Reno--Nevada Archives

Casino History Crimes / Violence / Punishments: Firearms Crimes / Violence / Punishments: Shooting Gambling Gambling History Gaming History Harolds Club (Reno, NV) It Really Happened Law Enforcement / Judicial System: Reno Police Department--Nevada Nevada Reno--Nevada United States

Gunfire Roils Crowded Harolds Club

1947-1953 Harolds Club bustled on Christmas Eve in 1947 with revelers enjoying the gambling and camaraderie when an unexpected event instantly silenced the din. Panic followed. Since the previous morning, Reno, Nevada police had been…

Basin Street (Reno, NV) Casino History Ethnic Groups: Asians Gambling Gambling History Gambling Laws / Regulations Gambling License Gaming History George Chin Governing / Regulatory Bodies: Nevada Gaming Control Board Governing / Regulatory Bodies: Nevada Tax Commission Harry Chon It Really Happened Mobsters / Gangsters / Syndicate Members (Alleged) / Organizations Nevada Old Cathay Club (Reno, NV) Reno--Nevada United States

The Big Squeeze at Reno Casino

1955-1966 Harry Chon, licensed operator of the gambling operations at the Old Cathay Club* in Reno, Nevada, found himself in an uncomfortable spot, under pressure from two parties, in 1956. The story begins about a…

Casino History Crimes / Violence / Punishments: Robbery / Theft / Embezzling Crimes / Violence / Punishments: Shooting Crimes / Violence / Punishments: Suicide Gambling Gambling History Gaming History It Really Happened Law Enforcement / Judicial System: Lawsuit Nevada State Prison (Carson City, NV) Oberon (Reno, NV) Reno--Nevada United States

Unable To Provide An Alibi

1906-1907 “They’ll never get me,” prisoner John Edwards said while being ushered into court for his trial. “They’ll never fasten anything on me” (Nevada State Journal, April 19, 1906). “Hasn’t a man a right to…

Casino History Casino: Takeovers Crimes / Violence / Punishments: Robbery / Theft / Embezzling Gambling History Gambling License Gaming History Governing / Regulatory Bodies: Reno City Council (NV) It Really Happened Law Enforcement / Judicial System: Lawsuit Nevada Reno--Nevada The Den (Reno, NV) United States

Casino Owners in Combustible Predicament

1949-1950 The Den opened its doors in spring 1949. The proprietors — Donald A. Bentley, John R. Hope and Robert M. Colahan — likely were hoping for at least as long a run as their…

Casino History Did You Know? Gambling History Gaming History Harolds Club (Reno, NV) Nevada Quick Facts Reno--Nevada United States

Quick Fact - Gambling, Guns and ... Dolls

1968 For a few months, Harolds Club expanded its exhibited items beyond antique guns and Old West memorabilia. The Reno, Nevada casino displayed a collection of 150 dolls — including the 1930s Shirley Temple —…

Casino History Did You Know? Fan Tan (Reno, NV) Gambling History Games / Races: Pai Gow Gaming History Nevada New China Club (Reno, NV) Quick Facts Reno--Nevada United States

Quick Fact - Pai Gow's Nevada Debut

1967 After a demonstration of the game, Nevada gambling regulators, for the first time, allowed pai gow — a Chinese version of dominos — to be offered in its casinos. The clubs with pai gow,…

Casino History Club Primadonna (Reno, NV) Colony Casino (Reno, NV) Ernest "Ernie" J. Primm Gambling History Gambling Laws / Regulations: Reno Red Line Ordinance Gaming History Governing / Regulatory Bodies: Reno City Council (NV) It Really Happened Law Enforcement / Judicial System: Lawsuit Nevada Reno--Nevada United States

Reno's Divisive Gambling Zone

1947-1970 For some businesses, the Red Line was beneficial; for others, detrimental. The Red Line designated a rectangular region of downtown Reno, Nevada in which casinos with unlimited gambling could exist. Clubs offering gambling outside…

A.A. Baroni Anti-Gambling / Anti-Casino Efforts: Nevada Committee on Good Laws Block N (Reno, NV) Casino History Elite Cigar Store (Reno, NV) Gambling Gambling Currency Gambling Currency: Tokens / Bingles Gambling History Gambling Laws / Regulations Games / Races Games / Races: Slot Machines / Fruities Gaming History It Really Happened Nevada NV) Overland Hotel (Reno, NV) Reno--Nevada Washoe Lunch Counter (Reno, NV)

The Truth Lies Within

1925 As of 1915, Nevada gambling law only allowed slot machines that discharged tokens, or bingles, exchangeable for on-site merchandise; those that paid out in money or bingles redeemable for currency were forbidden. “The fact…

Casino History Did You Know? Gambling Gambling History Gambling: Dice Gaming History Geographical Areas Nevada Ponderosa (Reno, NV) Publicity Stunts / Promotions / Advertisements Quick Facts Reno--Nevada United States

Quick Fact - Gambling Debut Delay

1967 When the owners of the Ponderosa — Reno, Nevada’s newest major hotel (at 515 S. Virginia Street, now the Wild Orchid) — were about to debut gambling, with a celebratory first throwing of the dice, they ran into…

Casino History Casino, Gambling Saloon, Card Club Fronts / Workers / Bookmakers / Dealers Casino, Gambling Saloon, Card Club, Slot Route Owners / Operators / Licensees / Gamblers Club Primadonna (Reno, NV) Crimes / Violence / Punishments: Robbery / Theft / Embezzling Ernest "Ernie" J. Primm Gambling History Gaming History It Really Happened Law Enforcement / Judicial System: Lawsuit Nevada Reno--Nevada United States

Casino Owner Blackballs Worker?

1956-1959 A thief absconded with $2,000 (about $17,500 today) from the Club Primadonna casino in Reno, Nevada on the first Friday of May 1956. The missing 10,000 dimes, 2,000 quarters and 1,000 half-dollars, the reserve…

Casino History Casino: Financings: Teamsters Pension Fund Events: Strikes / Protests Gambling Gambling History Games / Races: Jai Alai Governing / Regulatory Bodies: National Labor Relations Board Governing / Regulatory Bodies: U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service It Really Happened Las Vegas Strip / S. Las Vegas Boulevard Las Vegas--Nevada MGM Grand Hotel (Las Vegas, NV) MGM Grand Hotel (Reno, NV) Nevada Reno--Nevada Sin City (Las Vegas) United States

MGM Grand's Gamble on Jai Alai

1974-1983 A revolt of the performers — athletes in this case — threatened to close a popular attraction at the MGM Grand Hotel in Las Vegas — jai alai. Unique to the Strip at the…

Carson City--Nevada Casino History Creators / Manufacturers Crimes / Violence / Punishments: Cheating / Fleecing Elko--Nevada Gambling Gambling History Games / Races Games / Races: 21 / Blackjack Games / Races: Games Creators / Manufacturers: Nevada Electronics Inc. Gaming History Governing / Regulatory Bodies: Nevada Gaming Commission Hawthorne--Nevada It Really Happened Lake Tahoe--Nevada Las Vegas--Nevada Nevada Reno--Nevada Wells--Nevada

Money-Making Casino Ploy

1966 Suddenly, in the fall, the Nevada Gaming Commission (NGC) directed 41-plus casinos to cease operation of specific electronic blackjack machines because they were “experiencing difficulties when played so as to render the devices more…

Casino History Gambling Gambling History Gambling: Win / Jackpot Games / Races: Craps Gaming History Geographical Areas Harold S. Smith, Sr. Harolds Club (Reno, NV) It Really Happened Reno--Nevada United States

"Gambling Fool's" Three-Day Craps Game

1946 A tastefully attired gent in his 40s sat at a craps table around 7 p.m. on a March Tuesday and began to wager with bundles of $1,000 ($12,000 today). After betting Harolds Club’s house…

Casino History Did You Know? Gambling History Games / Races: Roulette Gaming History Harold S. Smith, Sr. Harolds Club (Reno, NV) Nevada Quick Facts Raymond A. Smith Reno--Nevada

Quick Fact - Mice and Men

1936 When brothers, Harold S. Smith, Sr. and Raymond A. Smith, opened a small casino called Harolds Club in Reno, Nevada, the main attraction was mouse roulette “where customers bet their small change on what…

Caesars Palace (Las Vegas, NV) Cal-Neva Lodge (Lake Tahoe, NV) Casino History Club Cal Neva (Reno, NV) Did You Know? Gambling History Gaming History Incline Village--Nevada Lake Tahoe--Nevada Las Vegas--Nevada Nevada Quick Facts Reno--Nevada Restaurants / Chefs: Denny's Restaurants Inc. United States

Quick Fact - Diners and Casinos?

1968-1969 Can you imagine if Denny’s was in Nevada’s casino business? Well, it nearly happened. In 1968 Denny’s Restaurants Inc. had reached an agreement to acquire Caesars Palace in Las Vegas but didn’t go through…

Crimes / Violence / Punishments: Shooting It Really Happened James Mann / Bernard Louvre Saloon (Goldfield, NV) Oberon (Reno, NV) Reno--Nevada United States Wieland Saloon (Reno, NV)

Gambler's Drunken Stupidity

1904-1905 Criminal drama occurred between two men late one November morning in the Wieland saloon in Reno, Nevada in 1904. James Mann, a Wyoming man who sometimes worked in Silver State gambling clubs — the Louvre…

Reno–Nevada