George Martorano on Life, The Mob, Prison & Business

This week on WiseKracks, Bill “Krackman” Krackomberger sits down with a truly remarkable guest — George Martorano, the longest-serving first-time non-violent offender in U.S. history, who transformed decades in prison into a story of discipline, creativity, and reinvention. George was born into a Philadelphia mob family and was sentenced to life without parole in 1984 on drug charges. In this wide-ranging interview, he opens up about his life behind bars, how he survived psychologically. He also dives into the next chapter of his life: 🌿 Building his cannabis brand “The Growfather” 🏢 Growing multiple successful business ventures 🍽️ His love for restaurants and top food spots across the country Martorano shares stories about his father Raymond “Long John” Martorano, Angelo Bruno, Meyer Lansky and how his past intersects with the new Netflix series Mob War: Philadelphia vs. The Mafia, where he makes several appearances. The conversation also takes a turn toward Vegas as George talks about his work with the Mob Museum, gives his perspective on modern organized crime, and weighs in on the new gambling tax coming in 2026 and casinos expanding into New York. To wrap up the show, the crew jumps into a big WagerWire segment analyzing a Drake Maye MVP futures ticket, and Randy Lee McKay returns to deliver sharp picks for NFL Week 14 and the FCS Playoffs. If you enjoy real stories, Vegas insight, betting talk, and one-of-a-kind guests, this is an episode you can’t miss. 👉 Don’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more WiseKracks every week! Time stamps 0:00 Intro 1:03 The Growfather 2:01 Family + Prison 5:51 Mob Show on Netflix 11:20 NY Casinos 17:10 New Gambling Tax 20:40 Mob Museum 22:06 Food 26:45 Drake Maye Bet 28:56 Gambling in the Mob 31:15 Father in Prison 32:00 Angelo Bruno 33:00 Atlantic City 35:19 Football Bets