Keith is a young man of Croatian descent from a tight-knit immigrant family in Mississippi. He plans to attend college and law school to follow in the footsteps of his father, a respected local lawyer. While he cherishes his childhood memories of playing sports and spending time on the Gulf Coast, his academic ambitions and family loyalties eventually distance him from his early social circle.

Born into a prosperous Biloxi family, Hugh abandons his early interest in baseball to take up boxing. He spends his teenage years hanging around his father's nightclubs, observing the brutal realities of the local vice industry. Rather than pursuing higher education, he intends to work in the family business and assume control of the illicit operations along The Strip.

Jesse is a World War II veteran who utilized the GI Bill to secure a college education and a law degree. Operating his own law firm in Biloxi, he builds a reputation as an honest professional representing everyday citizens against powerful entities like insurance companies. Local citizens approach him to run for district attorney to challenge the region's entrenched corruption, putting him on a collision course with local crime bosses.

The son of a Croatian immigrant, Lance served in World War II before building a lucrative network of nightclubs and illegal casinos. Known locally as "the boss," he dictates the terms of illegal gambling and sex work along The Strip. He maintains his power by distributing cash payouts to local law enforcement and violently suppressing rival club owners who attempt to undercut his profits.

Nevin serves as the primary enforcer for the Malco criminal enterprise. He carries out the violent directives required to keep The Strip under Lance's control, from beating up aggressive customers to intimidating rival club owners. He operates with impunity because local police officers accept bribes to ignore his activities.

Ginger is an out-of-towner who purchases the Carousel Lounge and other businesses on The Strip, challenging the established monopoly. She operates in the same illegal industries as the existing crime bosses. Her aggressive expansion forces the established operators to decide whether to tolerate her presence or declare open warfare on her clubs.

Fats serves as the chief law enforcement officer in Biloxi, yet he actively facilitates the region's illegal activities. He holds public monthly dinners with crime bosses at Baricev's seafood restaurant to exchange information. Rather than arresting criminals, he orchestrates a system of extortion where club owners pay him regular fees to operate without police interference.

Agnes is a mother of four and the matriarch of the Rudy family. She manages the busy household while her husband establishes his legal practice and political campaigns. She provides a stable, supportive home environment that anchors her children as they pursue their respective educations.

Carmen is a Biloxi resident who marries into the Malco family just as her husband begins investing in illegal businesses. She raises their son, Hugh, while Lance builds his criminal empire along the Gulf Coast. Her domestic life is heavily insulated by the wealth generated from her husband's illicit enterprises.

Joey is a teenager growing up in Biloxi and part of Keith and Hugh's original social circle. He attends illegal cockfights and partakes in local mischief during his youth. As he ages, he notices Hugh's increasingly dangerous behavior and chooses to distance himself from the criminal elements of The Strip.

Denny is another member of the childhood peer group that includes Keith and Hugh. He enjoys the typical teenage freedoms of coastal Mississippi but grows wary of the violent underworld. He explicitly warns Keith about Hugh's transformation into a thug.

Mr. Cleveland is an independent gangster operating a business on The Strip. He attempts to undercut the established criminal monopoly by offering cheaper rates to customers. This aggressive business tactic provokes a severe physical retaliation from the dominant crime boss, serving as a brutal lesson about the local hierarchy.

Rex holds the position of district attorney in Biloxi. He occupies an office that requires navigating the deeply entrenched corruption of the Gulf Coast. When challenged by a new, reform-minded candidate, he relies on his established political machinery and questionable campaign tactics to maintain his position.

Joshua is a criminal defense attorney whose practice relies heavily on funding from Biloxi's organized crime figures. He employs legally dubious strategies, such as relying on tampered witnesses and falsified medical records, to keep his clients out of prison. He serves as the primary legal shield for the region's vice operators.

Rudd is a deputy in the Biloxi law enforcement system who operates entirely outside the boundaries of his sworn duty. He attends public dinners with crime bosses to exchange information and helps collect monthly extortion payments from local businesses. He assists in securing jury lists for tampering purposes.

Beverley is one of the four children born to Jesse and Agnes Rudy. She grows up in a stable, respected household on the Gulf Coast while her father builds his law practice. Her family's strong Croatian immigrant background provides a foundation for her upbringing.

Laura is a daughter of Jesse and Agnes Rudy, growing up alongside Keith in Biloxi. She observes her father's rising prominence as a lawyer and eventual district attorney from the safety of her mother's well-managed home.

Timothy is the brother of Keith, Beverley, and Laura Rudy. He is brought up in a household defined by his father's legal crusades and his mother's domestic stability, inheriting a proud Croatian legacy.

Ainsley is Keith Rudy's college girlfriend whom he meets while obtaining his education. She is introduced to his tight-knit family as he finishes law school, eventually integrating into the Rudy household as Keith begins his own professional career.