casino history Archives

Gambling Iowa It Really Happened Minnesota Politicians / Politics: IA Governor Clyde Herring Politicians / Politics: MN Governor Floyd Olson

Ante Up Your Pig

1935 When two United States state governors made a friendly bet, neither knew it would become problematic. They wagered each other their state would win the upcoming football rivalry between the Minnesota Golden Gophers, a…

California Club Primadonna (Reno, NV) Crimes / Violence / Punishments: Tax Evasion Did You Know? Ernest "Ernie" J. Primm Gambling Gambling: Shills Games / Races: Poker Gardena--California Quick Facts

Quick Fact - Shill Losses

1952 When Ernest J. Primm owned the Monterey Club, a poker house in Gardena, California (a Los Angeles suburb), he claimed on his state income taxes the losses of his shills, up to $500 ($4,500 today) a…

Fremont Hotel and Casino (Las Vegas, NV) It Really Happened Las Vegas--Nevada Marilyn Monroe Nevada Philip Paval Publicity Stunts / Promotions / Advertisements Sandra Giles

The Lady Of Chance … Au Naturel

1956 The Fremont in Las Vegas commissioned a large oil painting that depicted a “lady of chance” to grace a wall in its casino. The hotel-casino’s press agent, Shelly Davis, asked aspiring actress Sandra Giles…

Did You Know? Gambling Gambling Laws / Regulations Nevada Politicians / Politics: NV Governor Frederick "Fred" Balzar Quick Facts

Quick Fact - Seer Balzar

1930 In December, while vacationing in Southern California, Nevada Governor Frederick “Fred” Balzar — foretelling the future — told reporters that gambling already was wide open in his state and that a bill making it…

Crimes / Violence / Punishments: Cheating / Fleecing Gambling Games / Races: 21 / Blackjack Games / Races: Poker Games / Races: Slot Machines / Fruities Horseshoe Club / Binion's Gambling Hall & Hotel (Las Vegas, NV) It Really Happened The Ramada Hotel Casino (Reno, NV) United States Virginia City--Nevada

The Faro Fadeaway

1825-1958 The hottest game in the Old West between 1825 and 1915, faro is pretty much extinct in the United States today. If you’ve never heard of it — and you aren’t alone there —…

Bluebell Girls Did You Know? Entertainment Las Vegas Strip / S. Las Vegas Boulevard Quick Facts Stardust (Las Vegas, NV)

Quick Fact - Bluebell Girls

1958 Sixteen glamazon, primarily English dancers from Paris’ Lido Club troupe were imported to open Las Vegas’ Stardust hotel-casino. The Bluebell Girls’ show broke all attendance records; about 1,400 people left the gaming tables and…

Belle Livingstone Belle Livingstone George Wingfield It Really Happened James "Jim/Cinch" C. McKay Nathan "Nick" Abelman Prohibition Reno--Nevada The Cowshed (Reno, NV) William "Bill/Curly" J. Graham

Livingstone Taunts Mob With Cowshed

1931 Belle Livingstone wasn’t the typical Nevada gambling club owner. She’d acted on the stage and screen in the 1890s. She’d mingled with royalty and wealth in Europe and the United States. During Prohibition, she’d…

Did You Know? Entertainment Ethnic Groups: African Americans International Hotel (Las Vegas, NV) Las Vegas Hilton (Las Vegas, NV) Las Vegas--Nevada Natalie Cole Quick Facts

Quick Fact - Natalie Cole

1976 Natalie Cole made her Nevada performance debut at the Las Vegas Hilton hotel-casino (formerly the International Hotel) on a double bill with Bill Cosby in April.

Caesars Palace (Las Vegas, NV) Frank Sinatra Gambling Games / Races: Baccarat Howard Hughes It Really Happened Las Vegas--Nevada Sands (Las Vegas, NV)

Frank Sinatra's Hissy Fits

1967 & 1970 Apparently, the beloved crooner Frank Sinatra, Sr. had a temper, which he sometimes unleashed when casino operators denied him additional, excessive amounts of credit when gambling. In one instance when Sinatra lost…

Did You Know? Entertainment Las Vegas--Nevada Quick Facts Royal Nevada (Las Vegas, NV)

Quick Fact - Dancing Waters

1955 A dancing waters routine at the new Royal Nevada hotel-casino upstaged big-money entertainers — Carmen Miranda, Danny Thomas, Liberace and others — in Las Vegas, Nevada. The five fountains of colored water (30 tons…

Club 86 (Miami, FL) Florida Gambling Games / Races: Chemin de Fer Games / Races: Chuck-a-luck Games / Races: Craps Games / Races: Roulette It Really Happened

Swanky Miami Casino-Fortress

1945-1950 Although gambling was illegal in Miami, Florida, in the 1940s, one lavish casino operated there for five years with the blessing of the local sheriff. Club 86, on Biscayne Boulevard, which belonged to local…

California Did You Know? Gambling Games / Races: Sports Betting Quick Facts Texas

Quick Fact - Train Hustlers

1935 Stanford University’s (California) Indians and Southern Methodist University’s (Texas) Mustangs were to vie in the Rose Bowl football game on New Year’s Day, and this meant trains of people traveling from The Lone Star State to…

Gambling It Really Happened Nevada

Gambling Addiction Support: The Early Days

1958-present Las Vegas, Nevada resident Howie C. had gambled so much during the 1950s and ’60s that he owed banks, finance companies and loan sharks. He often had borrowed money from his mom and even…

Casino, Gambling Saloon, Card Club, Slot Route Owners / Operators / Licensees / Gamblers Casinos / Gambling Saloons / Card Clubs / Slot Routes / Wire Services / Hotels / Racetracks / Racinos Did You Know? Gambling Games / Races: Bingo Games / Races: Craps Games / Races: Slot Machines / Fruities Las Vegas--Nevada Quick Facts

Quick Fact - Playing Incentives

1947 To keep players gambling at their clubs, Las Vegas, Nevada casinos boosted incentives with offerings such as double odds on craps, bingo prizes of $1,000 ($10,900 today), extra slot machine jackpots and brand new…

Gambling Laws / Regulations: U.S. Transportation of Gambling Devices Act Games / Races: Roulette Games / Races: Slot Machines / Fruities It Really Happened Law Enforcement / Judicial System: U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation Politicians / Politics: Kefauver Committee United States

Thwarting Mob Activities

1950s The manufacture of slot machines, roulette wheels and other gambling equipment was big business in the United States until the mid-20th century when new federal legislation curbed it. In 1950, the Kefauver Committee, officially the…

Casino, Gambling Saloon, Card Club, Slot Route Owners / Operators / Licensees / Gamblers Did You Know? Games / Races: Slot Machines / Fruities Las Vegas--Nevada Quick Facts

Quick Fact - Slot Keys

1942 The Las Vegas, Nevada Board of Commissioners ordered all commercial slot machine owners to drop off to the local police station a master key for each of their devices to: • Ensure the devices…