If you're playin’ in Dark Chicago, you’re dealin’ with ne’er-do-wells and criminals. And in Chicago, especially in the 50s, ne'er-do-wells and organized crime go hand in hand. New York may of started this thing of ours, but Chicago was pretty much built on it. That don’t mean you need a PhD in criminal justice, and you ain’t gotta be a noir film nerd to keep up. Most characters are startin’ out just as clueless as you.   Still, it helps to have a general sense of how this all works. The American Mafia ain’t the only game in town—but they’re the biggest, baddest, and best organized. So here’s a crash course.   If you wanna go full egghead, start here: Wikipedia: American Mafia  

Let’s Make Your Bones

The Mafia—also known as the Mob, the Outfit, La Cosa Nostra—is a criminal society built on rules, structure, and profit. If you’re in, you’re a "made man". If you’re not, you’re a "civilian". That’s it. No in-between.   The Mob’s roots stretch back to Sicily and Southern Italy, but the American version grew up in the gutters of poor Italian neighborhoods—places like East Harlem, the Lower East Side, and Brooklyn. It followed the waves of immigration and spread like wildfire through Chicago, Cleveland, Kansas City, New Orleans, and any city where folks were desperate enough to pay for protection, or bold enough to charge for it.   And don’t be a buttagots—yeah, the Mafia’s the top dog in Chicago, but it ain’t the only game in town. You’ve got Irish and Jewish outfits, biker crews, greasers, union thugs, and gutter gangs clawing for scraps. We may be talking about the Mafia here, but don’t forget: there’s plenty of monsters in the dark. Just always remember—and I mean always—the Outfit is everywhere. They’ve got more pull than City Hall and more patience than the cops. You might get hit by some punk with a tire iron, but odds are? He answers to someone who answers to someone who’s got a seat at the table.  

They Don’t Call It Organized for Nothin’

Mafia families ain't families in the Sunday dinner sense—they're more like corporations with blood contracts. Most cities only have one dominant family. New York’s got five, but Chicago? That’s the domain of the Outfit.   Here’s how the structure breaks down:   Boss – The big cheese. Final say in everything. It’s his family. Nobody makes a move without his blessing.   Underboss – Number two. Usually runs the day-to-day or oversees key rackets. Gets a cut of the family’s income and is first in line if the boss takes a fall.   Consigliere – The advisor. Trusted, respected, and smart as hell. Handles disputes, gives counsel, and speaks for the family when needed. Usually a longtime friend or someone with deep roots in the game.   Caporegime (or Capo) – Crew chiefs. Each one runs a crew of 10–20 made guys. They collect, enforce, and manage the soldiers, then kick up a share to the boss. Some capos end up more powerful than the guys above ‘em, but that’s a dangerous game.   Soldiers – The made men. Inducted into the family—usually Italian only, traditionally full-blooded. They’re the muscle. They do the extortion, the enforcement, the heavy lifting. Once you're made, you’re protected. You don’t touch a made guy without permission.   Associates – That’s where the rest of the world fits in. Associates ain’t members, but they work with the family. Could be anyone: errand boys, legit businessmen, street enforcers, or guys who just know how to make money. Most up-and-comers start here. Some stay here forever.   You seen Goodfellas, right? Henry Hill’s whole crew were associates. Jimmy the Gent? Powerful as hell—but Irish, so he could never be made. You gotta respect made men, but don't think that associates, "connected guys" ain't nothin'. They usually can hold their own and then some.  

The Rules

The point of the Mafia is makin’ money—clean, dirty, mostly dirty. But with that kind of heat, you need structure to survive. The Mob’s got rules. Break 'em at your own risk.  

• Loyalty to your family comes before all else—even blood relatives.
• Never lay a hand on a made man without permission.
• Don’t touch a made man’s girl. Not ever.
• You gotta be Italian to get made.
• Don’t kill civilians—especially not women or kids. Even enemies’ families are off-limits.
• No drugs. (This one’s often broken, but it’s still on the books.)

  Some egghead once wrote about the “Ten Commandments of the Mafia.” She wasn’t one of us, but she wasn’t far off and her list ain't a bad one:  

1. You don’t meet other made guys without a third party makin’ the intro.
2. Don’t look at your friends’ wives.
3. Don’t get cozy with cops.
4. Avoid bars, clubs, places where you might slip up.
5. If Cosa Nostra calls, you answer—no matter what.
6. Respect appointments, rank, and the chain of command.
7. Treat your wife with respect.
8. When asked for info, tell the truth. Lies get people killed.
9. Don’t steal from the family—or from another family.
10. No one with a close relative in law enforcement, or a family member who’s disloyal or disgraced, gets made.

 

How the Mob Makes Money

The name of the game ain't violence, its cold hard cash - violence just keeps the books balanced. The Outfit doesn’t move product or muscle for the fun of it—they move money. Every racket, every favor, every threat comes down to keeping the income steady, the kickbacks flowing, and the bosses happy. It’s not about one big score. It’s about a thousand little ones, every week, in every neighborhood.   Protection Rackets You run a grocery, a bar, a factory—whatever. The Outfit shows up and offers to “protect” your place from accidents, vandals, union pressure… or themselves. Pay up weekly, and things stay quiet. Don’t pay? Let’s just say your front window’s not gonna last long.   Gambling & Numbers Before Vegas, before the lotto, there was the street. Policy wheels, underground casinos, bookies in the back of barber shops. The Mafia takes a cut of every bet placed in their territory—and they don’t like competition.   Loan Sharking Need a quick hundred? The bank won’t touch you, but good ol' Vito down at the social club will. Just don’t miss a payment. Interest rates are brutal, and if you fall behind, the collectors don’t send letters—they send guys with brass knuckles and broken noses.   Vice & Flesh Brothels, escort rings, peep shows, and "modeling studios"—all of it’s under somebody’s control. And even if the Mob doesn’t run it directly, they get a cut for looking the other way or keeping the heat off.   Construction & Unions Labor’s a goldmine. If the Outfit controls the union, they control the site. That means kickbacks from contractors, ghost workers on payroll, and “accidents” that happen when deals go sour. You want the cement to show up on time? Talk to the right guy.   Drugs (Carefully) Officially, the Mafia frowns on narcotics, especially in the 50s when there are so many other lucrative rackets. Unofficially, there’s always some crew moving heroin, reefer, or arcane powders in the right neighborhoods. It’s dangerous business—but the money’s just too good to ignore.   Political Influence Sometimes the best money’s the money you don’t even touch. Bribes, zoning deals, tax breaks, public contracts—all greased through a ward boss or a friendly city clerk. The Outfit makes a fortune by getting someone else to sign the check.  

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