Casino History Archives

Casino History Did You Know? Gambling Gambling History Games / Races: Craps Games / Races: Keno Games / Races: Roulette Games / Races: Slot Machines / Fruities: Big Berthas Gaming History Nevada Quick Facts Silver Spur (Reno, NV) United States

Quick Fact – Spurring On Business

1968 During the grand opening of the Silver Spur casino at 221 N. Virginia Street, Reno, Nevada on July 1, 1968, the ribbon was cut with a silver spur that Audie Murphy used in the…

"All The King's Men" Casino History Did You Know? Entertainment Gambling Gambling History Gambling: Illegal Gaming History Louisiana Nevada Politicians / Politics: LA Governor Huey Long Quick Facts United States

Quick Fact – Gambling on the Oscars

1950 For Hollywood’s Academy Awards, Las Vegas, Nevada casinos offered even money on All The King’s Men, the favorite for Best Movie. The other nominees and their odds were Battleground, 5 to 2; The Heiress,…

Architects Architects: Thomas E. Hull Artists / Designers: Tom Douglas Barn Club (Reno, NV) Bonanza Club (Reno, NV) Casino History Chesterfield Syndicate (Detroit, MI) Frank "The Prime Minister" Costello Gambling Gambling History Games / Races: Big Six Games / Races: Craps Games / Races: Roulette Gaming History International Casino (Havana, Cuba) Louis "Lou" J. Wertheimer Monte Carlo (Las Vegas, NV) Nevada Tropicana (Havana, Cuba) United States

Mobbed Up Casino Opens in The Biggest Little City

1944 The debut of the Bonanza Club* on October 3, 1944 in Reno, Nevada, was doubly significant. Formerly the Barn Club, the new casino was regarded as one of, if not, the finest in the…

California Casino History Charles "Chuck" J. Delmonico / Charles Tourine, Jr. Crimes / Violence / Punishments Crimes / Violence / Punishments: Cheating / Fleecing: Card Spying Crimes / Violence / Punishments: Extortion Flamingo (Las Vegas, NV) Gambler (Operators/Players): High Rollers: Nicholas "Nick the Greek" A. Dandolos Gambler (Operators/Players): High Rollers: Raymond "Ray" J. Ryan Gambling Gambling History Gambling: Debt Games / Races: Poker Gaming History It Really Happened Law Enforcement / Judicial System: Lawsuit Marshall Caifano / Johnny Marshall Nevada Palm Springs--California Thunderbird (Las Vegas, NV) United States

A Rare Case: High Roller Defies, Tattles on Mobsters

1963-1964 Mobsters Marshall Caifano (aka Johnny Marshall) and Charles Delmonico were arrested in Las Vegas on a federal warrant in July 1963 for conspiracy to commit extortion and engaging in interstate transportation in the aid…

Bahamas Casino History Casinos / Gambling Saloons / Card Clubs / Slot Routes / Wire Services / Hotels / Racetracks / Racinos Crimes / Violence / Punishments: Skimming Cuba England Flamingo (Las Vegas, NV) Gambling Gambling History Gaming History Haiti Israel It Really Happened Lebanon Meyer Lansky Miami Beach--Florida United States

Mobster Meyer Lansky Tries to Desert USA

1970-1972 Meyer Lansky was the puppeteer behind the scenes of the world’s gambling stage from the 1930s to the 1970s, controlling and manipulating the characters, or National Crime Syndicate members, with aplomb. He capitalized on…