Lake Tahoe
Nevada Casino Stories on YouTube Videos
I wrote my first little story about the Primadonna Casino in Reno for my chip-collecting friends in 1984. We weren’t a big group, so the front side of the first of four pages had an actual postcard stuck to it. Below the scalloped edges of the Reno-Tahoe Advertising post card were a few paragraphs about … Read more
L. M. Strauss (The Russian) and Nevada Casinos
L. M. Strauss, a native of the San Francisco Bay area, was born in October [1904]. Growing up, he was like any other youth in the area, driven by the desire to earn some extra cash to support his interests and socialize with his peers. His early exposure to poker, particularly five-card stud, and his … Read more
Harvey’s Wagon Wheel and the Bombing of 1980
Nothing was more shocking in my gaming career than the bombing of Harvey’s Wagon Wheel Casino at South Shore Lake Tahoe in 1980, an incident that highlighted the volatility and risks of the gaming world. To be accurate, I wasn’t working there. I was spending the end of summer playing blackjack for a living. As … Read more
Collecting Casino Chips Never Gets Old
The first casino chip I ever saved was from the Pacheco Inn after I lost $18 playing poker and saved three $1 chips. Being underage didn’t stop me from exploring the poker rooms in Northern California or casinos at Lake Tahoe, and I always found chips to collect, adding a bit of rebellious fun to … Read more
The Christmas Tree Casino
In 1946, John and Alice Ross founded the Christmas Tree casino, a landmark built at the top of Mount Rose with spectacular views down to Washoe Valley, fostering local pride and a sense of community. To increase the small club’s income, Reno gambler Virgil Smith, fresh from bankrolling Bill Harrah’s blackout bar in Reno, opened a … Read more
Bert Riddick – Nevada Gaming Pioneer
The Tahoe Village at South Shore Lake Tahoe circa the 1940s – Video here Bert Riddick Bert Riddick was a Native Nevadan, born in the tiny mining town of Carlin. His wife, Vivian’s family, was from Ely, Nevada, and Bert and Vivian spent their lives in Northern Nevada, traveling between Tonopah, Ely, and Reno. Riddick … Read more
Lake Tahoe’s Cal-Neva Lodge
Although only about one-third of Lake Tahoe lies in Nevada, California’s gambling history is notable, with early establishments like Tallac House and Tahoe Tavern in Tahoe City, opened by Donald Bliss in 1902 with a ‘Casino’ or ‘Game Room,’ highlighting its longstanding gaming presence. For years, the enforcement of gambling and liquor laws was “on … Read more
The King’s Castle and Incline Village Casino
How’s this for a great shot from the early ’70s? This postcard is from Reno Tahoe Specialty, Inc. Nate Jacobson built the King’s Castle Casino at Incline Village (Lake Tahoe), but first, let’s look at the previous owners and names! As is often the case at Lake Tahoe, George Whittell is at the heart of … Read more
Bill Harrah at Lake Tahoe
Harrah’s Tahoe – Opened in 1957 Bill Harrah was already a successful casino operator in Reno when he expanded to Lake Tahoe. His early ventures, including expanding the Harrah’s name along Highway 50 at Stateline, showcase his innovative approach and determination and can inspire interest in Nevada’s gambling history. Hopping from spot to spot was … Read more