"A Minnesota company with major casino interests in Michigan, Louisiana and Mississippi has links to, and may be controlled by, an associate of New York's Genovese Mafia family, according to federal affidavits...
A combined federal and state gambling task force raided the offices of International Gaming Management Inc. in St. Louis Park Thursday, using a search warrant that alleges racketeering, money laundering, securities fraud and other violations" (Ison and Kilzer, July 29, 1994).
"A new prospectus also reveals Illinois Gaming Board officials refused to grant the [Alton] Belle [riverboat casino] a permanent license last summer because a top official had ties to organized crime. The official later resigned" (United Press 1993).
"The indictment...of eight people in an alleged blackjack cheating scheme at a Biloxi casino is the latest evidence of organized crime's varied attempts to infiltrate the gambling industries of Louisiana and Mississippi" (The Times-Picayune 1995).
"With just days to go before the state [Louisiana] picks a winner, both companies competing to operate the state's monopoly casino at the Rivergate think they've found in the opposition a fatal flaw: a whiff of the mob" (Donze and Finch 1993).
Samuel Manarite, who has "an extensive criminal record and was reputed to have ties to the Mafia," and his wife Jeanne, were indicted on January 26, 1993 on charges of "conspiracy, money laundering, wire fraud, interstate transportation and receipt of stolen property, and aiding and abetting." The charges stemmed, in part, from their participation in a chip-cashing scheme and a credit scam at the Maxim casino (U.S. vs Samuel and Jeanne Manarite).
"`By controlling the supply of alcoholic beverages, food and nonalcoholic beverages, garbage handlers, vending machine providers, linen supplies, maintenance service and construction companies, casino management can be placed in a compromising position by organized crime,' according to a study by the Illinois State Police" (Montero and Rollenhagen 1995).
