More Gangsters of Saratoga: Greg Veitch Returns with Tales of Crime, Casinos, and Corruption
On April 16, 2026, the Saratoga Springs History Museum welcomed back author, retired Saratoga Springs Police Chief, and local historian Greg Veitch for a fascinating presentation titled “More Gangsters of Saratoga.”
The program explored stories from Veitch’s 2022 book, A Gangster’s Paradise: Saratoga Springs from Prohibition to Kefauver, which examines the city’s long and complicated history with illegal gambling, organized crime, bootlegging, and political corruption.
Veitch brought the audience deep into Saratoga’s underworld, tracing the story from the era of gentleman gamblers like John Morrissey and Richard Canfield to the arrival of figures such as Arnold Rothstein, who helped transform Saratoga into a major hub for casino gambling during the early 20th century.
The presentation covered the rise of illegal gambling operations at places like the Brook Resort, Arrowhead Inn, Piping Rock Club, and Saratoga’s infamous lake houses, where some of the most powerful names in organized crime maintained a presence. Veitch also shared stories involving figures such as Meyer Lansky, Lucky Luciano, Dutch Schultz, Legs Diamond, Joe Adonis, Frank Costello, and other underworld personalities whose influence reached Saratoga Springs.
One of the evening’s most compelling threads was the connection between crime and corruption. Veitch detailed how illegal gambling operations often survived through the cooperation—or convenient silence—of local officials, police, and political figures. From stolen evidence to suspiciously lenient consequences, the stories painted a vivid picture of a city where high-stakes entertainment and criminal enterprise often operated side by side.
The program also highlighted several dramatic local cases, including the 1892 murder of Katie Miller, the unsolved 1936 killing of Adam Pillo, bootlegging violence along Route 9, and the strange, sometimes darkly humorous ways Saratoga’s criminal history intersected with its public life.
Veitch’s storytelling blended archival research, police records, family lore, and sharp humor, making the evening both entertaining and deeply revealing. His work reminds us that Saratoga’s glamorous past was not only shaped by mineral springs, horse racing, grand hotels, and high society—but also by bootleggers, bookmakers, crooked deals, and the gangsters who saw opportunity in the Spa City.
For those who missed the event, or anyone who wants to dive deeper into this unforgettable chapter of Saratoga history, the full presentation is available to watch online.