Governor Fred Balzar

1930

In December, while vacationing in Southern California, Nevada Governor Frederick “Fred” Balzar — foretelling the future — told reporters that gambling already was wide open in his state and that a bill making it official certainly would be brought before the legislature at its next session.

It did happen; Silver State lawmakers legalized gaming in March 1931.

Photo from the Nevada Historical Society

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 introduced to the state legislature.

Neither made it through, leaving dude ranchers and many others upset about the potential economic boon for which such laws likely would have allowed.