Carson City Casinos

Carson City is one of my favorite towns. It’s the Capital of Nevada, to start with. Plus, my parents got married there many moons ago. Following suit, I was also married in the gambling town, and unlike my prowess at the blackjack tables, I lost my ass on that deal. Is that too much information? Bummer.

Carson Valley is situated below Lake Tahoe near South Shore’s casinos. The city shares a main street (Carson) with Highway 395. If you head west on 395, you can check out Minden, Gardnerville, and Topaz Lake for casinos with great old chips. Head the other way, and you reach Reno in less than an hour.

The city’s history? Well, yes, John C. Frémont named the river flowing through the valley the Carson River in honor of Kit Carson. The current Capitol Building was constructed in 1869.

And gambling? Well, plenty of saloons and hotels offered tables for friendly games of poker. Some were less friendly than others.

When legalized gaming was enacted in 1931, casinos popped up like mirages in the desert and often disappeared in a shadowy mist before gamers’ eyes. Those operated with a bankroll and prudence lasted.

I’ve made a life of collecting casino memorabilia, and to that end, I sometimes overlook properties that didn’t have table games with chips to share. And that brings us to the first property on the alphabetical list, the Arlington Hotel.

Situated at the corner of North Carson and Robinson streets, it was built in 1877 and caught the wrecking ball in the mid-sixties. I don’t remember it, but some old-timers said there was a lively five-card stud game there from time to time. I have no memorabilia from there to show you, but here’s a list of casinos in Carson City, most of which I’ve gambled in, seen, or have chips representing their history. Eventually, I’ll have a page with photos of each.

The Arlington Hotel operated a gaming room from 1946 to 1957.

Artichoke Joe’s/Artichoke’s Poker Palace had gaming from 1980 to 1997 and then from 1998 to 2006. Famous for 1-cent chips, we collectors scarfed up.

Black Gold offered gaming from 1962 to 1964.

Bodine’s Casino has been offering slots since 2008.

Broderick’s Bar offered gaming from 1945 until 1954.

Cactus Jack’s has been gaming since 1971.

Cactus Jack’s Senator Club offered gaming from 1971 until 1997.

Capitol Bar operated a gaming room from 1938 until 1952.

Carson Hot Springs offered gaming from 1959 until 1966.

Carson Inn, Ziegler’s 1961 only.

Carson Station had gaming from 2011 through 2015.

Carson Victory Club had games from 1975 until 1991

Casino Fandango opened in 2003.

Cave offered gaming from 1966 until 1968.

Club Maverick had games from 1981 to 1982.

Comstock Casino opened in 1978 with only slots.

Embers lasted one year in 1965.

Gold Dust West opened in 2006.

Golden Spike, Chuck’s opened in 1976 and closed in 1980.

Hal Dorn K-Bar 1981.

Horseshoe Club opened in 1973 and lasted until 2015.

Hotel Page had gaming from 1946 until 1952.

Hunter’s Lodge was open for gaming from 1955 until 1967.

Jackpot Crossing opened in 2010.

Kit Carson Club operated from 1960 until 1968.

Lucky Spur operated on and off from 1973 to 1978.

Main Entrance Club operated slots from 1959 through 1961.

Max Casino opened in 2015.

Mint, Bill Crow’s open from 1965 until 1969.

Mint, Joe, & Willies operated from 1979 until 1977.

Mint, The was open off and on from 1965 until 1980.

Mother Load opened in 1983 and closed in 1989.

Nugget, Dick Graves opened in 1954, changed to just the

Nugget in 1956 and is still open.

Old Globe Saloon had gaming from 1951 until 1964.

Ormsby House was opened in 1960 and closed in 2000.

Pinon Plas opened in 1995 and closed in 2006.

Senator Bar operated from 1948 until 1959.

Senator Bar opened in 1948 and closed in 1959.

Senator Club had games from 1955 until 1968.

Ship Bar (with the ship’s prow entrance from Nick Abelman’s Ship and Bottle in Reno) opened in 1947 and is closed.

Silver Spur operated a gaming operation from 1955 until 1973.

Travelodge had gaming for a year from 1978 until 1979.

Treasure Chest offered table games from 1970 until 1973.

Victory Club, Tommy’s had gaming from 1933 until 1954.