Geographical Areas Archives

Gambling Currency: Coins Gambling Currency: Tokens / Bingles Games / Races: Slot Machines / Fruities Governing / Regulatory Bodies: Nevada Gaming Commission Governing / Regulatory Bodies: Nevada Gaming Control Board It Really Happened Nevada

Got Coins?

1965 The U.S. suffered a shortage of coins in 1965. And that led to decreased business for Nevada’s largest industry — gambling. Usage of half-dollars, common in casinos then for table games and one-armed bandits,…

Did You Know? Games / Races: Roulette Nevada Quick Facts Reno--Nevada

Quick Fact - Wheel Woods

Early 1900s Manufacturer B.C. Wills & Company crafted roulette wheels out of one or more woods — boxwood, ebony, rosewood, walnut, Honduras mahogany or satin wood — that were seasoned and kiln dried in a…

Cal Vada (Lake Tahoe, NV) Cal-Neva Lodge (Lake Tahoe, NV) Games / Races: Bingo Governing / Regulatory Bodies: Nevada Tax Commission It Really Happened Lake Tahoe--Nevada Nevada Ta-Neva-Ho (Crystal Bay , NV)

Casinos in Bingo Trouble

1954 A brouhaha over bingo made it a memorable year for gambling at Lake Tahoe. To lure as many tourists as possible into their casinos, numerous operators offered big-ticket prizes for winners at summer’s end…

Did You Know? Gambling Laws / Regulations Nevada Quick Facts

Quick Fact - Operation Penalty

1937 At a time when wide-open gambling was legal in Nevada, the penalty for operating a game of chance without a license was 60 days in the county jail or a $120 fine. Photo from…

Casino History Crimes / Violence / Punishments: Cheating / Fleecing: Holdouts Crimes / Violence / Punishments: Murder / Killing Francis Leo Luckett Games / Races: 21 / Blackjack It Really Happened Nevada Reno--Nevada Tip Club (Reno, NV)

Ace of Spades Defeats Card Sharp

1930 Cheating at gambling in the early 20th century in Nevada could land a person in serious trouble. That’s exactly what happened to Francis Leo Luckett, 28. A Pennsylvania native, he’d been in Reno by…

Did You Know? Las Vegas--Nevada Nevada The Mint (Las Vegas, NV)

Quick Fact - Mint Cake

1964 For its eighth anniversary, The Mint in Las Vegas, Nevada baked a mega, 6,527-pound cake in the shape of the hotel-casino. About the size of 1,363 regular 10-inch cakes, it required: • 12,960 eggs • 2,400…