<P> The `` Mafia / Rat Pack '' Las Vegas of the mid-20th century came to a gradual end in the 1980s with the aging out of the World War II generation , the decline of organized crime elements , and the rise of baby boomer entrepreneurs who began a new chapter in the city 's history , the so - called megaresort era . Las Vegas began to become a more commercialized , family - oriented place with large corporations coming to own the hotels , casinos , and nightclubs in place of Mafia bosses . The megaresort era kicked off in 1989 with the construction of The Mirage . Built by developer Steve Wynn , it was the first resort built with money from Wall Street , selling $630 million in junk bonds . Its 3,044 rooms , each with gold tinted windows , set a new standard for Vegas luxury and attracted tourists in droves , leading to additional financing and rapid growth on the Las Vegas Strip . Numerous landmark hotels and other structures were razed to make way for ever - larger and more opulent resorts including : </P>
<P> The `` Mafia / Rat Pack '' Las Vegas of the mid-20th century came to a gradual end in the 1980s with the aging out of the World War II generation , the decline of organized crime elements , and the rise of baby boomer entrepreneurs who began a new chapter in the city 's history , the so - called megaresort era . Las Vegas began to become a more commercialized , family - oriented place with large corporations coming to own the hotels , casinos , and nightclubs in place of Mafia bosses . The megaresort era kicked off in 1989 with the construction of The Mirage . Built by developer Steve Wynn , it was the first resort built with money from Wall Street , selling $630 million in junk bonds . Its 3,044 rooms , each with gold tinted windows , set a new standard for Vegas luxury and attracted tourists in droves , leading to additional financing and rapid growth on the Las Vegas Strip . Numerous landmark hotels and other structures were razed to make way for ever - larger and more opulent resorts including : </P>
when did the mafia lose control of las vegas
when did the mafia lose control of las vegas
the 1980s
the 1980s