1953 Archives

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

Casino: Corporations: Pyramid Securities Inc. Crimes / Violence / Punishments: Fraud Gambling History Gambling: Equipment Games / Races: Slot Machines / Fruities Gaming History Law Enforcement / Judicial System: Lawsuit Nevada Nevada State Prison (Carson City, NV) Oak Room (Reno, NV) Pyramid Securities Inc: Joe Larango Reno--Nevada

Slot Machines Land on Trouble in Reno

1953 Theodore “Ted” Donaldson, 31, bought six slot machines from Joe Larango of Pyramid Securities Inc., a company with the devices in several Reno, Nevada locations, including the Oak Room casino. Donaldson paid the $1,825 cost…

Anti-Gambling / Anti-Casino Efforts Casino History Gambling History Gambling: Raids Games / Races: 21 / Blackjack Games / Races: Roulette Gaming History George L. O'Dwyer It Really Happened Law Enforcement / Judicial System: Louisiana State Police Louisiana New Orleans--Louisiana O'Dwyer's (New Orleans, LA) Politicians / Politics: Kefauver Committee Rudolph "Rudy" T. O'Dwyer United States

Unexpected Cost at New Orleans Gambling Raid

1953 On a weeknight in May, Louisiana state policemen surrounded a high-end home in the New Orleans suburbs. One of them knocked on a secret side door that contained a one-way glass window, allowing those…

Crimes / Violence / Punishments: Cheating / Fleecing Crimes / Violence / Punishments: Extortion Gambling License Games / Races: 21 / Blackjack Governing / Regulatory Bodies: Nevada Tax Commission Governing / Regulatory Bodies: Nevada Tax Commission: Dudley Kline Governing / Regulatory Bodies: Nevada Tax Commission: Robbins Cahill It Really Happened Leo Quilici United States Wells--Nevada

Scandal Hits Gambling Watchdogs

1953-1955 In fall 1953, John “Fat Jack” Galloway was playing the card game, 21, at Leo Quilici’s hotel-casino, the El Rancho Hotel, in Wells, Nevada. Fat Jack himself, in his early 40s, was the operator…