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Brazil Casino History Gambling History Games / Races: Games Creators / Manufacturers: João Batista Viana Drummond Games / Races: Jogo do Bicho It Really Happened Publicity Stunts / Promotions / Advertisements Rio de Janeiro--Brazil

Brazilian Game of Chance Starts as a Business Promotion

1890s-Today A way to drum up business for a failing zoo in the late 19th century, reportedly, quickly evolved into and, to this day, remains an enormously popular game of chance among Brazilians: jogo do…

Casino History Gambling History Gaming History Hyatt Hotels Corp. Hyatt Lake Tahoe / Hyatt Regency Lake Tahoe (Incline Village, NV) Incline Village--Nevada It Really Happened Jud D. McIntosh Kings Castle (Incline Village, NV) Lake Tahoe--Nevada Nathan "Nate" S. Jacobson Nevada Publicity Stunts / Promotions / Advertisements The Sierra Tahoe (Incline Village, NV) United States

Lady Godiva's Run at Lake Tahoe Hotel-Casino

This is the first of a series of posts related to and leading up to the release on Dec. 6 of A Bold Gamble at Lake Tahoe: Crime and Corruption in a Casino’s Evolution by…

Bing Crosby California Casino History Casino: Openings Crimes / Violence / Punishments Crimes / Violence / Punishments: Attempted Del Mar Racetrack (Del Mar, CA) Del Mar--California Gambling History Gambling: Parimutuel Games / Races Games / Races: Horse Racing Gaming History It Really Happened Publicity Stunts / Promotions / Advertisements United States

A Man and His Dream: Bing Crosby Opens Horse Racetrack

1937 An armored truck, accompanied by three deputy sheriff cars, was moving $262,000 (about $4.5 million today) the 15 miles from the Del Mar racetrack in California down the coastal highway to a San Diego…

Cal-Neva Lodge (Lake Tahoe, NV) California Casino History Crystal Bay--Nevada Did You Know? Gambling History Gaming History Lake Tahoe--Nevada Nevada Publicity Stunts / Promotions / Advertisements Quick Facts United States Will Rogers

Quick Fact - "Castle in the Sky"

1938 To draw guests, a 1938 newspaper ad for the new casino resort at Lake Tahoe in Crystal Bay touted the cinematic history of the land. It read, “All America enjoyed the beloved Will Rogers…

Casino History Gambling History Games / Races: Contests Gaming History Hacienda (Las Vegas, NV) It Really Happened Las Vegas--Nevada Law Enforcement / Judicial System: Nevada Supreme Court Nevada Publicity Stunts / Promotions / Advertisements United States

Vegas Casino Welshes on Paying Out

1958-1961 The Hacienda in Las Vegas, Nevada held an ongoing promotional contest at its golf course, which was widely advertised, even on the back of the postcard above. Participants would pay 50 cents (about $4.25 today) per…

Casino History Did You Know? Gambling History Gambling: Prizes Gaming History Harrah's (Reno, NV) Nevada Publicity Stunts / Promotions / Advertisements Quick Facts Reno--Nevada United States

Quick Fact - Shot at a Car

1972 Recognize these cars? A Pinto, Chevelle, Javelin and Datsun 240Z? Harrah’s hotel-casino in Reno, Nevada gave them away as well as cash in four weekly drawings for $35,000 worth of prizes ($205,000 today) over the…

Casino History Club Cal Neva (Reno, NV) Gambling Gambling History Games / Races: Roulette Gaming History It Really Happened Morrie Brodsky Nevada Publicity Stunts / Promotions / Advertisements Reno--Nevada United States

Club Cal-Neva Permits Horseplay

1950 Susan Wallace, a 24-year-old, “plucky blonde” who resided in Hollywood, California, needed money to further her opera studies (Nevada State Journal, Jan. 8, 1950). In early January, she sent telegrams to the casinos in…