Mike Segal

"Mike" Segal (September 26, 1922 – June 8, 1982) was the New Jersey politician and businessman who led the initiative to legalize gambling in Atlantic City.

In late 1968, Mike Segal and a group of influential local businessmen announced they would pursue the possibility of legalizing gambling in the city[3] as a cure for the ailing economy.

[5] Leading citizens, like international art dealer and "Merchant to the Rich" Reese Palley, publicly supported the initiative.

Years later Segal admitted that none of them anticipated the massive resistance that would be mounted by churches and religious groups across the state[10] and that would turn the initiative into an 8-year battle.

[14][15] He served as a Councilman, as President of Council[16] and as a Commissioner before devoting his political efforts exclusively to the Action Committee to Legalize Gaming.

Farley initially refused to support the attempt to legalize gambling, as he feared his involvement would bring increased scrutiny on his powerful political machine.

Segal served in the Second Marine Division, decorated for their outstanding courage in the Pacific Theater of Operations, notably the battles of Guadalcanal, Saipan and Tarawa.

He counted among his closest friends "Mr. Atlantic City" Skinny D'Amato, the flamboyant nightclub owner who discovered Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis,[21] Samuel H. "Sonny" Schwartz, the highly respected journalist, and Jersey Joe Walcott, the former heavyweight boxing champion of the world.

Subsequent to World War II, Segal married Natalie Youtie, from a prominent Atlantic City family of professionals and businessmen.