Frankly, I don't think Eight Men Out is a very accurate or in depth presentation either. The first thing to remember about movies is that most are NOT documentaries in the first place, and the object is to make money on the movie. It need not have any basis in the reality of the situation.
The scariest disclaimer to see on any movie is "Based on a true story". All that means is "that is where we got the idea for the script".
There have been hundreds of movies made with no historical accuracy involved, but; foolish movie fans tell the story as accurate history for years afterward.
.
The fact is that the White Sox players HATED the owner, and with good reason. Although they were the best team of the era, and a very good "box office" draw, did you know that not even one White Sox player made as much or more than the major league average salary? Not one.
With the reserve clause in place and no union, there was nothing they could do about it. ALL players of that era had off-season jobs to keep them alive and support their families, and that guy was the most greedy owner of the bunch.
Just as college basketball has seen more fixes than other sport, the situation was much the same, and perfect for Arnold Rothstein.
As for any fix by Vegas, the concept is ludicrous. The very worst thing that could happen to Vegas is a loss of customer confidence. People know they face a negative probability when they gamble, but they don't want to be cheated. The integrity of all wagering in Nevada is a prime concern from the bus boy that cleans your table after dinner to the head of the Nevada Gaming Commission.
When fixes are busted by the FBI, usually in college basketball, it almost always happens because it was Vegas that tipped the FBI to "unusual" betting patterns on certain teams.
Example: A certain Pac Ten basketball teams games usually draw around a hundred grand statewide in the legal sports books, but; occasionally (or slightly more often) their games draw a hundred fifty grand and on those nights they never clear the spread or the totals are always under. The alarm bells go off, the Fibbies are called in, and soon there is another scandal.
A fix always has the same root source. MONEY, or more accurately, the lack of it. Low paid, or unpaid, players need the money. Gamblers know it, and find those with need that will cooperate. Today's professional players are so well paid the amount of money necessary to set up an unfailing fix would be enormous. Not so with amateur (upchuck at this point) players that see millions going into the schools coffers while they need money from home to even go out on a date.
Got off the point there I guess, but the reasons for the Black Sox scandal should have been obvious and free agency and the union have eliminated the reasons. Shoeless Joe belongs in the Hall and there should be no question about it. Guys that were using 'roids to jump from 12 million to 18 million can go to Hell.