gaming history Archives

Accidents: Automobile Casino History Clara A. Rowan Crimes / Violence / Punishments: Hit and Runs Gambling History Gaming History It Really Happened Las Vegas--Nevada Nevada United States

In Las Vegas, Coloradan Becomes U.S.’ First Female Casino Owner

1931 Catalyzed by unexpected circumstances, Colorado-born Clara Antoinette Rowan (née Beggs) became the first woman to own a legal casino in the United States. Her husband, Thomas “Tom” George Rowan and his partner Leo Kind…

Benjamin "Bugsy" Siegel Casino History George Raft Las Vegas--Nevada Quick Facts Southern California Offshore

Quick Fact – Bugsy Borrows Benjamins

1938, 1946 Notorious mobster, Benjamin “Bugsy” Siegel, borrowed money several times from his friend, actor George Raft, according to the biography George Raft, for which author Lewis Yablonsky interviewed the subject on numerous occasions. Siegel…

Benjamin "Bugsy" Siegel Casino de Capri (Havana, Cuba) Casino History Colony Club (London, England) Dino Cellini Gambling History Gaming History George Raft Havana--Cuba It Really Happened Joe Adonis London--England Meyer Lansky Owney "The Killer" Madden

Hollywood Actor Turns Casino Host for U.S. Crime Syndicate

1958-1959, 1966-1967 Having grown up in New York’s Hell’s Kitchen with various mobsters-to-be — Meyer Lansky, Joe Adonis, Frank Costello and others — he remained cordial with them throughout adulthood. He had deeper relationships with…

Casino History Connecticut Gambling History Gambling: Research Gaming History It Really Happened New Jersey United States

Teach Monkeys to Gamble, How Do They Then Behave?

Late 1970s, 2000s Fay and Jessica were young, capuchin monkeys living on the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV) campus, where two professors in the department of psychology intended to teach them how to gamble,…

California Casino History Crimes / Violence / Punishment: Duel Gambling History Games / Races: Thimblerig Gaming History Placerville (Hangtown)--California Quick Facts United States William "Lucky Bill" B. Thorington

Quick Fact – A Day in the Life

1851 Roving gambler William “Lucky Bill” B. Thorington’s stint in Hangtown (today Placerville, California) was brief because he literally thimblerigged a prominent local out of $1,500 to $2,000 (more than $39,000 to $52,000 today) and…

California Casino History Gambling History Games / Races: Thimblerig Gaming History It Really Happened Nevada United States Utah William "Lucky Bill" B. Thorington

Gold Rush Era Gambler Makes Fortune in West With Thimblerig

Late 1840s-1858 A list of Western United States’ gamblers would be incomplete without William “Lucky Bill” B. Thorington.* A thimblerig master, he plied his craft in the Western mining camps and towns from Sacramento to…

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Quick Fact – Casino Empire

Today Bally Manufacturing Corp., at one time decades ago, was heavily involved in the gambling industry. It owned six hotel-casinos in the U.S. It was a major producer of state lottery games and developer of…

Anthony Zerilli Australia Casino History Chicago--Illinois Dino Cellini Gambling History Games / Races: Creators / Manufacturers: Bally Manufacturing Co. Games / Races: Creators / Manufacturers: Lion Manufacturing Co. Gaming History Gerardo "Jerry" Catena It Really Happened Joseph D. Testa, Jr. London--England Meyer Lansky Michael Polizzi Nevada New Jersey United States

Mobster Ties: Blessing and Curse for Gambling Conglomerate (Part I)

1963-1970s With assorted help from Mobsters starting in 1963, a small Chicago, Illinois-based pinball game maker, which had begun as Lion Manufacturing Co. in the 1920s, grew into the world’s largest slot machine developer, Bally…

Casino History Chicago--Illinois Gambling History Games / Races: Creators / Manufacturers: Bally Manufacturing Corp. Games / Races: Creators / Manufacturers: Lion Manufacturing Co. Games / Races: Poker Gaming History It Really Happened Quick Facts The Who United States

Quick Fact – Naming Bally

1968, 1969 Bally Manufacturing Corp. got its name from Ballyhoo, the first coin-operated pinball machine (a penny got you seven plays) created in 1931 by Raymond Moloney, owner of Chicago, Illinois-based Lion Manufacturing Co. Lion became…