Australian Gamble

Paul Bleakley is assistant professor of Criminal Justice at the University of New Haven. Before entering the academic world, Paul was a journalist working in both London and Sydney. He is the author of two books on crime in Australia: Under a Bad Sun (2021) and Policing Child Sexual Abuse (2022).

Bleakley makes a rousing case that Oz’s Mob history can go toe-to-toe with its American counterpart. Israel “Jack” Rooklyn made his name bringing gambling machines and all their trappings to Australia through his relationship with the American company Bally. Bleakley examines the Australian Mafia scene from the vantage point of this lesser-known figure who was actually at the center of so much of the story, unraveling both Rooklyn’s personal history and the wider proliferation of organized crime in Australia during the back half of the twentieth century. There are big paydays, crooked cops, a considerable procession of Mob figures—including a few famous Americans—and even some yachting trophies along the way. The narrative thrust of The Australian Gamble is doubtless epic, traversing from Australia to Singapore to Al Capone’s Chicago, and from casinos to the halls of Parliament to, of course, courtrooms. Readers who crave the gritty historical details, much of which will be wholly new to them, will appreciate this unique offering.”

• Introduction: A cigar-smoking enigmaChapter 1: All the bells and whistlesChapter 2: Rooklyn risesChapter 3: Family vacationsChapter 4: BallyhooChapter 5: Chasing the American dreamChapter 6: ReinventionChapter 7: Shut down the pokiesChapter 8: MoonlightConclusion: Cashing out