month, up from the previous year’s figure of $14.5 million, boosted by the opening of new casinos.
The latest figures come from the New Hampshire Lottery and Gaming Commission, which shows that of the 15 casinos, only four saw losses, while four others were not in operation last July.
The Nash Casino, which opened in March, generated the highest revenue of all the casinos – $5.8 million.
The highest year-over-year increase was seen by the Revo Casino Lebanon, which opened in a new location in December, and saw revenue rise by 321% from $387,836 to over $1.6 million.
Other notable rises were seen from the Lakes Region Casino, which generated an increase of 24% year-over-year and The Brook, which saw a 17% rise from $4.7 million to $5.5 million.
The biggest declines came from The Lucky Moose Casino, where profits dropped by 79% from $666,454 to $139,748, and the Gate City Casino, which saw profits fall by 16% from $2.7 million to $2.3 million.
Historic horse racing revenue rose by 85% year-over-year, from $10.6 million to $19.7 million, while games of chance revenue increased by 53% from $3.3 million to $5.1 million.
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