Paul D'Amato

Skinny D'Amato
Born	Paul D'Amato 1908 Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S.
Died	June 6, 1984 (aged 75) Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S.
Cause of death	Heart attack
Resting place	Holy Cross Cemetery and Chapel Mausoleum
Other names	Skinny, Mr. Atlantic City, Uncle Paul
Occupation	Restaurant and nightclub owner
Spouse(s)	Betty Jane Creamer (m. 1949; d. 1972)
Children	2

Paul "Skinny" D'Amato (1908 – June 5, 1984) also known as "Mr. Atlantic City", was the owner of the 500 Club in Atlantic City, New Jersey from the 1940s until the club burned down in 1973.

Paul D'Amato was born to Italian American parents in 1908 in Atlantic City, New Jersey. He was one of eight children. When one or both of their parents died, D'Amato opened a cigar store at the age of 15 to help support the other seven children. The store was very successful.

D'Amato's initial success in Atlantic City began to grow when he opened up a restaurant and gambling hall called "Luigi's". He put the famous 500 Club under his ownership. He began working for corrupt Atlantic County treasurer Enoch "Nucky" Johnson and his political organization. D'Amato was also an associate of Chicago Outfit boss Sam Giancana and New Orleans crime family boss Carlos Marcello.

Philadelphia mob boss Marco Reginelli was the head of the Italian Philadelphia-South Jersey mob for years and it is said that he sold D'Amato the 500 Club.

The 500 Club was allegedly a front for an illegal gambling operation. To draw gamblers, he had such big name entertainers as Frank Sinatra, Sammy Davis, Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis perform at the club.

He also managed a club in Lake Tahoe for Sinatra, for which he got troubles from the IRS and lost a lot of money when the casino commission linked Giancana to the Lake Tahoe operation and revoked its license in 1963. Mr. D'Amato was never convicted of a crime, and never spent a day in prison.

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