1619-1-18 Jack Kassewitz-MIA Beach had gambling casinos at one time Jack Kassewitz NEWS
h 617 J 1976
Miami Beach had gambling casinos at one time
Legalized casino gambling. as front door.telephone and pencil In The Risiera Club on Sunny asks ods gambling spots being the IT
proposed by Dade Reps. Paul hand. Bl d was n•-<:ribed by a deputy Club on US I.just youth of Fort
Steinberg and Charles Papy_. In Surfside,the Brook Club ran sheriff in a 1951 raid as a"bust- Lauderdale and to Boheme in Hal-
would be new for Miami Beach. wide open on the site of the pros- out joint" with croeaed wheels landale.The latter was owned by
Illegal casino gambling is almost est Food Fair. And the Beach& and dice in which the patron Mrs. Helen Maupai.who died In
as old as the Brach itself. Tennis Club at the corner of Lin- didn't have a chance. 1953.Thousands of dollars worth
In the late 1930s and all coin Rd.and Collins Ave. was a Miami New-files from Nosem- of roulette wheels and dice tables
through the 1940s — until U.S. popular spot for winter visitors. her of 1949 disclosed that four from La Bobeme four'their way
Sen.Estes Kefauver came to town (Remember Miami Beach and gambling places were then open Into Miami clubs.
—numerous gambling casinos ex- Miami used to dose up in the sum- and the bookmakers—controlled Some 50 ki^wn hoodlums and
fated on Miami Beach, in Sunny mer.) by the S.&G.Syndicate—site gangsters were engaged in a gam-
bles and in the City of Miami it- Ike Miller.a well-known gam-. getting ready for the winter sea- tiling conspiracy en Miami Beach
self.It was a way of life readily bling figure. operated the Sunny son. as recently as 1957.according to
winked at by law enforcement of- Isles Casino The Palm Island Club Open for business. said The information turned up for a Dade
ficials on the grounds that a war ran in the midst of luxurious NPN S. were the Teepee Club on Grand Jury by investigators
was going on. homes on that island in the bar. SW 8th St. in the town limits of George Wackenhut and Eugene
One of the biggest casinos riper- And a club on NE 2nd Ave.,near West Miami:a room in the rear of Charters. The gamblers were
ated in Bayfront Park.The Roy-at the present Jewish Home for the the Deluxe Club on NW 27.h Ave.; tiled and abetted be Beach police
Palm. owned by former Reach Aged.had perhaps the largest che- R-y McLendon's headquarters on ..finals over many years.said the
Councilman Art Childers, packed min de ler game around.Another NW 79th St..and the Turf Club. now famous Wackenhut report.
ln.the customers for dice.roulette large club was the 85 Club.at Bis- also on NW 79th St The reopen- with the Beach being divided into
and the eser-present slot ma- cayne Btsd and Stith St. leg marked the end of a six-month zones for the convenience of book-
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chines.Then the Navy came along. The Island Club on Poinciana Is- shutdown.said The News,which makers..gamblers and police alike.
commandeered the building and Lind.a mile and a half north of also noted that Raymond Craig.a No one ever was indicted although. .
Childers moved out. Hauloser Bea.h-esen had a huge big bookie of that day.discounted many we e cassis-
He reopened the Little Palm. neon sign which lit up the nista reports he would base a Midwest- ance.
near the present Herald huildmk. sky.One afternoon a Miami News ern partner.Miami Beach bookies. It a • . the
until the heat of the Ketauser in- reporter managed to get into the added The News.passed up their history 'Great-
sest'gation drone him out of besi- exclusise gambling den and loud usual Nov. 15 rect..,-„ng because or Miami. .• wan pros-
ness forever.The Little Palm was a North Miami Beach policeman of"tical heat perous in those day..and not too •
Wafter Winchea"s favorite hang- making himself a sandwich in the Browsed County had its share. many residents seemed to a
out,the columnist sitting near the kitchen. too,with two of Its more notori- bit of an.
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