Gambling Archives

Casino History Crimes / Violence / Punishments: Firearms Gambling Gambling History Gaming History It Really Happened Law Enforcement / Judicial System: Reno Police Department--Nevada 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…

Did You Know? Gambling Nevada Quick Facts

Quick Fact – Seer Balzar

1930 In December, while vacationing in Southern California, Nevada Governor Frederick “Fred” Balzar — foretelling the future — told reporters that gambling already was wide open in his state and that a bill making it…

Basin Street (Reno, NV) Casino History Ethnic Groups: Asians Gambling Gambling History Gambling License Gaming History George Chin Governing / Regulatory Bodies: Nevada Gaming Control Board Governing / Regulatory Bodies: Nevada Tax Commission Harry Chon It Really Happened Nevada Old Cathay Club (Reno, NV) 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 Did You Know? Gambling Gambling History Gambling: Ban Gaming History Gold Hill Mining District (Utah Territory) Quick Facts

Quick Fact – Early Gambling Ban

1859 Before Nevada became a state (1864), a few hundred miners at Gold Hill — in what then was the Territory of Utah — passed some anti-crime laws. One forbade gambling: “No Banking games, under…

California Casino History Crimes / Violence / Punishments: Grafting Ethnic Groups: Asians Gambling Gambling History Gaming History Governing / Regulatory Bodies: Los Angeles City Council (CA) It Really Happened Law Enforcement / Judicial System: Los Angeles Captain of Police Captain of Police C.A. Ketlar Law Enforcement / Judicial System: Los Angeles Chief of Police J.W. Davis Law Enforcement / Judicial System: Los Angeles Police Department Law Enforcement / Judicial System: Officer John L. Fonck United States

Dirty Police Chief in City of Angels?

1886 In fall 1886, Officer John L. Fonck confronted one of his superiors face to face. He charged Chief of Police J.W. Davis with “standing in with the gamblers,” in other words, allowing them to…

California Casino History Did You Know? Gambling Gambling History Games / Races: Lice Fighting Gaming History Quick Facts United States

Quick Fact – Serious Boredom

1800s To amuse themselves, some miners — California ones, as reported in this case — staged lice fights and waged large sums on the outcome. They placed two Pediculus humanus face to face on a…

Casino History Crimes / Violence / Punishments: Suicide Gambling Gambling History Gaming History It Really Happened Law Enforcement / Judicial System: Lawsuit 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 Crimes / Violence / Punishments: Wiretapping Defense Attorneys Defense Attorneys: Harry Claiborne Defense Attorneys: Oscar Goodman Detroit--Michigan Elliot Paul Price Frank "Lefty" Rosenthal Gambling History Gambling: Bookmaking Gambling: Illegal Gambling: Raids Gaming History Georgia Governing / Regulatory Bodies: Internal Revenue Service It Really Happened Jerome Zarowitz Law Enforcement / Judicial System: Lawsuit Miami Beach--Florida Nevada New York--New York Ohio Palm Springs--California Rose Bowl Sports Book (Las Vegas, NV) Sanford Waterman United States

Feds Pounce on Vegas Racketeers

1970-1975 In a massive, coordinated effort, federal agents raided illegal bookmaking operations throughout the U.S. with ties to organized crime. On December 12, 1970, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and Internal Revenue Service (IRS) agents…

Casino History Did You Know? Gambling Gambling History Gambling: Debt Games / Races: Roulette Gaming History Nevada Quick Facts Stock Exchange (Rhyolite, NV) United States

Quick Fact – Betting “The Farm”

1908 Johnny-Behind-the-Gat bet more than he should’ve. He was a prospector and miner said to have little common sense, a big temper and a penchant for using his weapon to solve disputes. John Cyty (his…

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

Quick Fact – Oasis in the Desert

1950 Las Vegas spent $750,000 a year on advertising (about $7.5 million today). The Chamber of Commerce promoted the town as: “An oasis for the harassed refugees from artificial restraints and laws of other states.”…

Albert Anastasia Casino History Charles "Lucky" Luciano Clifford Jones Cuba Gambling Gambling History Gaming History Governing / Regulatory Bodies: Nevada Gaming Control Board It Really Happened Jake Lansky Meyer Lansky Nevada Politicians / Politics: Cuba President Fidel Castro United States Wilbur Clark

Nevada Makes Gamblers Choose

1957-1959 During Nevada’s 1957 legislature, State Senator Kenneth Johnson (R-Ormsby), voiced his concerns about some of the state’s gambling licensees* simultaneously co-owning Cuban casinos. He feared that: • Nevada licensees might form alliances with U.S.…

Casino History Did You Know? Gambling History Gambling: Ban Gaming History Governing / Regulatory Bodies: Nevada Tax Commission Jackpot--Nevada Nevada Quick Facts United States Wells--Nevada

Quick Fact – Rural Gambling Ban

1954 Due to the 1953 scandal in Wells, Nevada, the state tax commissioners in June 1954 prohibited open gambling in the town of Jackpot, just south of the Nevada-Idaho border along U.S. Route 93. They worried…