Strauss was an associate of the Los Angeles crime family and was involved in Los Angeles, Las Vegas, Oklahoma and Texas gambling interests. He was once charged with the murder of Harry Sherwood who was a partner of his in a Reno casino. Sherwood had previous issues with Los Angeles racketeers over his activities involving a gambling ship and had allegedly bilked investors of their money. In Las Vegas, Strauss operated the Green Gables club and owned the Fairway apartment located behind the Desert Inn and operated the Westerner club in conjunction with Benny Binion.