Quick Fact – Pall of Mourning
1963 On the Monday after then President John F. Kennedy was assassinated, Las Vegas casinos went dark for 17 hours, from 7 a.m. to midnight, in his honor. Along with the gaming rooms in all of…
Casino History
Gambling History
Gambling License
Gaming History
Governing / Regulatory Bodies: Internal Revenue Service
Governing / Regulatory Bodies: Nevada Gaming Commission
Governing / Regulatory Bodies: Nevada Gaming Control Board
It Really Happened
Law Enforcement / Judicial System: Lawsuit
Nevada
Stateline--Nevada
United States
8 Twists in Tahoe Gambler’s Court Case
1957-1960 In June 1957, a federal grand jury secretly indicted the owners of the Wagon Wheel Saloon and Gambling Hall (Harvey’s today) at Lake Tahoe in Stateline, Nevada — Harvey A. Gross, and his wife, Llewellyn…
Bobbie Gentry
Casino History
Did You Know?
Gambling History
Gaming History
Nevada
Quick Facts
United States
William "Bill" F. Harrah
Quick Fact – Third Time’s A … Gamble
1969-1970 Casino magnate, William “Bill” F. Harrah, 58, married country artist, Bobbie Gentry, 27, in St. John’s Presbyterian Church in Reno, Nevada on December 18, 1969 with only members of the wedding party present. The…
Casino History
Crimes / Violence / Punishments: Murder
Gambling History
Gaming History
It Really Happened
John "Johnny" W. Hicks
Nevada
United States
Dangerous Liaisons in Sin City
1972-1977 A $25,000 ($146,000 today) offer for the murder of 27-year-old John “Johnny” W. Hicks had been circulated, it was rumored throughout Las Vegas in mid-1972. The son of Marion B. Hicks, previous owner of…
Casino de Monte-Carlo (Monaco)
Casino History
Did You Know?
Events: World War II
Gambling History
Gaming History
Monaco
Quick Facts
Ships: HMS Sickle
Quick Fact – Miss and Hit
1943 The British submarine, HMS Sickle, fired a succession of torpedoes during World War II, in May, sinking an enemy vessel in Cape Ferrat, southeastern France. But one of the missiles hit a cliff in…
Benjamin "Bugsy" Siegel
Casino History
Gambling
Gambling History
Gambling Laws / Regulations: U.S. Revenue Act of 1951
Gambling License
Gaming History
Nevada
Politicians / Politics: Kefauver Committee
Politicians / Politics: Kefauver Committee: Contempt of Congress
Pro-Gambling Efforts
Salvatore "Sam" Maceo
United States
Despite Ridicule, Nevada Politician Protects Gambling
1933-1954 His unfavorable personal opinion about gambling notwithstanding, Patrick “Pat” A. McCarran (D-Nev.) — U.S. Senator between 1933 and 1954 — acted repeatedly on the industry’s behalf. Had he not, it’s likely gaming wouldn’t have…
Benjamin "Bugsy" Siegel
Casino History
Did You Know?
Gambling History
Gaming History
Jimmy Durante
Nevada
Quick Facts
United States
Quick Fact – Holiday Season Launch
1946 Which famous hotel-casino debuted in Las Vegas, Nevada the day after Christmas in this year? Hint: Jimmy Durante was the grand opening star; while on stage he destroyed a $1,600 piano (a $20,000 value…
Casino History
Crimes / Violence / Punishment: Drugs / Narcotics: Sales
Crimes / Violence / Punishment: Drugs / Narcotics: Trafficking
Ernest "Ole" C. Olson
Eugene "Rosy" Bastida
Gambling History
Gambling License
Gaming History
Governing / Regulatory Bodies: Nevada Tax Commission
It Really Happened
Law Enforcement / Judicial System: Douglas County Sheriff's Office--Nevada
Leavenworth Federal Penitentiary (Leavenworth, KS)
Nevada
Salvatore "Tar Baby" Orester Terrano
Ships
Ships: USS Chaumont
Stateline--Nevada
Twin States (Stateline, NV)
United States
Waxey Gordon / Irving Wexler
Conviction Schmiction, Here’s a Gambling License
1930s-1952 Salvatore “Tar Baby” Orester Terrano is one of numerous criminals whom Nevada gambling regulators approved to own a casino in the state. In May 1947, the tax commission granted the Northern Californian, then 43,…
Casino History
Did You Know?
Gambling History
Gambling: Vote
Gaming History
Montana
Quick Facts
United States
Quick Fact – Montana Votes on Gambling
1941 Ten years after Nevada legalized gambling and shortened the residency requirement for divorce from six months to six weeks, Montana took steps to compete. Bills to legalize gambling and to allow 30-day divorces were…
Bank Club (Reno, NV)
Casino History
Country Club (Reno, NV)
Crimes / Violence / Punishments: Grafting
Gambling History
Gambling: Illegal
Gaming History
George Wingfield
Haymarket (Reno, NV)
It Really Happened
Jack Sullivan / John D. Scarlett
Monte Carlo (Reno, NV)
Nevada
The Big Casino (Tonopah, NV)
United States
Willows (Reno, NV)
Mob That Controlled Early Reno Gambling: Who, How
1920s-1930s Presumably to gain money, power and notoriety, a small clique of men monopolized gambling in Reno, Nevada during the 1920s and 1930s through violence, payoffs, intimidation, threats and other gangster techniques. The industry mostly…
Casino History
Casino: Stock
Did You Know?
Gambling History
Gaming History
Governing / Regulatory Bodies: Nevada Gaming Commission
Jerry's Nugget (North Las Vegas, NV)
Nevada
Quick Facts
United States
Quick Fact – Taking Stock
1974 The Nevada Gaming Commission, the industry’s state regulatory body, amended regulations to allow employees to own stock in a casino where they worked, without having to get a gambling license, a process that involved…
Arizona
Casino History
Gambling History
Gambling: Illegal
Gambling: Raids
Gambling: War
Gaming History
It Really Happened
Law Enforcement / Judicial System: Lawsuit
Law Enforcement / Judicial System: Maricopa County Attorney John W. Corbin--Arizona
Law Enforcement / Judicial System: Maricopa County Justice of the Peace Harry E. Westfall--Arizona
Law Enforcement / Judicial System: Maricopa County Sheriff Roy Merrill--Arizona
Law Enforcement / Judicial System: Maricopa County Sheriff's Deputy Porter Northroup--Arizona
Maricopa County--Arizona
Phoenix--Arizona
United States
Illegal Gambling Conspiracy in Maricopa County
1937-1938 Within a year of becoming the Maricopa County Attorney, John W. Corbin began work to expose the illegal gambling taking place in the Arizona region. He set his sights on busting the game operators and…