Quick Facts Archives

Brothels Brothels: Ash Meadows Sky Ranch (Lathrop Wells, NV) Did You Know? Gambling History Gambling License Games / Races Games / Races: Slot Machines / Fruities Gaming History Lathrop Wells (Amargosa Valley)--Nevada Nevada Quick Facts

Quick Fact - An "Unsuitable" Combo

1972 The brothel Ash Meadows Sky Ranch, in Lathrop Wells (today Amargosa Valley) in Nye County, accessible via an airstrip, was denied a gambling license by Nevada gaming regulators to operate four slot machines on…

Accidents Accidents: Flooding Caesars Palace (Las Vegas, NV) Casino History Did You Know? Gambling History Gaming History Las Vegas--Nevada Nevada Quick Facts Showboat Hotel (Las Vegas, NV) United States

Quick Fact - Floating the Showboat

1967 Ironically, considering the entity’s name, water poured inside the Showboat Hotel (later Castaways) when flash floods hit Las Vegas, Nevada on Tuesday, August 8. At 2800 E. Fremont Street, east of the city, the…

Beausoleil--France Casino History Did You Know? Europe Events: World War I France Games / Races Games / Races: Baccarat Games / Races: Petits-chevaux Gaming History Le Casino Municipal de Beausoleil (Beausoleil, France) Quick Facts

Quick Fact - Put Into Service

1907-1918 In 1918, the United States Army requisitioned Le Casino Municipal de Beausoleil, in France on its border with Monaco, for a YMCA center for World War I infantrymen on leave. In the main former…

Casino History Did You Know? Gambling Gambling History Gambling: Equipment Games / Races: Roulette Gaming History Las Vegas--Nevada Nevada Quick Facts United States

Quick Fact - Oops! They Don't Match

1931 After a brand new roulette setup was put in use at a Las Vegas, Nevada casino, it was discovered the number 28 was black on the wheel, as it should be, but red on…

Casino History Did You Know? Gambling History Gaming History Harold S. Smith, Sr. Harolds Club (Reno, NV) Nevada Quick Facts Raymond "Pappy" I. Smith Raymond A. Smith Reno--Nevada Sparks--Nevada United States

Quick Fact - Party Palace

1950-1979 The Harolds Club casino, in Reno, Nevada, held an annual winter holiday party for employees at its Harolds Trapshooting Club in the neighboring town of Sparks, on the Pyramid Highway. The fêtes, which featured…

California Casino History Chico Marx Crimes / Violence / Punishments: Murder / Killing Did You Know? Gambling History George "Les" Bruneman Los Angeles-California Quick Facts United States

Quick Fact - Cavalier Comic

1937 A $2,000 check signed “Chico Marx” (about $34,600 today) was found in the pocket of Los Angeles gambler/bookmaker George “Les” Bruneman upon his murder carried out by a couple of Southern California Mafia hitmen.…

Casino History Casino: Takeovers Did You Know? Europe Events: Frank Zappa and the Mothers of Invention Concert Gambling History Gaming History Montreux Casino (Montreux, Switzerland) Montreux--Switzerland Quick Facts

Quick Fact - Inspired by Life

1971 The sight of Switzerland’s Montreux Casino burning down on December 4, 1971 was the inspiration for Deep Purple’s hit song, Smoke on the Water. A fan firing a flare gun during a Frank Zappa…

Did You Know? Gaming History Nevada Quick Facts

Upcoming Gambling History Class in Northern Nevada

Date: May 23, 2018, Wednesday Time: 6:00-9:00 PM Place: TMCC Meadowood Center Cost: $39 (plus 20% discount available – see below) It’s that time again! If you’re in Northern Nevada, please join me for this…

Casino History Did You Know? Gambling Gambling History Gambling: Win / Jackpot Games / Races Games / Races: Slot Machines / Fruities Gaming History Nevada Quick Facts Reno--Nevada United States

Quick Fact - Pure Luck

1952 “One of the members of the Journal news staff stopped in at a [Reno, Nevada] casino one night last week, put a nickel in a slot machine and hit the jackpot. The…

Alphonse "Al/Scarface" Capone California Did You Know? Gambling Gambling History Gaming History Quick Facts The Rock Islanders U.S. Federal Penitentiary, Alcatraz Island (CA) United States

Quick Fact - A Renaissance Convict?

1934-1938 While doing time at Alcatraz, Alphonse “Scarface” Capone, infamous Chicago organized crime boss heavily involved in gambling, played the banjo and mandola (a large mandolin) in the prison band, The Rock Islanders, a rotating…

Casino History Crimes / Violence / Punishments: Owning Gold Did You Know? Gambling Gambling Currency: Coins: Gold Gambling History Games / Races Games / Races: 21 / Blackjack Nevada Quick Facts Reno--Nevada United States

Quick Fact - Last to Hear

1940 “Apparently unaware that gold has been forbidden as a medium of exchange, a tall, dark complexioned cowpuncher walked into a [Reno, Nevada] gambling club last night and startled the dealer by casually dropping a…

Casino History Crimes / Violence / Punishments Crimes / Violence / Punishments: Robbery / Theft / Embezzling Did You Know? Gambling History Gaming History Las Vegas--Nevada Nevada Quick Facts The Westerner (Las Vegas, NV) United States

Quick Fact - Crossed Wires

1951 Upon entering The Westerner casino in Las Vegas, Nevada, an electrician told the guard he’d been dispatched to repair a boiler connection. After being admitted to the utility room, he produced a pistol and…

Casino History Did You Know? Gambling Gambling Currency: Coins: Brass Gambling History Gaming History Nevada Nevada State Prison (Carson City, NV) Quick Facts United States

Quick Fact - Brass in Pocket

1967 The month following closure of its on-site Bullpen casino, the Nevada State Prison sold the brass coins that inmates had used for decades (since 1932) for wagering and as currency. Sets, containing one coin…

Anti-Gambling / Anti-Casino Efforts California Casino History Crimes / Violence / Punishments Crimes / Violence / Punishments: Gambling Crimes / Violence / Punishments: Gambling Did You Know? Gambling Gambling Currency: Coins Gambling History Gambling: Raids Games / Races Games / Races: Poker Gaming History Los Angeles-California Quick Facts United States

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