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California Casino History Crystal Bay--Nevada Did You Know? Gambling History Gaming History Nevada Quick Facts United States Will Rogers

Quick Fact – “Castle in the Sky”

1938 To draw guests, a 1938 newspaper ad for the new casino resort at Lake Tahoe in Crystal Bay touted the cinematic history of the land. It read, “All America enjoyed the beloved Will Rogers…

Bay Meadows Racetrack (San Mateo, CA) California Casino History Crimes / Violence / Punishments Gambling History Gambling: Spree Gaming History It Really Happened Military Nevada New Orleans--Louisiana San Francisco--California United States

Man and Money Gone

1951 Chief Warrant Officer Marcus Gordon Oliver, paymaster at the U.S. Naval Station Treasure Island, complained of feeling ill and left work early on Friday, April 13. The following Monday and Tuesday, he didn’t show…

California Casino History Del Mar Racetrack (Del Mar, CA) Del Mar--California Did You Know? Gambling Gambling History Games / Races: Horse Racing Gaming History Law Enforcement / Judicial System: U.S. FBI Director J. Edgar Hoover Quick Facts United States

Quick Fact – A Regular For Years

Former FBI Director J. Edgar Hoover was such a rabid fan of horse racing that every summer, when in nearby La Jolla for his annual physical exam, he visited Del Mar in California, where he…

Boxers / Fight Promoters: James W. Coffroth California Casino History Events Events: Panama-Pacific International Exposition Events: Panama-Pacific International Exposition: '49 Camp (San Francisco, CA) Gambling Gambling Currency: Scrip Gambling History Gambling: Illegal Games / Races: Craps Games / Races: Faro Games / Races: Roulette Games / Races: Wheel of Fortune Gaming History It Really Happened Samuel "Sam" P. Davis San Francisco--California United States

Gambling Trouble at World’s Fair in San Francisco

1915 The ’49 Camp, one of the attractions at the 1915 Panama-Pacific International Exposition, offered a gambling experience in which chips could be bought for money but cashed only for free-admission coupons for the other…

California Casino History Gambling Gambling History Gambling: Assistance Devices Games / Races: Creators / Manufacturers: Bob Bamford / Joe Alper Gaming History It Really Happened Nevada Pasadena--California Sahara (Las Vegas, NV) United States

“Electronic Brain Upsets Vegas Blackjack Dealers”

1960 “Las Vegas seemed to be both fascinated and frightened by the little computing machine,” reported Ray Duncan in the Independent Star-News (Dec. 5, 1960). The referenced device, via a dial on its front, advised…

Bing Crosby California Casino History Crimes / Violence / Punishments Crimes / Violence / Punishments: Attempted Del Mar Racetrack (Del Mar, CA) Del Mar--California Gambling History Gambling: Parimutuel Games / Races: Horse Racing Gaming History It Really Happened United States

A Man and His Dream: Bing Crosby Opens Horse Racetrack

1937 An armored truck, accompanied by three deputy sheriff cars, was moving $262,000 (about $4.5 million today) the 15 miles from the Del Mar racetrack in California down the coastal highway to a San Diego…

California Casino History Charles "Chuck" J. Delmonico / Charles Tourine, Jr. Crimes / Violence / Punishments Crimes / Violence / Punishments: Cheating / Fleecing: Card Spying Crimes / Violence / Punishments: Extortion Flamingo (Las Vegas, NV) Gambler (Operators/Players): High Rollers: Nicholas "Nick the Greek" A. Dandolos Gambler (Operators/Players): High Rollers: Raymond "Ray" J. Ryan Gambling Gambling History Gambling: Debt Games / Races: Poker Gaming History It Really Happened Law Enforcement / Judicial System: Lawsuit Marshall Caifano / Johnny Marshall Nevada Palm Springs--California Thunderbird (Las Vegas, NV) United States

A Rare Case: High Roller Defies, Tattles on Mobsters

1963-1964 Mobsters Marshall Caifano (aka Johnny Marshall) and Charles Delmonico were arrested in Las Vegas on a federal warrant in July 1963 for conspiracy to commit extortion and engaging in interstate transportation in the aid…