gaming history

Casino History Did You Know? Gambling History Gambling License Gambling: Prizes Games / Races: Tango Gaming History Nevada Quick Facts United States

Quick Fact – Bonus of Hosiery

1946 Some Las Vegas, Nevada casinos handed out women’s nylons as slot machine and tango game* prizes. When the city’s board of commissioners found out, they banned it, threatening repeat offenders with losing their gambling…

Basin Street (Reno, NV) Casino History Ethnic Groups: Asians Gambling Gambling History Gambling License Gaming History George Chin Governing / Regulatory Bodies: Nevada Gaming Control Board Governing / Regulatory Bodies: Nevada Tax Commission Harry Chon It Really Happened Nevada Old Cathay Club (Reno, NV) United States

The Big Squeeze at Reno Casino

1955-1966 Harry Chon, licensed operator of the gambling operations at the Old Cathay Club* in Reno, Nevada, found himself in an uncomfortable spot, under pressure from two parties, in 1956. The story begins about a…

Casino History Did You Know? Gambling Gambling History Gambling: Ban Gaming History Gold Hill Mining District (Utah Territory) Quick Facts

Quick Fact – Early Gambling Ban

1859 Before Nevada became a state (1864), a few hundred miners at Gold Hill — in what then was the Territory of Utah — passed some anti-crime laws. One forbade gambling: “No Banking games, under…

California Casino History Crimes / Violence / Punishments: Grafting Ethnic Groups: Asians Gambling Gambling History Gaming History Governing / Regulatory Bodies: Los Angeles City Council (CA) It Really Happened Law Enforcement / Judicial System: Los Angeles Captain of Police Captain of Police C.A. Ketlar Law Enforcement / Judicial System: Los Angeles Chief of Police J.W. Davis Law Enforcement / Judicial System: Los Angeles Police Department Law Enforcement / Judicial System: Officer John L. Fonck United States

Dirty Police Chief in City of Angels?

1886 In fall 1886, Officer John L. Fonck confronted one of his superiors face to face. He charged Chief of Police J.W. Davis with “standing in with the gamblers,” in other words, allowing them to…

California Casino History Did You Know? Gambling Gambling History Games / Races: Lice Fighting Gaming History Quick Facts United States

Quick Fact – Serious Boredom

1800s To amuse themselves, some miners — California ones, as reported in this case — staged lice fights and waged large sums on the outcome. They placed two Pediculus humanus face to face on a…

Casino History Gambling History Gambling Laws / Regulations: NV Anti-Lottery Law Gaming History It Really Happened Nevada Politicians / Politics: NV Assemblyman Patrick Cline Politicians / Politics: NV Senator William A. Marsh United States

Nevada: Lottery Too Liberal

1937-1939 A ticket would cost $1 (about $17 today). A drawing would be held at least every 90 days, maybe monthly if demand was great enough, on the last Saturday night of the month. It…

Casino History Did You Know? Gambling History Games / Races: Keno Gaming History KENO Radio Nevada Quick Facts United States

Quick Fact – The Other Keno

1941 When Maxwell Kelch applied for call letters for his Las Vegas, Nevada radio station, he requested KLVN as a first choice and KENO as a second, certain the Federal Communications Commission wouldn’t approve a gambling-related…