The Black Book and the Mob: The Untold Story of the Control of Nevada's Casinos

2. Babylon in the Desert

2 Babylon in the Desert THE CULTURAL CONTEXT AND EARLY PERIOD In the minds of many, gambling is synonymous with Nevada. Indeed, it has always been an integral part of the state. Because of Nevada's long-standing reputation as the nation's gambling capital , it may come as a surprise that the state has historically had a strong Mormon influence. It was originally part of the Mormon state of Deseret that was established in 1849.1 These followers of Joseph Smith, or saints as they are referred to in the Mormon church, settled in Washoe County in the north, around Reno and the capital of Carson City. When the Comstock lode of gold and silver was discovered in 1860, the county was said to be ruled out of Salt Lake City, the capital of the Mormon church.2 Of predominately English and Scandinavian ancestry, Mormons are one of the millennial groups that migrated from New York and, in 1849, established the large part of their state of Deseret in what is now Utah and Nevada. Unlike the general pattern of millennial groups, they chose the Judaic, rather than the Christian, world view.3 They believe that their origins are with a sixth-century B.C. Near East voyager to Central America, a man of Jewish descent. One of the voyager's sons, Laman, who was cursed with a skin of blackness for his continual evilness, was the father of the Lamanites, a "dark and loathsome" people. The other son, Nephi, father of the Nephites, who symbolize good, was "white and delightsome."4 Mormons believe that they are the spiritual descendants of the fair-skinned people.5 These be19 Copyrighted Material THE EARLY PERIOD OF NEVADA GAMBLING liefs have contributed to a strong in-group-out-group orientation among Mormons.h Given this orientation, the early Mormon influen(e in northern Nevada may have contributed to the historical ,mtagonism that developed between this region and the less conservative Las Vegas in the south. Las Vegas has always been largely populated by non-Nevadans, which seems to have contributed to its being viewed by the north as "vulgarish [and] criminalish."7 These demographic and social patterns, and the north's position at the center of economic activity in the state until the 1950s--whether it was mining, railroads, livestock, or gambling-haw also meant that Las Vegas has not, until recently, been admitted to full participation in Nevada politics.8 Contributing to the early northern and Mormon influence in Nevada was the temporary intrusion of non-Nevadans into state government at the time of statehood. In 1865, Nevada came under the influence of major eastern and California investors, first in mining, then in railroads, and finally in livestock. Thes(~ industries were located in the north and had primarily absentee owners who were heavily involved in national and, to a lesser extent, state politics.9 Then, by the turn of the century, Nevada began to take control of its government, demanding that its officials be long-time natives. They were, therefore, of necessitv from the north. This practice has continued until very recently, regardless of changes in the location of the state's economic base, with Las Vegas now being its major contributor. Many of thl'se officials have also been Mormon. Although not as often from the north in more recent years, Mormons have, for example, traditionally occupied major roles in the state's most important Senate committees : finance, government affairs, and the judiciary. Iii To this day, Mormons continue to play major roles in Nevada state government, including the regulation of gambling. 11 Their morality and somewhat distinctive cultural experience are reflected in the ambivalence that surrounds law in this most important of the state's industries. Especially evident are the conflicts produced by the Mormon taboo system with its strid proscriptions against a plethora of hedonistic pleasures. proscriptions clearly at odds with the life-styles and activities that ,1Ccompany gambling.12 There is also the strong in-group-out-grollp orientation13 that seems to create difficulties in understanding ,md ac20 Copyrighted Material Babylon in the Desert cepting the plurality of ethnic groups that have been attracted to Nevada gambling as both patrons and industry entrepreneurs and personnel. At the same time, their cultural commitment to capitalist principles and the reality of the state's economic dependence on gambling have inclined Mormons to tolerate gambling and "try to...