California Archives

Anti-Gambling / Anti-Casino Efforts California Casino History Crimes / Violence / Punishments: Gambling Did You Know? Gambling History Gaming History Law Enforcement / Judicial System: Los Angeles Chief of Police Charles E. Sebastian Los Angeles-California Quick Facts United States

Quick Fact - Vice Crusade Tactic

1913 As what the Los Angeles Times called the “the first sally in the greatest campaign that has ever been waged for the elimination of gambling” (April 7, 1913), Los Angeles Chief of Police Charles…

Anti-Gambling / Anti-Casino Efforts California Casino History Crimes / Violence / Punishments: Cheating / Fleecing Gambling Gambling History Gambling: Bucket Shopping Gaming History It Really Happened Law Enforcement / Judicial System: Lawsuit San Francisco--California

Bucket Shopper's Dogged Fight

1911-1912 A San Francisco, California ordinance outlawed bucket shopping in 1911 — no longer was running or visiting such an enterprise legal — and one operator didn’t like it. Henry A. Moss, a bucket shop owner and…

California Casino History Casino: Floating Crimes / Violence / Punishments: Cheating / Fleecing Gambling History Gambling Laws / Regulations: CA Anti-Gambling Act Gaming History It Really Happened Law Enforcement / Judicial System: Lawsuit Law Enforcement / Judicial System: U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation Los Angeles-California Nick Licata Peter J. Milano San Fernando Valley--California United States

Los Angeles Mobster's Gambling Ring

1971-1974 In 1971, various people began complaining to the local police department they’d gotten fleeced at an informal casino setup in California’s San Fernando Valley (yes, the location of, like, “valley girl” fame, a culture…

California Casino History Did You Know? Gambling Gambling History Gaming History Los Angeles city jail Los Angeles-California Quick Facts United States

Quick Fact - Joint Features Gambling

1916 The Los Angeles city jail was likely the only legalized casino in California, with gambling taking place daily to a shocking extent, declared Faith Chevaillier, a woman whom President Chester Arthur appointed to evaluate…

"711 Ocean Drive" Benjamin "Bugsy" Siegel Boulder City--Nevada California Casino History Crimes / Violence / Punishments: Harassment / Intimidation Edmond O'Brien Frank N. Seltzer (Producer) Gambling History Games / Races: Horse Racing Gaming History It Really Happened Joanne Dru Las Vegas--Nevada Law Enforcement / Judicial System: Gangster Squad Law Enforcement / Judicial System: Lieutenant William "Bill" Burns Law Enforcement / Judicial System: Los Angeles Police Department Los Angeles-California Mickey Cohen Mobsters / Gangsters / Syndicate Members (Alleged) / Organizations Nevada Palm Springs--California United States

Mobsters Threaten Hollywood Filmmaker

1950 In late 1948, Hollywood movie producer, Frank N. Seltzer — known for the movies, Jungle Patrol and Let’s Live Again, which debuted that same year — began research for his next project, 711 Ocean…

California Casino History Crimes / Violence / Punishments: Extortion Crimes / Violence / Punishments: Grafting Ethnic Groups: Asians Gambling Gambling History Gambling Laws / Regulations: CA Anti-Gambling Act Gaming History Governing / Regulatory Bodies: Los Angeles City Council (CA) It Really Happened Law Enforcement / Judicial System: Los Angeles Captain of Police Captain of Police C.A. Ketlar Law Enforcement / Judicial System: Los Angeles Chief of Police J.W. Davis Law Enforcement / Judicial System: Los Angeles Police Department Law Enforcement / Judicial System: Officer John L. Fonck Los Angeles-California United States

Dirty Police Chief in City of Angels?

1886 In fall 1886, Officer John L. Fonck confronted one of his superiors face to face. He charged Chief of Police J.W. Davis with “standing in with the gamblers,” in other words, allowing them to…

California Casino History Did You Know? Gambling Gambling History Games / Races: Lice Fighting Gaming History Quick Facts United States

Quick Fact - Serious Boredom

1800s To amuse themselves, some miners — California ones, as reported in this case — staged lice fights and waged large sums on the outcome. They placed two Pediculus humanus face to face on a…

California Casino History Crimes / Violence / Punishments: Cheating / Fleecing Gambling History Gambling Laws / Regulations: CA Anti-Gambling Act Gambling: Debt Games / Races: Poker Gaming History It Really Happened Long Beach--California United States

Mega Poker Loss in California

1938 Esquire* Harry T. Clifton was a wealthy Englishman who owned racing stables and often visited Southern California. During his visit there in April 1938, he gambled with Lew Brice and Tommy Guinan in a…

California Casino History Crimes / Violence / Punishments: Robbery / Theft / Embezzling Did You Know? Gambling Gambling History Games / Races: Slot Machines / Fruities Gaming History Los Angeles-California Quick Facts United States

Quick Fact - Out of Time

1936 A thief took the trouble of entering a Los Angeles, California café through a skylight to rob the slot and marble games. But instead of getting the heck out after that was successful, he stayed…

California Casino History Charles Cora Crimes / Violence / Punishments: Firearms Crimes / Violence / Punishments: Hanging Crimes / Violence / Punishments: Murder / Killing Fort Gunnybags (San Francisco, CA) Gambling History Gaming History It Really Happened Law Enforcement / Judicial System Law Enforcement / Judicial System: General William Richardson Law Enforcement / Judicial System: Vigilance Committee San Francisco--California United States

California Faro Dealer Loses It ... All

1855-1856 Charles and Arabella “Bell” Cora were a colorful, rich and well-known San Francisco couple whose lives jolted into misfortune one Saturday night in 1855. He, 39, had made his money from dealing faro in…

California Crimes / Violence / Punishments: Bombings Crimes / Violence / Punishments: Extortion Governing / Regulatory Bodies: Washoe County Commission (NV) Harolds Club (Reno, NV) Harrah's (Reno, NV) It Really Happened John Ascuaga Nugget Motor Lodge / Dick Graves' Nugget / John Ascuaga's Nugget (Sparks, NV) Reno--Nevada Sparks--Nevada United States

Pay Up Or Blow Up — Reno/Sparks

1970-1971 In the summer of 1970, a package and suitcase found in a Sparks Nugget motor lodge room in Nevada with a note affixed saying to please deliver the items to Nugget owner John Ascuaga’s…

California Crimes / Violence / Punishments: Tax Evasion Flamingo (Las Vegas, NV) Gambling: Bookmaking Governing / Regulatory Bodies: Internal Revenue Service Hy Goldbaum It Really Happened Las Vegas--Nevada McNeil Island Corrections Center (WA) Stardust (Las Vegas, NV) West Hollywood--California

Bookies' Bookies Not So Good With Numbers

1945-1955 In the late 1940s, three bookies — or commissioners, as they preferred to be called — operated on California’s Sunset Strip in West Hollywood under the name, Golden News Service. Hy Goldbaum, George Capri…

California Did You Know? Gambling Quick Facts

Quick Fact - Wild Justice

1890 Judge Beckley Campbell conducted court in a Benicia, California saloon. After hearing the evidence and deciding on a verdict in cases, he meted out punishments based on the result of tossing two dice in…

California Embassy Club (Gardena, CA) Ernest "Ernie" J. Primm Gambling Gambling Laws / Regulations: CA Anti-Gambling Act Games / Races: Poker Gardena--California It Really Happened Law Enforcement / Judicial System: Lawsuit Monterey Club (Gardena, CA) Politicians / Politics: CA California Attorney General Ulysses Webb United States

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