Reno Archives

Gambling History: Books Henry Club (Reno, NV) It Really Happened Nevada Public Club (Reno, NV) Reno--Nevada United States Woo Sing

King of Vices

Hi Fabulous Subscribers, How are you all? I hope each of you is doing exceedingly well and life is good. As for me, I’ve been working on my next gambling history book, and today I’m…

Bank Club (Reno, NV) Casino History Gambling History Gambling Laws / Regulations Gaming History Governing / Regulatory Bodies: Reno City Council (NV) Governing / Regulatory Bodies: Reno City Council (NV): William A. Justi It Really Happened James "Jim/Cinch" C. McKay Nevada Reno--Nevada United States William "Bill/Curly" J. Graham

Was Reno City Councilman Crooked?

1923-1945 Reno, Nevada’s Third Ward city councilman during the 1920s and 1930s was “owned by” the local Mobsters, acted in their interests and protected them, contended Harold S. Smith, Jr., Harolds Club co-owner, in his…

Casino History Gambling Games / Races: Sports Betting Gaming History It Really Happened Nevada Politicians / Politics: U.S. Senator (NV) Patrick "Pat" A. McCarran Reno--Nevada Sports Teams Sports Teams: University of Nevada Wolf Pack United States

Accusation: The Fix is In!

1948 The November 22, 1948 issue of Sports-Week roiled Nevada Wolf Pack fans and supporters. Array of Allegations An article in that edition of the nationally circulated digest charged that the University of Nevada* (UN)…

Casino History Gambling History Gambling: Loss Games / Races: Craps Gaming History Harold S. Smith, Sr. Harolds Club (Reno, NV) It Really Happened Law Enforcement / Judicial System: Lawsuit Law Enforcement / Judicial System: Reno Police Department--Nevada Nevada Reno--Nevada United States

Blaming It On The Dice

1946-1947 On the third Tuesday of April 1946, after work at the Southern Pacific Shop in Sparks, Nevada, Sam Lemel took the bus to Reno and went to Harolds Club where he played craps. He…

California Casino History Crimes / Violence / Punishments: Robbery / Theft / Embezzling Folsom State Prison (CA) Gambler (Operators/Players): Estate Gambling History Gaming History It Really Happened John Quinn Law Enforcement / Judicial System: Lawsuit Nevada Palace Club (Reno, NV) Reno--Nevada San Francisco--California United States

Gambler's Wealth Meets Undue Fate

1924-1932 The story of the estate of a long-ago Nevada gambler after his passing is strange and unfortunate. John Quinn was a man who’d lost and made large fortunes in gambling and mining stock deals…

Andrew Jackson "Jack" Blackman Bank Club (Reno, NV) Casino History Crimes / Violence / Punishments: Shooting Gambling History Gaming History It Really Happened Nevada Reno--Nevada Ta-Neva-Ho (Crystal Bay , NV) Town House (Reno, NV) United States Walter Parman

Shakedown in Reno Escalates (Part 1)

1944-1945 A thug’s confrontation of a casino owner on October 30, 1944 radically altered both of their lives. Andrew Jackson “Jack” Blackman, co-proprietor of the Town House gambling saloon* in Reno, left his business for…

Casino History Casinos / Gambling Saloons / Card Clubs / Slot Routes / Wire Services / Hotels / Racetracks / Racinos Did You Know? Gambling Gambling History Games / Races: Slot Machines / Fruities Gaming History Nevada Quick Facts Reno--Nevada United States

Quick Fact - Staying Put

1956 She wouldn’t budge. C. Johnson was playing a slot machine from a stool that was blocking the aisle in a downtown Reno, Nevada casino. When employees asked the Oakland, California resident to please shift…

Casino History Charles Mapes Events: Daylight Saving Time Gambling History Gambling: Revenue Gaming History Harolds Club (Reno, NV) It Really Happened Mapes (Reno, NV) Nevada Politicians / Politics: NV Governor Vail Pittman Raymond "Pappy" I. Smith United States

Gamblers Oppose Daylight Saving Time

1949 Casino owners balked when the question of going on daylight saving time (DST) arose in Nevada in 1949. Gamblers’ Outcries Charles Mapes, owner of the Mapes hotel-casino in Reno, made a few arguments: •…

Casino History Crimes / Violence / Punishments: Cheating / Fleecing Did You Know? Gambling Currency: Chips Gambling Currency: Counterfeit Gambling History Las Vegas--Nevada Quick Facts Reno--Nevada United States

Quick Fact - Bogus Chips in Nevada

1947 John Clark Bosworth, of Reno, 47, was sentenced to 10 days in the local jail for playing with fake $25 chips in a Las Vegas casino. What do you think? Was this a light…

Artists / Designers Artists / Designers: Lewis "Lew" Hymers Artists / Designers: Pat Denner Artists / Designers: Roscoe "Duke" Reading Casino History Gambling History Gambling: Mascots: Bucky Buckaroo Gambling: Mascots: Last Chance Joe Gambling: Mascots: Vegas Vic Gambling: Mascots: Wendover Will Gaming History It Really Happened Las Vegas--Nevada Nugget Motor Lodge / Dick Graves' Nugget / John Ascuaga's Nugget (Sparks, NV) Pioneer Club (Las Vegas, NV) Publicity Stunts / Promotions / Advertisements Reno--Nevada Sparks--Nevada State Line Hotel and Casino (Wendover, NV) United States Wendover / West Wendover--Nevada

4 Iconic Gambling Characters

1940s-Today They’re one of a kind. Dazzling. Captivating. Iconic. Pure Nevada. They’re the mascots of the state’s gambling industry. They graced the facades of casinos in the gambling meccas, and some still do. Rather than…

Advertisements Casino History Casino: Openings Did You Know? Gambling Gambling History Gaming History Golden Gulch (Reno, NV) James H. Lloyd Nevada Quick Facts Reno--Nevada United States

Quick Fact - Reno Casino Re-Opening

1947 The Golden Gulch casino re-debuted on June 27 under new management, that of James H. Lloyd. He’d had the gaming rooms and bar remodeled “with decorations featuring the ornate Victorian motif and stressing the…

Casino History Clarence Shockey Gambling Gambling History Games / Races: Keno-Pool Gaming History It Really Happened La Boite Amusement Palace (Reno, NV) Nevada Reno--Nevada United States Welker Cochran

Keno-Pool Parlor Pops Up

1932 Bizarrely, Clarence Shockey’s stint as a Nevada gambling club manager was short. Here’s what happened: Week One July 11, Monday: The Reno City Council approved a gambling license for Clarence, who’d worked in real…

Casino History Crimes / Violence / Punishments: Firearms Crimes / Violence / Punishments: Shooting Gambling Gambling History Gaming History Harolds Club (Reno, NV) It Really Happened Law Enforcement / Judicial System: Reno Police Department--Nevada Nevada Reno--Nevada United States

Gunfire Roils Crowded Harolds Club

1947-1953 Harolds Club bustled on Christmas Eve in 1947 with revelers enjoying the gambling and camaraderie when an unexpected event instantly silenced the din. Panic followed. Since the previous morning, Reno, Nevada police had been…

Basin Street (Reno, NV) Casino History Ethnic Groups: Asians Gambling Gambling History Gambling Laws / Regulations Gambling License Gaming History George Chin Governing / Regulatory Bodies: Nevada Gaming Control Board Governing / Regulatory Bodies: Nevada Tax Commission Harry Chon It Really Happened Mobsters / Gangsters / Syndicate Members (Alleged) / Organizations Nevada Old Cathay Club (Reno, NV) Reno--Nevada United States

The Big Squeeze at Reno Casino

1955-1966 Harry Chon, licensed operator of the gambling operations at the Old Cathay Club* in Reno, Nevada, found himself in an uncomfortable spot, under pressure from two parties, in 1956. The story begins about a…

Casino History Crimes / Violence / Punishments: Robbery / Theft / Embezzling Crimes / Violence / Punishments: Shooting Crimes / Violence / Punishments: Suicide Gambling Gambling History Gaming History It Really Happened Law Enforcement / Judicial System: Lawsuit Nevada State Prison (Carson City, NV) Oberon (Reno, NV) Reno--Nevada United States

Unable To Provide An Alibi

1906-1907 “They’ll never get me,” prisoner John Edwards said while being ushered into court for his trial. “They’ll never fasten anything on me” (Nevada State Journal, April 19, 1906). “Hasn’t a man a right to…

Casino History Casino: Takeovers Crimes / Violence / Punishments: Robbery / Theft / Embezzling Gambling History Gambling License Gaming History Governing / Regulatory Bodies: Reno City Council (NV) It Really Happened Law Enforcement / Judicial System: Lawsuit Nevada Reno--Nevada The Den (Reno, NV) United States

Casino Owners in Combustible Predicament

1949-1950 The Den opened its doors in spring 1949. The proprietors — Donald A. Bentley, John R. Hope and Robert M. Colahan — likely were hoping for at least as long a run as their…