Well, it seems this discussion has taken place before here and it's going in circles. I've seen a lot of people post about how the mob's primary business today is loan sharking. I can watch any late night tv program, and see 10 commercials for payday loans, regardless of credit history. Perhaps you can tell me, how does the mafia compete with what is basically boom times for legal predatory lenders? If I lose my rent money in Reno, why do I go to a wiseguy who will break my legs if I can't make my payments when I can just go to a payday loan place where worst case scenario, my already crap credit just gets crappier and eventually gets paid for by the tax payers?

"...the successful annihilation of organized crime's subculture in America would rock the 'legitimate' world's foundation, which would ultimately force fundamental social changes and redistributions of wealth and power in this country. Meyer Lansky's dream was to bond the two worlds together so that one could not survive without the other." - Dan E. Moldea