history of gambling Archives

Casino History Casino History Nevada Casino History U.S. Gambler (Operators/Players): Cheater: Clint Stone Gambling History Nevada Gambling History U.S. Gambling History: Books Gambling: Cheating Harrah's (Reno, NV) It Really Happened Nevada Reno--Nevada United States

Card Sharp Pens Tell-Almost-All Book

In the autobiographical book Cheater, the author Clint Stone (likely an alias), paints himself as a lifelong gambling cheat. His specialty is mucking, using sleight of hand, one hand in his case, to introduce a…

Casino Dream Casino History Errol Flynn Gambling History It Really Happened Virgin Islands (U.S.)

Famous Movie Actor and His Casino Dream

1953-1959 Australian-American actor Errol Flynn was going to open one of the world’s largest casinos, one that would rival Monaco’s Monte Carlo, in the Virgin Islands when gambling was legalized there, he said in 1953.…

Casino History Crimes / Violence / Punishments: Bombings Fort Worth--Texas Gambling History Games / Races: Craps Nelson Harris Nelson's Place (Fort Worth, TX) Texas United States

Car Blast Victim Tied to Gambling, Part III

1950 In the morning, gambler Nelson Harris, 34, telephoned two Fort Worth, Texas criminal attorneys and said he was on his way over to discuss a life and death matter. He and his wife Juanita,…

Advertisements Casino History Gambling History Harolds Club (Reno, NV) It Really Happened Nevada Reno--Nevada United States

Place For a Roaring Good Time

1949 The Smiths, who owned and operated Harolds Club in Reno, Nevada appropriately named their casino Roaring Camp. Generally, a roaring camp was “a gold-prospecting camp characterized by wild behavior, unrestrained drinking and gambling,” according…

Casino History Crimes / Violence / Punishments: Gambling Gambling History Games / Races: Slot Machines / Fruities It Really Happened Seattle--Washington Washington

Hate When That Happens

1934 A man named Hans Brucksmer played about $15 worth of nickels (about $300 today) in a slot machine at a place of business in Seattle, Washington and got only four coins back. He lifted…

California Casino History Crimes / Violence / Punishments: Gambling Games / Races: Slot Machines / Fruities Gaming History It Really Happened Los Angeles-California United States

It Took Just One

1936 A single penny got Los Angeles store owner Ethel Jamison convicted. One day at her shop, Police Officer James Mulligan placed a penny in the slot machine, pulled the lever, received a penny premium…

Incline Village--Nevada It Really Happened Mobsters / Gangsters / Syndicate Members (Alleged) / Organizations Nevada Reno--Nevada United States

New Podcast Airs About Mobsters in Reno

It Really Happened!’s Doresa Banning recently appeared on author Wayne Clingman’s Milwaukee Mob video podcast. She and Clingman discussed Mobsters involved in Northern Nevada’s gambling industry during the early 20th century. Check it out (click…

Casino History Charles Enquist Divorce / Annulment G.W. Summerfield Gambling History Gaming History It Really Happened Nevada The Big Casino (Tonopah, NV) Tonopah--Nevada United States William S. Johnson

U.S. Runs Gambling House in Nevada

1913-1915 Circumstances of a lawsuit in the U.S. led to an unusual occurrence, even for Nevada: the federal government taking over and running a Silver State casino. It was The Big Casino, a combination casino,…

Blakeland Inn (Denver, CO) Casino History Colorado Cottonwood Ranch (Denver, CO) Crimes / Violence / Punishments: Bombings Denver--Colorado Gambling History It Really Happened Leo Barnes Ova "Smiling Charlie" Elijah Stephens United States

Series: Car Blast Victim Tied to Gambling, Part II

1936 Gambler Leo Barnes and his wife had only been in Denver, Colorado for about six months, having moved from Kansas City, Missouri. On the night of Dec. 8, the couple got in their car…

Casino History Chicago--Illinois Crimes / Violence / Punishments: Gambling Defense Attorneys: George Beiber Gambling History Gaming History Illinois It Really Happened Tony "Joe Batters" Accardo United States

Mobster Avoids Trial With Clever Scheme

1943-1944 Had it not been for a shifty plan Tony “Joe Batters” Accardo and/or his attorney, George Bieber, dreamed up, the Mobster might’ve gone to prison at age 37, in 1944, for illegal gambling. Cigar…

Alphonse "Al/Scarface" Capone Casino History Chicago--Illinois Continental Press Service (Chicago, IL) Desert Inn (Las Vegas, NV) Fremont Hotel and Casino (Las Vegas, NV) Gambling History Gambling: Bookmaking Games / Races: Slot Machines / Fruities: Animated Gaming History Havana--Cuba Illinois It Really Happened Joey Bosa Las Vegas--Nevada Nevada Nick Bosa Owl Club (Calumet City, IL) Paul "The Waiter" Ricca Riviera (Las Vegas, NV) Stardust (Las Vegas, NV) The Outfit (Chicago, IL) Tony "Joe Batters" Accardo United States

Bosa Bros.' Mobster Great Grandfather Involved in Gambling

1935-1965 Tony Accardo, né Antonino Leonardo Accardo (1906-1992), is credited with reviving and expanding the Chicago Outfit’s gambling business in the 1940s after the organization’s head Paul “The Waiter” Ricca named him underboss. Accardo himself…

California Casino History Events: 1953 California State Fair Gaming History Harrah's (Reno, NV) It Really Happened Nevada Reno--Nevada United States

An Offer That Was Refused

1953 Harrah’s Club in Reno, Nevada proposed, to event officials, the casino host an exhibit about gambling at the California State Fair. With a backdrop of silver dollars, the display was to contain gambling equipment…

California Casino History Crimes / Violence / Punishments: Bombings Emilio "Gombo" Giorgetti Gambling History Gambling: Equipment: Manufacturers Games / Races: Dog Racing Games / Races: Horse Racing Gaming History Governing / Regulatory Bodies: California Crime Commission International Totalizer Company It Really Happened John O'Neil Miami Beach Kennel Club (Miami Beach, FL) Mile High Kennel Club Mile High Kennel Club (Denver, CO) Multnomah Kennel Club (Portland, OR) Olmo Group Richard "Big Dick" Charles Trabert San Mateo County--California Sportsman's Park (Cicero, IL) Thomas "Tom" A. Keen United States

Car Blast Victim Tied to Gambling, Part I

1952 The life of wealthy, prominent businessman with several connections to the gambling industry, Thomas “Tom” A. Keen, 56, was abruptly ended at about 10:07 a.m. on Tuesday morning, February 5. After giving some duck…

Casino History Gambling History Gambling: Shills It Really Happened Nevada Reno--Nevada United States

New Shill Doesn't Get It (Or Does He?)

1946 A Reno, Nevada casino hired a man, new to the city and gambling, as a shill. (A shill is paid to play games in a gambling house to entice others around to do the…

Casino History David J. Funk Gambling History Gambling: Parimutuel Games / Races: Dog Racing Gaming History Governing / Regulatory Bodies: Nevada Racing Commission Henderson--Nevada It Really Happened Las Vegas Downs Inc. Nevada Nevada Turf and Kennel Club Reno Speedway (at Lawton's Hot Springs) (Reno, NV) United States

Gambling on Live Dog Races in Nevada

1938-Today Bets placed, spectators occupy the stands, waiting. Anticipation, excitement fill the air. Finally, the get-ready bell dings, and the crowd quickly quiets. The start signal sounds. The gates open. Out lunge the competitors, into…

Advertisements Advertisements: Advertising Agencies: Hoefer Advertisements: Advertising Agencies: Thomas C. Wilson Advertising Co. Advertisements: Advertising Agencies: Wallie Warren & Associates Casino History Casino: Corporations: Harrah's Entertainment Inc. Dieterich & Brown Inc. Gambling History Gaming History Harrah's (Reno, NV) Harrah's Lake Tahoe (Stateline, NV) It Really Happened Lake Tahoe--Nevada Nevada Reno--Nevada Stateline--Nevada United States William "Bill" F. Harrah

Bill Harrah Steals Harolds Club's Ad Formula

1937-1970s For Harrah’s, which debuted in Reno in 1937 as a bingo parlor, extensive advertising was key to its growth into one of Nevada’s largest gambling empires by the 1970s.* However, owner/operator William “Bill” Fisk…