gaming history Archives

Casino: Takeovers China Did You Know? Quick Facts

Quick Fact - Hankow Fire

1928 Countless people died and an estimated 10,000 people lost their homes due to a ferocious fire started in a Chinese gambling den that razed a major street in the heavily populated city of Hankow.…

Games / Races: 21 / Blackjack Governing / Regulatory Bodies: Internal Revenue Service Harolds Club (Reno, NV) It Really Happened Nevada Reno--Nevada

Hey, IRS, Give 'Em Back!

1961 It was hot inside and outside Harolds Club in Reno, Nevada on a Wednesday afternoon in the early summer of 1961. Indoors, people gathered around to watch high-roller Lonnie Joe Chadwick on a winning…

Did You Know? Gambling Gambling: Shills Nevada Quick Facts

Quick Fact - Shills Unlicensed

1961 In Nevada, where casino operators can employ shills to play in their clubs, it was established that a licensee may not act as a shill, gambling in their own establishment. Their spouse can’t either…

Ghost Casino (Rhyolite, NV) It Really Happened Norman C. Westmoreland Rhyolite--Nevada

The Ghost Casino's Disappearance

1937-1947 The bustle and liveliness of this casino have long been dead. All that remains is a specter of the club’s former self in the form of a rundown, abandoned building — a state befitting…

Did You Know? Gambling Laws / Regulations Nevada Quick Facts

Quick Fact - Gambling Hours

1889 Nevada passed a law mandating that gambling houses couldn’t open any earlier than 6 a.m. and couldn’t close any later than midnight. The sentence for violation was a $200 to $500 fine and/or 30…

Crimes / Violence / Punishments: Robbery / Theft / Embezzling Espanol Hotel (Reno, NV) Felix Turillas Sr. It Really Happened Nevada Prohibition Reno--Nevada

Who To Believe In The Wild West

1920 Some shady business went down between Felix Turillas, Sr., who owned Reno’s Espanol hotel and who went on to own several Northern Nevada casinos, and two men, Joe Musso and Joe Stropin. According to…

Did You Know? Lake Tahoe--Nevada Las Vegas--Nevada Palms Casino Resort (Las Vegas, NV) Playboy Club (Las Vegas, NV) Quick Facts

Quick Fact - Playboy Casino

1971 Adult magazine publisher Hugh Hefner announced to the media that in two years’ time, Nevada would be home to a Playboy casino in either Las Vegas or on Lake Tahoe’s South Shore. It didn’t…

Gambling Laws / Regulations It Really Happened Nevada

Was Betting on "Old Maid" Legal?

1861-present Since becoming a U.S. territory, Nevada has undergone periods of full, partial and no legalization of gambling. Here’s a timeline of what types of games of chance legislators allowed or disallowed and when: 1861:…

Accidents Accidents: Flooding Did You Know? Nevada Quick Facts Reno--Nevada Riverside Hotel (Reno, NV)

Quick Fact - Reno Flood

1950 The Truckee River in downtown Reno, Nevada overflowed, the raging waters swelling high enough to deluge nearby businesses. One was the Riverside hotel where 4+ feet of water amassed in the casino, restaurant and lobby.…

Cal-Neva Lodge (Lake Tahoe, NV) Clara Bow Crimes / Violence / Punishments: Cheating / Fleecing Elmer "Bones" F. Remmer Games / Races: Chuck-a-luck Games / Races: Craps Games / Races: Roulette It Really Happened James "Jim/Cinch" C. McKay Lake Tahoe--Nevada Nevada William "Bill/Curly" J. Graham

Hollywood Sex Symbol's Missteps

1930 Silent film star, Clara Bow, spent one September evening in 1930 playing illegal gambling games at a Lake Tahoe, Nevada casino. Both winning and losing at roulette, craps, 21 and the dice game, chuck-a-luck,…

Casino History Casino, Gambling Saloon, Card Club Fronts / Workers / Bookmakers / Dealers Did You Know? Gambling Gambling Laws / Regulations Gambling: Tips Gaming History Nevada Quick Facts

Quick Fact - Tips Taxable

1976 The Ninth U.S. Court of Appeals in San Francisco, California ruled any tips, or tokes, that individuals give to casino dealers is a form of taxable income. Photos from freeimages.com: by Gustavo Ribeiro de…

Gambling Gambling Laws / Regulations Gambling: Shills Governing / Regulatory Bodies: Nevada Gaming Commission Governing / Regulatory Bodies: Nevada Gaming Control Board It Really Happened Nevada Rolo Casino (Reno, NV)

Gambling Decoys: Shills, Proposition Players

1947-1979 “Neat appearing girls from 21 to 25 to shill and learn to deal games at Rolo Casino, 14 E. Commercial Row,” read a Help Wanted ad in the Nevada State Journal (June 6, 1947) for…

Did You Know? Gambling Laws / Regulations Nevada Quick Facts

Quick Fact - First Floor

1869, 1877, 1905 The 1869 statute partially legalizing gambling in Nevada prohibited any such operations in first floor rooms. An 1877 revision allowed gambling in back rooms of a ground level in certain small counties.…

Crimes / Violence / Punishments: Cheating / Fleecing Gambling Gambling Currency: Coins Gambling Currency: Coins: Brass Games / Races: 21 / Blackjack Games / Races: Panguingue Games / Races: Poker Games / Races: Roulette Games / Races: Tonk It Really Happened Nevada Nevada State Prison (Carson City, NV)

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