Santo Trafficante Sr.

Born1886
Died1954

Santo Trafficante Sr., born in 1886 in Sicily, was a Sicilian-born mobster who carved out a criminal empire in Tampa, Florida. Arriving as a teenager, he rose through the ranks of the Tampa underworld, becoming heavily involved in illegal bolita lotteries during the Prohibition era. He eventually took control of the city’s Mafia operations in the 1930s, holding power until his death in 1954. Trafficante Sr. was a well-respected boss with connections to other major Mafia figures, including Charles “Lucky” Luciano. He also laid the groundwork for his son, Santo Jr., to become a future Mafia leader.

Florida’s Lottery started as the Cuban game of Bolita

The modern-day lottery in Florida has a surprising origin story. Its roots lie not in the halls of government but in the bustling streets of Havana, Cuba. Around 1890, a game called Bolita, meaning "little ball," crossed the Florida Straits...