From defending mobsters to leading Las Vegas: the career of Oscar Goodman

Countries & Cities · Published 12 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: Before becoming the most popular mayor in Las Vegas, Oscar Goodman was the go-to defense attorney for the city's most notorious organized crime figures. His journey from representing mobsters to holding political office remains one of the most unusual trajectories in American municipal history.

Oscar Baylin Goodman, born on July 26, 1939, in Philadelphia, built a career that bridged the worlds of organized crime and high-level politics. As a defense attorney, he represented several prominent figures of the Las Vegas underworld, including Chicago mobster Anthony "Tony the Ant" Spilotro and former Stardust Casino boss Frank "Lefty" Rosenthal. His legal work was so intertwined with the era's history that the 1995 film *Casino* used his real-life clients as the basis for its characters, with Goodman himself making a cameo appearance in the movie.

Goodman's political ascent began in 1999 when he was elected Mayor of Las Vegas, winning 63.76% of the vote. He proved to be a formidable political force, securing a second term in 2003 with 85.72% of the vote and a third and final term in 2007 with 83.69%. His tenure was marked by efforts to bring professional sports to the city, including unsuccessful attempts to relocate the Montreal Expos and the San Diego Chargers. While he was often called the city's "most popular mayor," he was also voted the "Least Effective Public Official" in a 2003 *Review-Journal* poll.

Goodman's influence was so pervasive that his likeness appeared on casino chips issued by the Four Queens Hotel and Casino, including a $200 Silver Strike in 2006. His political legacy continued through his wife, Carolyn Goodman, who was elected to succeed him as mayor in 2011. Though his career spanned law, politics, and even celebrity photography, Goodman remains a singular figure in the history of Nevada's most famous city.

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