Columnist Jeff German: Organized crime not a priority of new federal gaming study

Thursday, Nov. 6, 1997 | 10:12 a.m.

TWO DECADES of mob-busting have done wonders for the casino industry's image.

In 1976, the primary focus of the last nationwide study of gambling in America was organized crime.

Last week, a 12-page report by the National Gambling Impact Study Commission, which is spearheading the latest industry review, devoted only one paragraph to the subject when plotting out its research plans for the next 18 months.

With little hype, the commission suggested it might want to conduct a survey to tell us what has transpired on the mob front the last two decades.

What such a survey would find is that state and federal lawmen, especially in Nevada, have done a pretty good job of ferreting out organized crime's hidden casino interests.

True, the mob still wields influence in the industry in states, such as Louisiana, that have young regulatory systems.

And like other major American cities, organized crime still maintains a presence in Las Vegas.

But gone are the days when Mafia kingpins had people in place here to skim profits from casinos.

Tougher regulations, stricter enforcement and a new corporate mentality in the industry all have contributed to this cleaner image.

Today, researchers aren't concerned about finding a mobster behind every slot machine, but rather how gaming affects suicide, divorce and bankruptcy rates.

Does gambling lead to pathological behavior? Does it result in more domestic violence and child abuse?

Or does it play a role in reducing unemployment and taking people off welfare?

These are the questions the new study will attempt to answer.

If you want to know which wise guys are doing what to whom, you'll have to look elsewhere.

One local underworld figure is getting a temporary reprieve from the state Gaming Control Board.

The board has put off deciding whether to nominate Peter Ribaste to the Black Book until January.

Ribaste, a reputed associate of the Kansas City mob, was scheduled to go before the board this month.

But board members want to wait for the outcome of his tax evasion trial in Kansas City in December before moving against him.

If he's convicted, he'll be a slam dunk for the list of people barred from casinos.

Ribaste has come under fire for obtaining a $100,000 loan from suspended Horseshoe Club executive Ted Binion.

The board wants to revoke Binion's suspended license in part over his association with Ribaste.

Culinary Union negotiations with 39 Las Vegas casinos continue to move along at a snail's pace.

The union plans another demonstration outside Caesars Palace at 5 p.m. Monday to protest the slowed talks.

Caesars is owned by ITT Corp., which is fighting a hostile takeover bid by Hilton Hotels. ITT favors a competing buyout by the Starwood Lodging Corp.

The union rally comes two days before ITT shareholders meet to consider both offers.

Caesars officials have not met with the union since its last demonstration outside the Strip resort in October.

The union is seeking a new five-year contract for its members. The old one expired in May.

Maybe cases of police misconduct are being reported too frequently.

But Metro Police seem to be overly protective about one investigation into allegations that two bike cops beat up a homeless man downtown.

The beating, which occurred a few weeks ago, was witnessed by a deputy district attorney and a court clerk.

The deputy DA reported the incident to Metro's internal affairs, but subsequently found that being a good citizen can have a downside.

Police told the deputy they were reluctant to pursue the case unless she passed a polygraph.

Questioning the credibility of the deputy didn't exactly go over well at the DA's office.

When was the last time a citizen reporting a crime had to take lie detector test to get police to take action?

After some high-level discussions between Metro and the DA's office, the deputy, with the backing of her superiors, decided against taking a polygraph. It was a matter of principle.

Since then, there's been no word on whether the department has pursued the case against the two bike cops.

Something's not right here.