Gambling Archives

Gambling It Really Happened Nevada Politicians / Politics: Elections Politicians / Politics: Richard Nixon Politicians / Politics: U.S. President John F. Kennedy Quick Facts

Quick Fact – Political Bets

1960 Bookies throughout Nevada had been taking wagers right and left on who’d win the upcoming U.S. presidential election — Senator John F. Kennedy (Dem.) or Vice President Richard Nixon (Rep.). Suddenly, in November, they…

Did You Know? Gambling Games / Races: Poker It Really Happened Quick Facts Steamboat Springs (Reno, Nevada) Virginia City--Nevada

Quick Fact – Steamboat Springs

1860s & 1870s In Virginia City, Nevada’s heyday, gold miners and magnates alike sought out R&R — gambling, hot springs soaking and dining — at the nearby Steamboat Springs resort south of Reno, a stop…

Gambling Iowa It Really Happened Minnesota Politicians / Politics: IA Governor Clyde Herring Politicians / Politics: MN Governor Floyd Olson

Ante Up Your Pig

1935 When two United States state governors made a friendly bet, neither knew it would become problematic. They wagered each other their state would win the upcoming football rivalry between the Minnesota Golden Gophers, a…

California Did You Know? Gambling Gambling: Shills Games / Races: Poker Gardena--California Quick Facts

Quick Fact – Shill Losses

1952 When Ernest J. Primm owned the Monterey Club, a poker house in Gardena, California (a Los Angeles suburb), he claimed on his state income taxes the losses of his shills, up to $500 ($4,500 today) a…

Gambling Games / Races: Poker Horseshoe Club / Binion's Gambling Hall & Hotel (Las Vegas, NV) It Really Happened The Ramada Hotel Casino (Reno, NV) United States Virginia City--Nevada

The Faro Fadeaway

1825-1958 The hottest game in the Old West between 1825 and 1915, faro is pretty much extinct in the United States today. If you’ve never heard of it — and you aren’t alone there —…

Frank Sinatra Gambling Games / Races: Baccarat Howard Hughes It Really Happened

Frank Sinatra’s Hissy Fits

1967 & 1970 Apparently, the beloved crooner had a temper, which he sometimes unleashed when casino operators denied him additional, excessive amounts of credit when gambling. In one instance when Frank Sinatra lost control, he…

Club 86 (Miami, FL) Florida Gambling Games / Races: Chemin de Fer Games / Races: Chuck-a-luck Games / Races: Craps Games / Races: Roulette It Really Happened

Swanky Miami Casino-Fortress

1945-1950 Although gambling was illegal in Miami, Florida, in the 1940s, one lavish casino operated there for five years with the blessing of the local sheriff. Club 86, on Biscayne Boulevard, which belonged to local…

California Did You Know? Gambling Games / Races: Sports Betting Quick Facts Texas

Quick Fact – Train Hustlers

1935 Stanford University’s (California) Indians and Southern Methodist University’s (Texas) Mustangs were to vie in the Rose Bowl football game on New Year’s Day, and this meant trains of people traveling from The Lone Star State to…

Gambling It Really Happened Nevada

Gambling Addiction Support: The Early Days

1958-present Las Vegas, Nevada resident Howie C. had gambled so much during the 1950s and ’60s that he owed banks, finance companies and loan sharks. He often had borrowed money from his mom and even…

Casinos / Gambling Saloons / Card Clubs / Slot Routes / Wire Services / Hotels / Racetracks / Racinos Did You Know? Gambling Games / Races: Bingo Games / Races: Craps Quick Facts

Quick Fact – Playing Incentives

1947 To keep players gambling at their clubs, Las Vegas, Nevada casinos boosted incentives with offerings such as double odds on craps, bingo prizes of $1,000 ($10,900 today), extra slot machine jackpots and brand new…

Gambler (Operators/Players): Minors Gambling It Really Happened Law Enforcement / Judicial System: Lawsuit Sixty-Six (Rhyolite, NV)

The Right to Life, Liberty … and Recovery of Gambling Losses?

1906-1909 An underage young man, Master Wadell, gambled at various games from poker to faro and lost big over the winter of 1906-1907. His preferred playhouse was the Sixty-Six casino in the mining town of…

Did You Know? Gambling Gambling Currency: Chips Quick Facts

Quick Fact – Chip Deposit

1948 A guest of the Flamingo hotel-casino in Las Vegas, Nevada accidentally took home a $5 ($50 today) gambling chip then deposited it into the Bank of Arizona. The bank mailed to the Flamingo the…