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Things Left Unsaid: My Dad, the Mob, and Growing Up in the Nevada Gaming Industry
In this true story, an unexpected revelation upends a son’s understanding of everything he thought he knew about his father—setting him on a journey of discovery as he attempts to piece together the truth.
After Glenn Wichinsky’s parents divorced, his mother took him and his siblings away from their father’s questionable life choices. Glenn grew up in a sheltered South Florida neighborhood, dreaming of becoming a meteorologist. It wasn’t until he was thirteen, on a visit to Las Vegas to see the father he barely knew, that Glenn’s eyes opened to a wider world. A far cry from his life in Florida, the trips he made to the Sands Hotel and Casino over the years to see his father felt like living in a movie. Michael “Mickey” Wichinsky, a respected and noted pioneer in the slot machine and gaming industry, led a life of intrigue—where showgirls, glitz, and glamour sparkled around every corner and backroom deals with mobsters were simply part of doing business.
It was only after his father’s death that Glenn discovered how deep the ties had been between Mickey and the Mob, forcing him to reconcile his father’s early life and work in Las Vegas with his understanding of the kind and generous man he knew. Told with honesty, heart, and deep self-reflection, Things Left Unsaid is both a personal odyssey and a fascinating dive into the history of the Nevada gaming industry by a man trying to reframe the story of his father’s past—and his own.
After Glenn Wichinsky’s parents divorced, his mother took him and his siblings away from their father’s questionable life choices. Glenn grew up in a sheltered South Florida neighborhood, dreaming of becoming a meteorologist. It wasn’t until he was thirteen, on a visit to Las Vegas to see the father he barely knew, that Glenn’s eyes opened to a wider world. A far cry from his life in Florida, the trips he made to the Sands Hotel and Casino over the years to see his father felt like living in a movie. Michael “Mickey” Wichinsky, a respected and noted pioneer in the slot machine and gaming industry, led a life of intrigue—where showgirls, glitz, and glamour sparkled around every corner and backroom deals with mobsters were simply part of doing business.
It was only after his father’s death that Glenn discovered how deep the ties had been between Mickey and the Mob, forcing him to reconcile his father’s early life and work in Las Vegas with his understanding of the kind and generous man he knew. Told with honesty, heart, and deep self-reflection, Things Left Unsaid is both a personal odyssey and a fascinating dive into the history of the Nevada gaming industry by a man trying to reframe the story of his father’s past—and his own.
204 pages, Kindle Edition
Published January 20, 2026
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January 7, 2026Things Left Unsaid is a deeply personal, reflective memoir that explores identity, legacy, and truth through the lens of a complicated father son relationship set against the fascinating history of the Nevada gaming industry.
Glenn E. Wichinsky invites readers into his journey of discovery as he pieces together the life of his father, Michael “Mickey” Wichinsky a respected pioneer in the slot machine and gaming world whose professional success was intertwined with the mob influenced era of early Las Vegas. The contrast between Glenn’s sheltered upbringing in South Florida and his eye opening visits to the Sands Hotel and Casino creates a vivid, almost cinematic backdrop that pulls the reader in.
What truly sets this book apart is its emotional honesty. Rather than sensationalizing organized crime, Wichinsky approaches the subject with maturity and restraint, focusing instead on reconciliation, understanding, and the complexities of love and legacy. The revelations uncovered after his father’s death are handled with care, allowing the story to resonate on a deeply human level.
Things Left Unsaid works beautifully as both a heartfelt memoir and an insightful historical account. Readers interested in true stories, family dynamics, and the hidden history of Nevada’s gaming industry will find this book compelling, thoughtful, and memorable.
Glenn E. Wichinsky invites readers into his journey of discovery as he pieces together the life of his father, Michael “Mickey” Wichinsky a respected pioneer in the slot machine and gaming world whose professional success was intertwined with the mob influenced era of early Las Vegas. The contrast between Glenn’s sheltered upbringing in South Florida and his eye opening visits to the Sands Hotel and Casino creates a vivid, almost cinematic backdrop that pulls the reader in.
What truly sets this book apart is its emotional honesty. Rather than sensationalizing organized crime, Wichinsky approaches the subject with maturity and restraint, focusing instead on reconciliation, understanding, and the complexities of love and legacy. The revelations uncovered after his father’s death are handled with care, allowing the story to resonate on a deeply human level.
Things Left Unsaid works beautifully as both a heartfelt memoir and an insightful historical account. Readers interested in true stories, family dynamics, and the hidden history of Nevada’s gaming industry will find this book compelling, thoughtful, and memorable.
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