Philip Kastel
April 2, 1893, to Aug. 16, 1962.
"Dandy Phil"

Kastel was a mob bigshot in New Orleans following World War II. He seems to have originally operated a nightclub in Montreal before allying himself with Frank Costello in New York in the 1930s and '40s. Kastel has also been linked to Arnold Rothstein and might earlier have been connected with Charles Solomon's underworld organization in New England.

Kastel and Costello attempted unsuccessfully to go semi-legit in the post-Prohibition era as importers of Scotch whiskey (King's Ransom brand). Kastel then prepared the way for Costello-sponsored gambling ventures in Louisiana.

Kastel worked with Costello in-laws to oversee the installation and operation of Costello slot machines in and around New Orleans. In 1946, however, local New Orleans officials followed the lead of New York's Fiorello LaGuardia and smashed whatever slots they could find within city limits. After that, Kastel kept the slots outside of that city.

Kastel and Costello created and ran the Beverly Club casino in Jefferson Parish, just beyond the New Orleans line. In the 1950s, the Kastel-Costello partnership also opened the Tropicana in Las Vegas (other partners in that venture reportedly included New Orleans crime boss Carlos Marcello and entertainer Jimmy Durante). Nevada officials delayed the 1957 opening of the Tropicana until Kastel severed his official ties with the casino.

Aging and in poor health, Kastel reportedly took his own life in 1962.

© 2007 T.Hunt
The American "Mafia"