Casino History Archives

Artists / Designers: Cassius Marcellus Coolidge Casino History Gambling History Gambling: Art Games / Races: Poker Gaming History It Really Happened United States

Paintings of Canine Gamblers Still Ring True 100 Years Later

1894-Today In his paintings depicting dogs as humans, Cassius “Kash” Marcellus Coolidge (1844-1934) brilliantly captured the nuances of poker playing and gambling. The dogs’ expressions are spot on and the details, comedic. Perhaps Coolidge himself…

Anti-Gambling / Anti-Casino Efforts Casino History Crimes / Violence / Punishments: Lynching Gambling History Gaming History It Really Happened Kangaroo Saloon (Vicksburg, MS) Mississippi United States Vicksburg--Mississippi

Southern U.S. City's Hatred of Gamblers Culminates in Murder

1835 During Andrew Jackson’s U.S. presidency, anti-gambling sentiment began sweeping the Southern states. By 1835, it had hit Louisiana and was making its way up the Mississippi River. The fever peaked mid-year in Vicksburg, Mississippi…

Carson City--Nevada Casino Casino History Casino: Corporations: Hyatt Hotels Corp. Gambling History Incline Village--Nevada Kings Castle (Incline Village, NV) Nathan Jacobson Nevada Quick Facts United States

Quick Fact -- Lady Godiva Trots to New Residence

Lady Godiva has a new address. Looking gorgeous in a long blue dress, she and her horse distinctively embellish the front yard of a Carson City home. Godiva appears as though she’s arriving for a…

Casino History Crystal Bay--Nevada Gambling History Gaming History Hyatt Lake Tahoe / Hyatt Regency Lake Tahoe (Incline Village, NV) Incline Village--Nevada It Really Happened Nevada Tahoe Biltmore (Crystal Bay, NV) United States

Two Lake Tahoe Hotel-Casinos Sold in 2021

Acquisitions in the same month of two hotel-casinos near one another at Lake Tahoe in Northern Nevada is anomalous and newsworthy. Hyatt Regency Lake Tahoe Resort, Spa and Casino (Incline Village, NV) Hyatt Hotels Corp.,…

Caliente--Nevada Casino History Crimes / Violence / Punishments: Cheating / Fleecing: Bubble Peeking Donald E. Rowan Gambling History Games / Races: 21 / Blackjack Gaming History Governing / Regulatory Bodies: Nevada Tax Commission It Really Happened Nevada Shamrock Club (Caliente, NV) United States

Nevada Gambler-Cum-Mayor Called Out for Bubble Peeking

1955-1956 In March 1955, Nevada gaming regulators accused Caliente mayor Donald E. Rowan of cheating while dealing a 21 game — which is illegal — in the Shamrock Club. He’d operated the Clover Street gambling…

Barboot Coffee House and Casino (Reno, NV) C. Mathias "Matt" Skender Casino History Casino: Openings Gambling History Games / Races: Barbudi It Really Happened Nevada Reno--Nevada United States

Greek Gambling Game Barbudi Doesn't Catch on in Reno

1964-1965 “Build it, and they will come” wasn’t a sure thing for gambling houses in Nevada, particularly ones offering an uncommon game. Case in point is the Barboot Coffee House and Casino in Reno. The…

Casino History Gambling History Gambling Laws / Regulations: U.S. Public Law 93-499 Gambling Laws / Regulations: U.S. Revenue Act of 1951 Gambling: Taxes Governing / Regulatory Bodies: Internal Revenue Service Governing / Regulatory Bodies: U.S. Congress It Really Happened Law Enforcement / Judicial System: U.S. Supreme Court United States

Congress' Strategy For Slashing U.S. Gambling Activity Proves Problematic, Part II

1952-1968 Soon after two new federal taxes — the tax on wagers and the wagering occupational tax — went into effect in late 1951, problems with them arose. (See Part I for a description of…

Casino History Crimes / Violence / Punishments: Shooting Gambling History Hawthorne--Nevada It Really Happened Leonard E. Erickson Nevada United States Vollie "Sam" V. Gonce

Series of Tragedies in Nevada Town Starts Inside Gambling Saloon

1951 A violent episode in a gambling saloon in Hawthorne, Nevada and ensuing events destroyed at least one resident family, the Gonces. A Little Background Vollie “Sam” V. Gonce and Kathleen L. Chapman had tied…

Casino (Reno, NV) Casino History Cincinnati--Ohio Columbus--Ohio Crimes / Violence / Punishments: Cheating / Fleecing Crimes / Violence / Punishments: Cheating / Fleecing: Misspot Dice Europe Gambler (Operators/Players): Cheater: Jim Pents Gambler (Operators/Players): Dice Cheats: Harmony Kid Gambling Gambling History Games / Races: Craps Games / Races: Faro Games / Races: Horse Racing Games / Races: Roulette Gaming History Hot Springs--Arkansas It Really Happened New York--New York Palace (Reno, NV) Pekin--Illinois Reno--Nevada United States Washington--Indiana

Extreme and Dangerous: One Gambling Cheat and His Career

1886-1910 The Harmony Kid made his living as a traveling gambling cheat in the U.S. and was known from coast to coast. While primarily a card and dice sharp, Lawrence Varner (1865-1933) also perpetrated swindles…

Casino (Reno, NV) Casino History Gambler (Operators/Players): Dice Cheats: Harmony Kid Gambling History Gambling: Abolishment Gaming History It Really Happened Louvre (Reno, NV) Nevada Palace (Reno, NV) United States

"Wild Finish of Naughty Nevada"

1910 Nevada was to cease all gambling operations and activity by midnight September 30, 1910* per a new law, already passed.** The final night, a Friday, was unlike any other before. “Nevada is determined to…

Advertisements Casino History Check Cop Crimes / Violence / Punishments: Cheating / Fleecing Gambling History Gambling: Cheating Devices Gambling: Cheating Devices: Manufacturers It Really Happened Mason & Co. United States

Gambling Cheaters Use Check Cop for Palming

\ “Whenever he gets in a fix, he reaches into his bag of tricks.” That statement not only applied to Felix the Cat but also held true for many gambling cheaters during the 19th…

Casino History Flamingo (Las Vegas, NV) Gamblers: Card Counters: Kenneth "Ken" S. Ulston Gamblers: Card Counters: Mark Estes Gambling History Gambling: Card Counting Games / Races: 21 / Blackjack Governing / Regulatory Bodies: Nevada Gaming Commission Governing / Regulatory Bodies: Nevada Gaming Control Board It Really Happened Las Vegas Hilton (Las Vegas, NV) Las Vegas--Nevada Law Enforcement / Judicial System: Nevada Supreme Court Marina Hotel and Casino MGM Grand Hotel (Las Vegas, NV) Nevada United States

A Legal Battle: Card Counters vs. Nevada Casinos

1977-1979 As Mark Estes, 28, played blackjack at a table in Nevada’s Las Vegas Hilton casino one day, he counted the cards. This involved remembering the cards dealt during each game and using a mathematical…