Battaglia operated one of the largest bookmaking operations in southern California. His multi-million dollar operation was coveted by other mobsters. Despite fierce competition from Mickey Cohen and an assortment of lesser known figures, Battaglia continued to expand his business employing the likes of Peter Milano and occasionally Angelo Polizzi, Luigi Gelfuso and Sam Lazares. With particularly strong links to Johnny Roselli and the Flamingo Hotel operation, he grew his sports book to the point where by the time of his death in 1971 he was considered among the foremost horse race handicappers in the Western United States. Battaglia was once arrested by Las Vegas police along with Louis Tom Dragna, on vagrancy charges as they sat in at a hotel cocktail lounge on the Las Vegas Strip.