License to Steal: Nevada's Gaming Control System in the Megaresort Age

Gambling

by Jeff Burbank

Murder, the Mob, prostitution, drugs, innovative (but illegal) financial dealings, and the brilliant use of technology for ill-gotten gain, all have been involved in the schemes of unscrupulous casino owners, employees, and gamblers throughout the decades of legal gambling. Gaming in Nevada is more stringently controlled than anywhere else in the United States, and in License to Steal, investigative reporter and editor Jeff Burbank provides a lively and highly readable case history account of some of the most significant--and most fascinating--cases adjudicated by the Nevada Gaming Control Board and Commission during a pivotal time for the growing gaming industry. It is the responsibility of these two agencies to review the licensing of new and established casinos, investigate reports of suspected wrongdoing, and punish those found guilty. In providing a balanced and objective yet very entertaining account of these sometimes complex cases, Jeff Burbank uses legal documents, meeting transcripts, insider interviews, and contemporary newspaper reports. The book is enhanced by the author's lively and informative recent interviews with key figures in gaming regulation, past and present.

288 pages, Hardcover

First published July 1, 2000

Reviews

[Anjan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Don't judge this book by its title. "License To Steal" may mislead a reader by suggesting the book writes from a polarized Anti-Casino Point of View. Excluding the first three letters of the title on this book, there is no other instance of the text lambasting the gaming industry.

This book is worth the time of those interested in learning how the Nevada Gaming Control System operates. It provides neutral exposition regarding Nevada's Gaming Control System history, profiles key figures, and provides well sources briefs of licensing hearings. The sum content can help a reader sketch a mental model of how the gaming control system operates.