What was it like to bring kids to Las Vegas?
Alvin had no idea what everyone else thought about it, but he found it extremely awkward.
Unless you used bodyguards to shield them from the outside world and everyone in it, you'd find that sex and money were everywhere.
Many of the famous shows here were packaged as "topless performances." The performers were skilled, and the shows were lavishly staged, but they still couldn't escape the nature of Las Vegas.
Could Alvin keep the kids locked up? No chance...
A bunch of lively kids, like little ponies, couldn't be contained in a hotel room.
Especially a kid like Nick. Alvin figured that if he didn't get Nick out of there soon, Nick would start his own gang at Caesars Palace.
In just two days, Nick had gathered his buddies and a bunch of local Las Vegas kids, and they were already preparing to compete with the local runners for business.
The young men who worked as runners helped high rollers place bets on horse races, sports, and any other kind of gambling. They'd formed a loose-knit circle.
Once that circle began to take shape, someone had deliberately raised the bar for entry. They even had designated guarantors, who started demanding hefty deposits from the runners.
It had become very difficult for poor local kids to get in, and eventually, several powerful gangs had emerged.
Of course, strictly speaking, this was illegal. Runners were only needed when someone was placing a cash bet and couldn't show their face.
Large sums of cash often meant crime and dirty money...
Nick had met a few guys in the business while touring the Gangster Museum.
The museum was supposed to document the legendary stories of various gangs and, along the way, warn future generations.