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Crime and gambling have one thing in common in that they have both been around since the dawn of mankind. But so have many other human traits, so their length of co-existence is no indicator that they are otherwise linked. But are there other factors that may provide that information? We’ll take a look at the two and see what a process of deduction can unfold.

We can take certain infamous figures from recent history and see a connection straight away. Ted Binion, Benjamin “Bugsy” Siegal, Antonio “the Ant” Spilotro and Herbert "Fat Herbie" Blitzstein were all major casino management and operations figures as well as being convicted felons. Each shared another factor in having their lives prematurely terminated by murder, being committed by family member, friend or business associate.

It is real life stories such as these that have fired the imaginations of writers, documentary and film makers alike and have brought us the fascination of the criminal underworld mixed up with seedy casino owners and an exaggeration of its romanticism and cult status by the movie industry. However, does this categorically prove that a link exists between gambling and crime?

Despite the common belief that it does, there have been a number of probing academic studies that have dispersed the myth by finding no concrete evidence to suggest that there is any firm link between crime and gambling. In March 1998, findings were published by Annals of the American Academy of Political and Social Sciences researchers William J. Miller and Martin D. Schwartz that maintain the fact that any activity which produces an increase in human traffic will result in increased street crime. This points out that there is no real evidence to suggest that there is any difference in effect between gambling attractions and tourist attractions. They concluded that there is no compelling evidence suggesting that there is anything unique about gambling establishments such as casinos that would cause any increase in crime.

This leaves us with no clear cut link between gambling and criminal behaviour, or that one leads to the other. However, there is adequate documented evidence that does suggest that people who are on the run from the law, which naturally includes criminals and convicted felons, do have a tendency to be drawn to gambling establishments. It may come as no surprise to learn that both Las Vegas and Atlantic City can certainly be thought of as infamous for harbouring fugitives that are attracted to these cities from every corner of the globe.

The reason for this is not known for certain, but it is believed that such places are easier to blend in with the crowd and therefore make it harder to find them if they keep their heads down, or lay low. It is known however, that gambling establishments have always drawn a certain type of person like a moth to a flame, such as hustlers, con artists, drug dealers, risk takers, gangsters and prostitutes.

The city of Las Vegas was founded by criminals, after all, so it’s no wonder that it is a magnet for every kind of law breaker along with every novice gambler who has convinced themselves that they will make their fortune at the tables along The Strip.  

The city’s Task Force, known as the Las Vegas Fugitive Apprehension Team actually books more felons at large than those of Los Angeles or New York.

So while centres for gambling have always had a reputation for being a place to wind down and wager a measly few dollars here and there, they are also much more besides. Being traditional oases where people can escape to from the hard working deserts of their normal humdrum lives, there is always going to be that perceived connection to criminal activity. This is likely caused by the compulsive behaviour that tends to attribute itself to frequenters of casinos and gamblers in general as well as to those who turn to criminal activity, be it small or big time.

Where there are people who are afflicted with any addiction or addictive behavioural traits, be it drugs, sex, alcohol or gambling, there will be people who fall into the category of the compulsive, impulsive or obsessive character. It is these that are seen to behave either strangely or illegally. The very fact of their preferred haunts being casinos and other gambling establishments will always be perceived by those outside and apart from that side of life as being the undeniable proof linking crime and gambling inextricably together.