Gaming History Archives

Casino History Casino: Takeovers Did You Know? Europe Events: Frank Zappa and the Mothers of Invention Concert Gambling History Gaming History Montreux Casino (Montreux, Switzerland) Montreux--Switzerland Quick Facts

Quick Fact – Inspired by Life

1971 The sight of Switzerland’s Montreux Casino burning down on December 4, 1971 was the inspiration for Deep Purple’s hit song, Smoke on the Water. A fan firing a flare gun during a Frank Zappa…

California Casino History Crimes / Violence / Punishments Gambling Gambling History Gaming History It Really Happened Law Enforcement / Judicial System: San Francisco Police Department--California Law Enforcement / Judicial System: U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation Nevada San Francisco--California United States

Draftsman Gets a Wild Hair … Or Two … Or Three

1952 “Someone very dear to you is being held and will be killed if you don’t give me the money.” This was the content of the note, a bluff, Frederick Charles Will, handed to the…

Casino History Did You Know? Gambling Gambling History Gambling: Win / Jackpot Gaming History Nevada Quick Facts United States

Quick Fact – Pure Luck

1952 “One of the members of the Journal news staff stopped in at a [Reno, Nevada] casino one night last week, put a nickel in a slot machine and hit the jackpot. The attendant came…

Casino History Frontier (Las Vegas, NV) Gambling Gambling History Gaming History Governing / Regulatory Bodies: Nevada Gaming Commission Howard Hughes It Really Happened Nevada United States

Howard Hughes’ Frontier Casino Becomes Guinea Pig

1968-1971 A couple and a third man approached a 21 table in the Frontier in Las Vegas, Nevada on a Monday afternoon. The husband, Douglas Anderson, distracted the dealer. In that moment, his wife, Beverly…

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 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 Crimes / Violence / Punishments Did You Know? Gambling History Gaming History Nevada Quick Facts The Westerner (Las Vegas, NV) United States

Quick Fact – Crossed Wires

1951 Upon entering The Westerner casino in Las Vegas, Nevada, an electrician told the guard he’d been dispatched to repair a boiler connection. After being admitted to the utility room, he produced a pistol and…

Bank Club (Reno, NV) Gambler (Operators/Players): Estate Gambling History Gaming History It Really Happened Jack Sullivan / John D. Scarlett Nevada United States Willows (Reno, NV)

An Inside Look at Late Gambler’s Estate

1951 Canada-born Jack Sullivan, né John D. Scarlett, had co-owned and run the Bank Club for two decades and prior to that, the Willows (it burned down in 1932) — both Reno, Nevada casino hotspots.…

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…

Casino de Monte-Carlo (Monaco) Casino History Gambling History Gambling: Education Games / Races: Craps Games / Races: Creators / Manufacturers: B.C. Wills & Co. Gaming History Golden Hotel (Reno, NV) It Really Happened Monaco Nevada

Nevada Schools Monte Carlo on Craps

1949 “Eight the hard way!” “It’s the Big Dick!” “Next shooter, please!” “Seven, you lose!” When translated into the French language, these common phrases shouted by stickmen during craps lose their pizazz and bite, their…