[3][4] After its founding in 1854, pioneer Omaha became the "Gateway to the West," as an essential stopping, restocking and "jumping off" point for settlers, hunters and miners traveling to the Western United States.
"[6] The city had an early history as a "wide open" town where gambling was accepted, along with prostitution, drugs and rampant alcohol use.
[7] In 1873, "it seemed that ever lying, cheating, four-flushing, double-dealing, card-sharping, counterfeiting scoundrel who did not already hold high public office was setting up shop in the streets of Omaha.
Dennison consolidated much of his operation in Omaha's Sporting District, which in addition to numerous gambling institutions, was home to "The Cribs", which were notorious prostitution houses.
Jack Broomfield, a close associate of Dennison's, was a leader of the African American community in Omaha in the early 20th century.
[13] The Knights of Ak-Sar-Ben was formed in 1895 in an attempt to keep the Nebraska State Fair in Omaha after receiving an ultimatum to provide entertainment "other than saloons, gambling houses and honky tonks."
[15] After Tom Dennison died in the early 1930s, the city's criminal gambling element came under control of Italian American mobsters.
Patrons could "bet on any horse race in the United States," and the business was described as "the most active casino between Chicago and the West Coast.
[19] In 2004, Omaha state Senator Ernie Chambers and U.S. Representative Tom Osborne of Hastings co-authored an editorial opposing a set of initiatives that would have allowed casino gambling and slot machines in Nebraska.