gambling history Archives

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

Quick Fact – Casino Swindlers

1974 It was a successful scam that cheated the Aladdin Resort and Casino out of about $250,000 (about $1.2 million today) … while it lasted. Four men had some friends take junkets to the Las Vegas…

21 (El Cerrito, CA) California Casino History Contra Costa County--California David "Dave" Nathan Kessel El Cerrito--California Gambling History Gambling License Gambling: Bookmaking Gambling: Illegal Gaming History Governing / Regulatory Bodies: Nevada Tax Commission Hollywood (El Cerrito, CA) It Really Happened Law Enforcement / Judicial System: Federal Judge Louis E. Goodman Politicians / Politics: Kefauver Committee Politicians / Politics: Kefauver Committee: Contempt of Congress Rancho San Pablo (El Cerrito, CA) The Wagon Wheel (El Cerrito, CA) United States Walter "Big Bill" Melburn Pechart

California Gamblers Snub Federal Inquiry

1950-1953 During the 1950 federal hearings on organized crime, two Northern California gamblers — Walter “Big Bill” Melburn Pechart and David “Dave” Nathan Kessel — were uncooperative, according to the questioners. They were Senators Estes…

"Razzle Dazzle: The Elaine Townsend Story" Casino History Connie Immerman Cuba Elaine Townsend Gambling History Gambling: Concessions Games / Races: Chemin de Fer Games / Races: Craps Gaming History Gran Casino Nacional (Havana, Cuba) Havana--Cuba It Really Happened

Woman Usurps Mobsters’ Gaming Action

1947-1952 Despite New York mobsters trying to scare her off, an ambitious woman — Elaine Townsend (née Margaret Helgeson) — held her own as a gambling operator in the late 1940s. Bright, young and gorgeous, she…

Boulder Club (Las Vegas, NV) Casino History Did You Know? Gambling History Gaming History Nevada Quick Facts United States

Quick Fact – Any Place Will Do

1931 Using a gambling table as her dais, Canada-born evangelist, Mildred “Minnie” Kennedy, delivered fire and brimstone, revival-type sermons upstairs at the Boulder Club in Las Vegas from Aug. 23 to 30. A large sign…

Casino History Gambling History Gambling: Parimutuel Games / Races: Greyhound Races Games / Races: Midget Car Races Gaming History It Really Happened Nevada United States

Experiments in Parimutuel Wagering

1937-1938 In each of two consecutive summers, Northern Nevadans experienced on-site, parimutuel* betting on new types of organized races locally: first, midget car in 1937 and greyhound (the dog, not the bus) in 1938. The…

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

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…

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,…