Did You Know? Archives

California Casino History Did You Know? Gambling Gambling History Gaming History Law Enforcement / Judicial System: Los Angeles city jail Quick Facts United States

Quick Fact – Joint Features Gambling

1916 The Los Angeles city jail was likely the only legalized casino in California, with gambling taking place daily to a shocking extent, declared Faith Chevaillier, a woman whom President Chester Arthur appointed to evaluate…

California Casino History Did You Know? Gambling History Gambling: Illegal Gaming History Law Enforcement / Judicial System: Los Angeles Chief of Police Charles E. Sebastian Quick Facts United States

Quick Fact – Vice Crusade Tactic

1913 As what the Los Angeles Times called the “the first sally in the greatest campaign that has ever been waged for the elimination of gambling” (April 7, 1913), Los Angeles Chief of Police Charles…

Australia Casino History Did You Know? Gambling Gambling History Games / Races: Two-Up Gaming History Quick Facts

Quick Fact – Popular in Australia

1850s-Today Tuesday, April 25, Australians will be spotted throughout the local pubs playing two-up. Anzac Day, when military war veterans are honored, is the only time this game of chance is allowed legally. Two-Up is…

Did You Know? Gambling History Gaming History Nevada Quick Facts United States

Quick Fact – In Observance

1939 Las Vegas gambling houses and saloons were shut for three hours in observance of Good Friday, at the request of the local churches. It was the first time in the Nevada city’s history that such…

Casino History Did You Know? Gambling Gambling History Gambling: Dice Gambling: Illegal Gaming History Quick Facts United States Washington

Quick Fact – Evidence? What Evidence?

1934 When police raided an illegal gambling den in Kingston, Washington, one of the players present, Raymond Johnson, swallowed the dice. In court after his arrest, the judge gave him 30 days to “digest” and…

Bad Homburg--Germany Casino de Monte-Carlo (Monaco) Casino History Did You Know? Europe Francois Blanc Gambling Gambling History Gambling: Equipment Games / Races: Roulette Gaming History Monaco Quick Facts United States

Quick Fact – European v. American Roulette

1840s-Today Gambler Francois Blanc, at his casino in Bad Homburg, Germany, introduced roulette in the early 1840s with only 0 and no 00 on the wheel and table layout, a choice he stuck with when…

Casino History Did You Know? Gambling History Gambling License Gaming History Nevada Quick Facts Riviera (Las Vegas, NV) Tony Martin United States

Quick Fact – Application Red Flags

1960-1961 Singer Tony Martin applied for a gambling license to acquire a 2 percent interest for $50,000 ($410,000 today) in the Riviera hotel-casino in Las Vegas. Investigation into his background revealed he’d served two days…

Bank Club (Elko, NV) Casino History Did You Know? Elko--Nevada Gambling Currency: Coins Gambling History Gaming History Nevada Quick Facts United States

Quick Fact – Elko Casino Targeted

1934 After hiding somewhere in the building, a person robbed the Bank Club casino’s safe of $500 in silver change (about $9,000 today) between 4 and 6 p.m. on a Wednesday in early December. This…

Casino History Did You Know? Gambling Currency: Credit Gambling History Gaming History Nevada Quick Facts United States

Quick Fact – Casino Credit Component

1970s Caesars Palace in Las Vegas extended $160 million in credit to players in 1977. This was more than the then-considered staggering $106 million cost of the original MGM Grand (early ’70s), also in Sin City, and…

Casino History Did You Know? Gambling Currency: Chips Gambling Currency: Counterfeit Gambling History Quick Facts 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…

Casino History Chicago--Illinois Did You Know? Gambling History Gambling: Equipment Gaming History Quick Facts United States

Quick Fact – Gambling Tools’ Fate

1895 Chicago gamblers waged a long, hard legal battle against the law that allowed police and other authorities to destroy casino equipment seized during the execution of a search warrant. The fight ended, however, in 1895…

Advertisements Casino History Did You Know? Gambling Gambling History Gaming History Golden Gulch (Reno, NV) James H. Lloyd Nevada Quick Facts 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…