Nevada Archives

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…

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,…

Casino History Did You Know? Gambling History Gambling: Vote Gaming History Montana Quick Facts United States

Quick Fact – Montana Votes on Gambling

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…

Bank Club (Reno, NV) Casino History Gambling Gambling History Gambling Laws / Regulations: Streeter Plan for Nevada (Proposed) Gaming History It Really Happened Law Enforcement / Judicial System: Chicago Crime Commission Law Enforcement / Judicial System: Washoe County D.A.--Nevada Meyer Lansky Nevada Politicians / Politics: Jack Streeter United States

Plan: Eject Mobsters from Nevada Gambling

1954 “If the Streeter suggestion should catch fire and the state took over gambling, it would be the damnedest experiment tried in the United States, and Nevada would have more hoodlums per square block than…

Casino History Crystal Bay--Nevada Did You Know? Gambling History Gaming History Judy Garland Nevada Quick Facts The Garland Sisters United States

Quick Fact – Casino Discovery

1935 Singer and actress Judy Garland (neé Frances Ethel Gumm) was discovered while headlining with her two older sisters at the Cal-Neva Lodge at Lake Tahoe in Nevada. Theatrical agent Al Rosen was in the…

California Casino History Crystal Bay--Nevada Did You Know? Gambling History Gaming History Nevada Quick Facts United States Will Rogers

Quick Fact – “Castle in the Sky”

1938 To draw guests, a 1938 newspaper ad for the new casino resort at Lake Tahoe in Crystal Bay touted the cinematic history of the land. It read, “All America enjoyed the beloved Will Rogers…

Casino History Did You Know? Gambling History Gambling License Gaming History Geographical Areas Governing / Regulatory Bodies: Nevada Gaming Commission Governing / Regulatory Bodies: Nevada Gaming Control Board Governing / Regulatory Bodies: Nevada Tax Commission Nevada Quick Facts United States

Quick Fact – Greater Transparency Given

1952 The Nevada Tax Commission members agreed by unanimous vote to allow reporters to sit in and report on its voting sessions, meetings in which they made key decisions. Previously, voting had been done behind closed…

California Casino History Gambling Gambling History Gambling: Assistance Devices Games / Races: Creators / Manufacturers: Bob Bamford / Joe Alper Gaming History It Really Happened Nevada Pasadena--California Sahara (Las Vegas, NV) United States

“Electronic Brain Upsets Vegas Blackjack Dealers”

1960 “Las Vegas seemed to be both fascinated and frightened by the little computing machine,” reported Ray Duncan in the Independent Star-News (Dec. 5, 1960). The referenced device, via a dial on its front, advised…

Brothels Brothels: Ash Meadows Sky Ranch (Lathrop Wells, NV) Did You Know? Gambling History Gambling License Gaming History Lathrop Wells (Amargosa Valley)--Nevada Nevada Quick Facts

Quick Fact – An “Unsuitable” Combo

1972 The brothel Ash Meadows Sky Ranch, in Lathrop Wells (today Amargosa Valley) in Nye County, accessible via an airstrip, was denied a gambling license by Nevada gaming regulators to operate four slot machines on…