The Gambino crime family is one of the "Five Families" that control organized crime activity in New York City. It is a part of the United States-wide criminal network known as the Mafia (American Mafia) (or Cosa Nostra). The group is named after Carlo Gambino, boss of the family at the time of the McClellan hearings (Valachi hearings) in 1963 when the structure of organized crime first gained public attention. The groups operations extend from New York and the eastern seaboard to California. Its illicit activities include labor and construction racketeering, gambling, loansharking, extortion, drug trafficking (illegal drug trade), money laundering, prostitution, murder for hire, solid and toxic waste dumping violations, construction, building and cement violations, fraud and wire fraud, hijacking (robbery), pier thefts and fencing (Fence (criminal)).

The rise of what for a time was the most powerful crime family in America began in 1957, the day Albert Anastasia was assassinated while sitting in a barber chair at the Park-Sheraton Hotel in Manhattan. Experts believe Carlo Gambino helped orchestrate the hit to take over the family. Gambino partnered with Meyer Lansky to control gambling interests in Cuba. The family?s fortunes grew through 1976, when Gambino appointed his brother-in-law, Paul Castellano, as boss. Castellano infuriated upstart capo John Gotti, who orchestrated Castellanos murder in 1985. Gottis downfall came in 1992, when his underboss Sammy Gravano decided to cooperate with the FBI. Gravanos cooperation brought down Gotti, along with most of the top members of the Gambino family. The family is believed to be currently run by street boss John "Jackie" DAmico (Jackie DAmico).