Funny Business at Beverly Hills Card Club Spans Years

Beverly Hills-California, California, Casino History, Crimes / Violence / Punishments: Cheating / Fleecing, Crimes / Violence / Punishments: Cheating / Fleecing: Card Spying, Friars Club (Beverly Hills, CA), Frontier (Las Vegas, NV), Gambling History, Gambling: Assistance Devices, Games / Races: Gin Rummy, Gaming History, It Really Happened, Johnny Rosselli, Maurice "Maury" H. Friedman, Nevada, Phil Silvers, Tony Martin, United States, Warner T. Richardson, Zeppo MarxLeave a comment

1962-1969 The Friars Club in Beverly Hills had been a favorite haunt of Hollywood celebrities and the area’s wealthy since 1946, but something underhanded began happening there in the 1960s, unbeknownst to most of its 670 members.   Friendly Wagering Card playing for money was a regular activity at the Southern California hangout. Games included…

“Electronic Brain Upsets Vegas Blackjack Dealers”

California, Casino History, Creators / Manufacturers, Desert Inn (Las Vegas, NV), Dunes (Las Vegas, NV), Flamingo (Las Vegas, NV), Gambling, Gambling History, Gambling: Assistance Devices, Games / Races, Games / Races: 21 / Blackjack, Games / Races: Games Creators / Manufacturers: Bob Bamford / Joe Alper, Gaming History, It Really Happened, Las Vegas--Nevada, Nevada, Pasadena--California, Sahara (Las Vegas, NV), Silver Slipper (Las Vegas, NV), United StatesLeave a comment

1960 “Las Vegas seemed to be both fascinated and frightened by the little computing machine,” reported Ray Duncan in the Independent Star-News (Dec. 5, 1960). The referenced device, via a dial on its front, advised blackjack players how to proceed with each hand, get another card or hold. The electronic instrument remembered the cards played…