Interview, Fireside Chat, Statement, Product Demonstration
Son of a Gambling Man: My Journey from a Casino Family to the Governor's Mansion
- Upcoming Event Announcement: The 2014 lineup features a session on January 21 with Harvard researchers Aris Aydin and Jean-Baptiste Michel to discuss Uncharted Big Data as a Lens on Human Culture.
- Book Availability: Governor Bob Miller will remain at the event to sign copies of his autobiography, available for purchase at the Barnes & Noble location on-site.
- Industry Transformation (Capital Access): For nearly a decade prior to 1978, major financial institutions refused to provide capital to gaming companies due to perceived mafia associations; this stance shifted only after the industry demonstrated mathematical rigor and transparency.
- Corporate Evolution: Fortune magazine later rated Mirage Resorts as the second most admired company in the world, marking a transition from an industry with no capital access to a globally recognized leader.
- Regional Growth Strategy: Nevada's economic dominance, characterized by doubling its population every decade in the 20th century, was partly facilitated by Northern Nevada's "no growth" zoning strategies, which allowed Las Vegas to absorb the state's development.
- Arts Infrastructure: The high cost of production in Las Vegas ($100 million+ sets) attracted global talent, shifting the center of high-end entertainment from New York to Nevada venues like Cirque du Soleil.
- Medical Advancements: Governor Miller facilitated the construction of the Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health at the Cleveland Clinic through his partnership with Larry Ruvo.
- Historical Context (1955): Upon Miller's arrival, Las Vegas was a small community of approximately 55,000 people where the "Strip" began as a result of a council tax hike that drove hotel construction beyond city limits (Sahara Boulevard).
- Key Visionaries:
- Bugsy Siegel: Built the Flamingo (1946/1947), introducing the "resort" concept (ranch style) to replace downtown saloons; murdered after exceeding his budget.
- Gus Greenbaum: Chairman of the Riviera board; murdered in Phoenix, Arizona, likely by the mob.
- Jay Sarno: Created the first themed hotels (Caesars Palace, Circus Circus); Miller's father partnered with Sarno despite the younger Miller's initial skepticism.
- Howard Hughes: Purchased the Desert Inn, Frontier, Silver Slipper, and Stardust for roughly $12.5 million, introducing respectability, accounting oversight, and a shift toward room/restaurant revenue.
- Steve Wynn: Built the Mirage ($630 million) in 1989; introduced exterior architectural attraction (volcanic eruption theme) rather than just internal theming, with opening day revenues of $2 million.
- Financing Shifts: Early gaming financing relied on cash from unnamed sources or the Teamsters Central States Pension Fund (under Jimmy Hoffa); conventional banking only emerged with the arrival of legitimate investors like Jerry Mack and Perry Thomas.
- Regulatory Milestones: Federal indictments regarding "skimming" (income tax evasion) in the 1970s initiated a shift toward national oversight and the eventual exile of organized crime from the industry.
- Miller's Legal Career: Served as a bailiff, District Attorney (1981–1991), and Governor (1999–2007); as DA, he championed victims' rights, refusing plea bargains without victim approval, and helped secure the renewal of America's Most Wanted on Fox TV.
- Political Opposites & Attacks: Miller faced election challenges based on his father's past; a 1994 Senate bid attack involving Tony Spolatro ("The Ant") and Carl Thomas was debunked by law enforcement testimony, with Las Vegas Sheriff John Moran famously stating, "If Bob Miller is organized crime, so is the Pope."
- Al Gore's Recruitment: Al Gore and President Clinton actively recruited Miller for the U.S. Senate after Dick Bryan left office; Miller declined, citing a lack of desire for a permanent political career.
- Current Economic Status: Las Vegas population has slowed to roughly 2 million after a recession; while Macau generates six times the gaming revenue, Las Vegas maintains a unique advantage in live shows, dining, and hospitality culture.
- Economic Diversification: Nevada remains the top gold producer in the U.S. (third globally), with new efforts by companies like Zappos and Amazon to diversify the state's economy beyond hospitality and mining.
- Water Security: The Colorado River, vital to Southern Nevada, was allocated before the state's population boom; current strategies involve water pooling and potential diversion from Eastern Nevada aquifers, a source of significant regional conflict.
- Internet Gambling: Two Nevada-based companies are already profitable with limited online access; while inevitable, regulatory hurdles regarding taxation and cross-border jurisdiction remain unresolved at the federal level.
- Family Legacy: Miller's son, Ross, serves as Nevada Secretary of State (2nd term) and is a 2012 "Ten Young Americans to Watch" honoree; Ross follows in his father's path as a moderate politician in an increasingly polarized era.
- Personal Discipline: Governor Miller reports that he was never approached with bribes or offers from organized crime figures, citing his law enforcement background and immediate rejection of inappropriate overtures (e.g., the Alan Dorfman phone call) as deterrents.
- Legacy Statement: Miller attributes the transformation of Las Vegas from a "piranha" den of illicit finance to a globally admired, legally compliant industry to the cumulative vision of Siegel, Sarno, Hughes, and Wynn, combined with the state's legal enforcement leadership.