11 mobsters were named in Nevada’s initial ‘Black Book’ in 1960

One of the reasons the Nevada Gaming Control Board’s List of Excluded Persons — the state’s so-called “Black Book” — came into existence is that Nevada regulators wanted to kick out mob influence and encourage corporate ownership of casinos.

While you’ll hear many long-time Las Vegans decry the end of the mob era and complain about how corporate giants have ruined the enjoyment of casinos for the average customer, lawmakers in the 1950s, ’60s and ’70s viewed the presence of gangsters to be detrimental to Nevada’s reputation.

There are 37 names in today’s “Black Book.” But originally, there were 11 names, all believed to be associated with organized crime in cities across the United States. Nevada regulators have tried to keep the number manageable because it’s the responsibility of the c