Part 6/9:
Federal Crackdown and Legitimacy
As the 1960s progressed, controlling interests in Las Vegas began shifting. Figures like Howard Hughes entered the scene, purchasing hotel casinos and employing former FBI agents to facilitate legitimate ownership. This signaled the beginning of the end for mob rule.
With increasing federal heat, including the efforts of Attorney General Robert Kennedy, the stranglehold of organized crime began to weaken. By the 1980s, the mob's influence waned significantly, giving room for corporate entities to invest in Las Vegas. The infamous RICO (Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations) Act allowed law enforcement to pursue mobsters more efficiently, leading to a decline in their operations.