Quick Facts Archives

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

Quick Fact - Temporary Casino Plague

1935 Avoiding darkness, they only emerged amid brightness, real or artificial. They congregated outside of every Reno, Nevada gambling club at the beginning of June, pestering the guests as they entered and exited. One night…

California Casino History Del Mar Racetrack (Del Mar, CA) Del Mar--California Did You Know? Gambling Gambling History Games / Races Games / Races: Horse Racing Gaming History Law Enforcement / Judicial System: U.S. FBI Director J. Edgar Hoover Quick Facts United States

Quick Fact - A Regular For Years

Former FBI Director J. Edgar Hoover was such a rabid fan of horse racing that every summer, when in nearby La Jolla for his annual physical exam, he visited Del Mar in California, where he…

"All The King's Men" Casino History Crimes / Violence / Punishments: Gambling Did You Know? Entertainment Gambling Gambling History Gaming History Las Vegas--Nevada Louisiana Mobsters / Gangsters / Syndicate Members (Alleged) / Organizations Nevada Politicians / Politics: LA Governor Huey Long Quick Facts United States

Quick Fact - Gambling on the Oscars

1950 For Hollywood’s Academy Awards, Las Vegas, Nevada casinos offered even money on All The King’s Men, the favorite for Best Movie. The other nominees and their odds were Battleground, 5 to 2; The Heiress,…

Casino History Did You Know? Gambling History Games / Races Games / Races: Craps Gaming History Las Vegas--Nevada Nevada Quick Facts Sands (Las Vegas, NV) United States

Quick Fact - "Floating Craps"

1953 The Sands hotel-casino in Las Vegas, Nevada offered craps not poolside but in the pool! Photo from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas’ Digital Collections

Anti-Gambling / Anti-Casino Efforts Crimes / Violence / Punishments: Tax Evasion Did You Know? Gambling Gaming History Quick Facts Texas United States

Quick Fact - Gambling Downs Nine Pin

1830s In this decade, moral fervor over gambling and organized crime led many United States cities to outlaw nine-pin bowling, which had been popular since colonial times. By the mid-40s, nine pin had vanished from…

Accidents Accidents: Plane Crashes California Casino History Club Primadonna (Reno, NV) Did You Know? Gambling History Gaming History Nevada Quick Facts Reno--Nevada San Francisco--California

Quick Fact - Gambling Trip Turns Dicey

1957 In 1957, Club Primadonna chartered passengers to and from San Francisco to the Reno, Nevada casino on “champagne tours.” On the September 28 return flight, delayed from 3 a.m. to 6 a.m. due to…

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 de la Vallée (Saint-Vincent, Italy) Casino History Did You Know? Europe Gambling Gambling History Gambling: Win / Jackpot Games / Races Games / Races: Roulette Gaming History Italy Quick Facts Saint-Vincent--Italy Sean Connery

Quick Fact - Good Things Come in 3s

1963 On his third spin of the roulette wheel, having bet on the number 17, actor/producer Sir Sean Connery won, not just once, but thrice … in a row. With this wager, he raked in…

Casino History Did You Know? Gambling Gambling History Gambling: Privilege Gaming History Jefferson City--Missouri Missouri Missouri State Penitentiary (Jefferson City) Quick Facts United States

Quick Fact - Privilege Lost

1955 In a longstanding tradition, Missouri State Penitentiary inmates were allowed, on New Year’s Day, to gamble with their prison savings while playing dice and card games with each other. The warden, however, rescinded the privilege after…

Casino History Casino: Openings Did You Know? Gambling Gambling History Games / Races: Craps Games / Races: Keno Games / Races: Roulette Games / Races: Slot Machines / Fruities Games / Races: Slot Machines / Fruities: Big Berthas Gaming History Nevada Quick Facts Reno--Nevada Silver Spur (Reno, NV) United States

Quick Fact - Spurring On Business

1968 During the grand opening of the Silver Spur casino at 221 N. Virginia Street, Reno, Nevada on July 1, 1968, the ribbon was cut with a silver spur that Audie Murphy used in the…