history of gaming Archives

Albert Howard Casino History Charles M. Bozeman Clarence Blazier Crimes / Violence / Punishments: Arson Crimes / Violence / Punishments: Murder D.P. Bozeman Defense Attorneys: John S. Cooper Ed Blazier Ed V. Turner Erastus "Raz" E. Pendleton Frankie Waller Gambling History Herbert C. Sousa It Really Happened Jack Dragna James L. O'Keefe Johnny Rosselli Luther "Tutor" B. Scherer Marvin "Doc" Schouweiler Rose Isle Ships: Rose Isle Southern California Offshore Spring Street Gang Tommy Jacobs United States William "Billy" F. Gleason

Murder on a Gambling Ship on the High Seas

1932 “There are no dull moments on the Rose Isle,” the invitation to prospective customers for dinner and dancing on the Southern California gambling ship read. Apparently, the excitement also included murder. The Crime and…

Casino History Florida Gambling History Games / Races: Craps Games / Races: Roulette Games / Races: Slot Machines / Fruities Gaming History It Really Happened Miami--Florida Myrton "Mert" Wertheimer Royal Palm Club (Miami, FL) United States

Gambler Adds Device to Get Roulette, Craps Defined as Slot Machines

1937 After Florida legalized slot machines in 1935, casino operator Myrton “Mert” Wertheimer, 53, devised a way to also get craps and roulette, unlawful at the time, allowed under the new rule. (Previously, only dog…

Alfred "Al" J. Wertheimer Aniwa Club (Detroit, MI) Bernard "Mooney" Einstoss Bonanza Club (Reno, NV) California Casino History Cathedral City--California Cheboygan--Michigan Chesterfield Club (Detroit, MI) Chesterfield Syndicate (Detroit, MI) Cleveland--Ohio Clover Club (West Hollywood, CA) Colonial Billiard Parlor (Detroit, MI) Colonial Inn (Hallandale Beach, FL) Daniel "Danny" W. Sullivan Detroit--Michigan Dunes (Cathedral City, CA) Florida Frank Grannis Gambling Gambling History Gambling: Illegal Gaming History Hallandale Beach--Florida It Really Happened Julian "Potatoes" Kaufman Kaufman’s Plantation (Hallandale Beach, FL) Leo Kind Lincoln Fitzgerald Louis "Lou" J. Wertheimer Mapes (Reno, NV) Meyer Lansky Miami--Florida Michigan Model Billiard & Bowling Parlor (Cheboygan, MI) Monte Carlo (Detroit, MI) Myrton "Mert" Wertheimer Nevada Nevada Club (Reno, NV) New Cheboygan Billiard & Pool Hall (Cheboygan, MI) Ohio Palm Springs--California Park Avenue Health Club (Detroit, MI) Riverside Hotel (Reno, NV) Robbin and Robbin / Robbins' Nevada Club Royal Palm Club (Miami, FL) Shawnee Club (Cleveland, OH) United States Vincent "Jimmy Blue Eyes" Alo West Hollywood--California

Three Brothers Build Legacy in 20th Century U.S. Gambling

1907-1958 Wertheimer was their name. Three of these four Michigan-born brothers became full-fledged, successful gambling operators in the first half of the 1900s, their reach spanning five states: Michigan, Ohio, Florida, California and Nevada. “As…

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Featured: The Special Refund Policy at Harolds Club

Harolds Club, a casino founded in 1935 in Reno, Nevada, acted uniquely when it came to refunding customers! Historian and author Alicia Barber explains in her report.

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…

Casino History Crimes / Violence / Punishments: Cheating / Fleecing: Holdouts Crimes / Violence / Punishments: Murder Francis Leo Luckett Gambler (Operators/Players): Card Sharps Gambling History Games / Races: 21 / Blackjack Gaming History It Really Happened Nevada Reno--Nevada Tip Club (Reno, NV) United States

Ace of Spades Defeats Card Sharp

1930 Cheating at gambling in the early 20th century in Nevada could land a person in serious trouble. That’s exactly what happened to Francis Leo Luckett, 28. A Pennsylvania native, he’d been in Reno by…

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Quick Fact - Floating the Showboat

1967 Ironically, considering the entity’s name, water poured inside the Showboat Hotel (later Castaways) when flash floods hit Las Vegas, Nevada on Tuesday, August 8. At 2800 E. Fremont Street, east of the city, the…

Bahamas Casino History Casinos / Gambling Saloons / Card Clubs / Slot Routes / Wire Services / Hotels / Racetracks / Racinos Crimes / Violence / Punishments: Skimming Cuba England Flamingo (Las Vegas, NV) Gambling Gambling History Gaming History Haiti Israel It Really Happened Lebanon Meyer Lansky Miami Beach--Florida United States

Mobster Meyer Lansky Tries to Desert USA

1970-1972 Meyer Lansky was the puppeteer behind the scenes of the world’s gambling stage from the 1930s to the 1970s, controlling and manipulating the characters, or National Crime Syndicate members, with aplomb. He capitalized on…