Gambling Archives

Alcatraz (CA) Alphonse "Al/Scarface" Capone California Did You Know? Gambling Gambling History Gaming History Quick Facts The Rock Islanders United States

Quick Fact – A Renaissance Convict?

1934-1938 While doing time at Alcatraz, Alphonse “Scarface” Capone, infamous Chicago organized crime boss heavily involved in gambling, played the banjo and mandola (a large mandolin) in the prison band, The Rock Islanders, a rotating…

Abe F. Brown Casino History Ed Kennedy Gambling Gambling History Gambling: Loss Games / Races: Faro Gaming History George Wingfield It Really Happened Nevada Tonopah Club (Tonopah, NV) Tonopah--Nevada United States

High Roller Bucks the Tiger in Tonopah

1907 A faro game with a $50 limit (at least $1,200 today) was underway in the Tonopah Club on a Thursday night in February. Colonel Abe F. Brown, one of the three proprietors of this…

Casino History Crimes / Violence / Punishments: Owning Gold Did You Know? Gambling Gambling Currency: Coins--Gold Gambling History Nevada Quick Facts United States

Quick Fact – Last to Hear

1940 “Apparently unaware that gold has been forbidden as a medium of exchange, a tall, dark complexioned cowpuncher walked into a [Reno, Nevada] gambling club last night and startled the dealer by casually dropping a…

Casino History Crimes / Violence / Punishments DeSoto County--Mississippi Gambling Gambling History Gambling: Illegal Gaming History It Really Happened Law Enforcement / Judicial System: DeSoto County Sheriff Elton S. Baxter--Mississippi Law Enforcement / Judicial System: Shelby County Sheriff Guy Joyner--Tennessee Mississippi Politicians / Politics: MS Governor Paul E. Johnson Shelby County--Tennessee Tennessee United States

Law Officers Battle Over Gambling in the South

1940 They couldn’t just agree to disagree. They were the sheriffs of two bordering counties in different states. Sheriff Guy Joyner of Shelby County, Tennessee insisted illegal gambling was taking place just past the state…

Casino History Did You Know? Gambling Gambling Currency: Coins--Brass Gambling History Gaming History Nevada Nevada State Prison (Carson City, NV) Quick Facts United States

Quick Fact – Brass in Pocket

1967 The month following closure of its on-site Bullpen casino, the Nevada State Prison sold the brass coins that inmates had used for decades (since 1932) for wagering and as currency. Sets, containing one coin…

California Casino History Crimes / Violence / Punishments Did You Know? Gambling Gambling Currency: Coins Gambling History Gambling: Illegal Gambling: Raids Games / Races: Poker Gaming History Quick Facts United States

Quick Fact – Threefold Pettiness

1940 After some angry husbands in Los Angeles, California complained their wives were gambling away the grocery money, two vice squad officers raided the Monday night birthday party of Ann Dicker, a 73-year-old great-grandmother, at…

California Casino History Crimes / Violence / Punishments Gambling Gambling History Gambling: Equipment: Seizures Gaming History It Really Happened Plumas County--California United States

The Illegal, Future-Telling Slot Machine Dilemma

1957 These fortunes and statements were what appeared in the display of a particular slot machine when one read the whole reel from left to right. Short three- to five-word phrases replaced the typical fruit…

Did You Know? Events: World War II Gambling History Gambling: Dice Gaming History Michigan Quick Facts United States

Quick Fact – Gambling Sympathy Strike

1943 A site protection officer disciplined nine workers for shooting dice in a restroom and instructed them to report to the labor relations officer. This happened during the night shift at the Ford Motor Company…

Casino History Crimes / Violence / Punishments: Murder Dallas--Texas Gambling Gambling History Games / Races: Poker Gaming History It Really Happened Lester "Benny" Binion Meyer Lansky Nevada United States

10 Intriguing Facts About Gambling Kingpin “Benny” Binion

Today Although Texas-born Lester B. “Benny” Binion (1904-1989) no longer is with us, he remains a legend among Las Vegas casino owners and operators — gamblers, in industry parlance. Iconic even in his appearance —…

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…