Frankie Citro Seeks Removal from Nevada's 'Black Book' After 34 Years
Frankie Citro has formally asked Nevada regulators to consider removing him from the state’s exclusion list after 34 years.
LISTEN TO THIS ARTICLE:The 80-year-old Las Vegan filed a petition this month asking the Nevada Gaming Commission to review his decades-old ban from casinos – a list commonly called the Black Book – making him the first living person to seek removal under current precedent. The commission must first decide whether there is sufficient cause to grant a hearing; only then would Citro get an opportunity to make his case in front of regulators.
Citro, a longtime entertainer and local personality, says he has spent more than three decades keeping his record clean and deserves a chance to explain how his life has changed. "All I want is a chance", he said in a recent interview. "I’ve heard of others that have been recurrently doing bad things, selling drugs, getting drunk. I haven’t had a blemish, not even a parking ticket. Am I that bad of a person? Can you show me forgiveness?"
The original commission action came on Nov. 21, 1991, when five commissioners led by then-Chairman Bill Curran voted unanimously to bar Citro from entering Nevada casinos. The ruling cited several federal and state convictions dating to the 1980s, including a guilty plea in 1980 for extortion, a 1986 RICO conviction in California, and a 1987 guilty plea related to counterfeit credit cards. At that time, Citro had six convictions, four of them felonies; he served a two-year sentence and was placed on probation.
Historically, removal from the exclusion list has been rare – most names have been removed only posthumously – which is why Citro’s petition is drawing attention. He has argued his inclusion was influenced by overzealous testimony from local law enforcement and by anti-Italian bias that critics of the Black Book’s origins have previously raised. In his 1991 appearance before the commission, Citro also disputed several of the allegations and said he had already begun a long-term turnaround.
Citro’s petition will be judged against regulatory standards that weigh public safety, casino integrity and the person’s conduct since the original action. If the commission deems the filing sufficient, it could schedule a formal hearing in which attorneys, witnesses and regulators present evidence and weigh remedies ranging from continued exclusion to conditional relief.
Local Figure, Fund-Raiser and Performer
Outside the regulatory paperwork, Citro is a fixture of Las Vegas’ local cultural scene. He performs at the Italian American Club, sings bebop and Italian folk songs, and has emceed numerous charity events. Letters from beneficiaries – including a foster care and adoption association and Clark County’s Child Haven – thanked him for raising funds and gathering entertainers to support children in need.
"He’s a character", said Review-Journal entertainment columnist John Katsilometes. "It seems as if he’s an actor who’s doing method acting all the time. But he’s authentic. I think people gravitate toward him because he’s kind of a relic of an era that doesn’t exist really in Las Vegas anymore. It’s almost like he went to sleep in the ’70s and came to last year."
Friends describe a warm family man who dotes on his wife, Cookie, and who uses his notoriety as part of his stage persona. Scotty Waller, who met Citro after moving to Las Vegas, said: "He dotes on Cookie, and when the two of them dance, it’s like watching kids at a ’50s sock hop". Waller added that learning the extent of Citro’s exclusion – not being able to enter casino resorts or attend shows housed there – felt startling and unfair.
More Regulation News
What a Hearing Would Mean
A successful appeal would be historic and set a procedural benchmark for the Nevada Gaming Commission. Citro says even limited relief would allow him to pursue paid lounge engagements in casino venues and to expand his fundraising work, while also giving his family a measure of closure. "If the Gaming Commission graces me with the blessing of taking me out, I think every casino in the world is going to want me as a host", he said. "You understand what I’m saying? Because I’m a good guy. And people from all over are going to want to hear stories about Las Vegas’ past."
For now, Citro is waiting to learn whether regulators will grant a hearing. The decision will test whether Nevada’s exclusion system can accommodate reconsideration for long-banned figures and will likely prompt renewed discussion about how rehabilitation, public safety and historical context are weighed by gaming regulators.
RELATED TOPICS: Regulation
Latest News
Responsible Gambling
GambleAware Survey Finds Five Million Want to Cut Back on Gambling
Nov 19, 2025Most Read
Nevada Rejects FanDuel and DraftKings Licensing amid Prediction-Market Dispute
Nov 14, 2025Must Read
Interviews
Review this New Post
Leave a Comment
User Comments
Comments for Frankie Citro Seeks Removal from Nevada's 'Black Book' After 34 Years