In 1931, Nevada made a decision that would permanently reshape its identity: it legalized wide-open gambling. The move is often portrayed as inevitable, but the truth is far more nuanced. The legalization effort was driven not by casino owners or urban political machines, but by a quiet rancher from Humboldt County — Assemblyman Phil Tobin … Read more
I learned to play poker in West Springfield, Virginia, after my friend Barry Wilson invited me to play. We were high school freshmen, and the guys we ended up playing against were juniors and seniors. We both lost. In the coming weeks, we improved, but we were still dorks. To finance poker, Barry got a … Read more
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
Benny Binion, born Lester Ben Binion on November 20, 1904, in Plot Grove, Texas, was an American gangster and casino owner. He founded the World Series of Poker and Binion’s Horseshoe, a casino resort in Las Vegas. Benny Binion was known for his extensive criminal activities and contributions to the development of the Nevada gambling … Read more
Carl Cohen was born in Cleveland, Ohio, on February 15, 1913, and spent his adult years working in the gaming industry, beginning at the Thomas Club as a dealer. Cohen saw the Cleveland Syndicate’s casinos as a fine job and was both a dice dealer and, later, a pit boss. He also worked as a … Read more
Jack Dragna from a Los Angeles Police Department Mug Shot – 1946 Jack Dragna, born Giacomo Tommaso or Ignazio Dragna in Corleone, Sicily, in 1891, was a notorious American mobster who rose to power in the early 20th century and led one of the most powerful criminal organizations in Southern California. After immigrating to the … Read more
Above: Moe Sedway enjoys a cigar with friend and casino partner Gus Greenbaum (Right) Moe Sedway was an American gangster and a close associate of the infamous mobster Benjamin “Bugsy” Siegel. Born in 1894 in Ukraine, Sedway immigrated to the United States as a child and grew up in New York City’s Lower East Side. … Read more
Today, Cleveland is best known as the home of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and the Cleveland Clinic. Plus, their pro sports teams are the Indians, Cavaliers, and Browns. The town and its weather are harsh, face-first against the cold winter winds that constantly blow from Lake Erie. Not the most inviting atmosphere, … Read more
Wilbur Clark was a prominent figure in Las Vegas’s development, recognized for his significant contributions to the casino industry and luxurious resorts. His friendly, approachable personality made him a relatable figure, inspiring trust and confidence among visitors. Las Vegas was never perfect, but the right frontman, like Clark, helped shape its welcoming image. In the … Read more
Moe Dalitz was a prominent American businessman and organized crime figure who rose to prominence during the Prohibition era. Born on December 25, 1899, in Boston, Massachusetts, he grew up in a Jewish family and dropped out of school at 14 to work in the garment industry. However, he realized quickly he could make more … Read more
Tony Cornero (born Anthony Cornero Stralla in Northern Italy in 1899) was a leading figure in the California rum-running enterprises of the 1920s and an early Las Vegas casino owner. When his father lost the family farm in Italy due to gaming losses, young Tony vowed to be on the other side of the cards … Read more
Reno’s Bank Club casino opened in the Golden Hotel basement in 1929. The property was owned by George Wingfield, Nevada’s richest man, whose wealth of $ 50 million in the early 20th century reflected his mining success in Goldfield and Tonopah. His achievements and Reno’s growth are detailed in The Roots of Reno. Winfield received … Read more
Meyer Lansky was influential enough to draw hundreds of inquiries from law enforcement agencies during his lifetime, including the FBI, CIA, Highway Patrol offices in dozens of states, local police, and detective agencies, highlighting the widespread interest in his activities. Strange, because as dirty and sticky as his hands were for the Mob, no charges … Read more
The Mob didn’t start the gambling in Nevada, and especially not in Las Vegas. In fact, they were relative latecomers, since Nevada had gambling for years before it was officially legalized in 1931. Because Nevada was such a large state with such a small population, there wasn’t much reason to invest capital to set up … Read more
“Bugsy” Siegel’s story begins with a tough childhood in Brooklyn’s Williamsburg district, where no one expected the skinny kid to leave a lasting impact, which can inspire curiosity and empathy in the audience. Siegel was already street-wise by the age of nine, rolling drunks and stealing from merchants, and he and Moe Sedway set up … Read more
Still, it took until 2012 for South Point Poker LLC to be approved as Nevada’s first intrastate interactive gaming operator, highlighting a competitive landscape in which established companies like William Hill, with millions of subscribers and a 200% deposit bonus, set a high standard for new entrants. Las Vegas’s South Point casino owner, Michael Gaughan, … Read more
In the late 1990s, while I was toiling away in Reno, poker players in Arizona were enjoying something new: big-stakes poker in a casino. After Fort McDowell Casino opened near the end of Shea Blvd. past Fountain Hills (half an hour from Scottsdale), players could play all types of poker, and they could even play … Read more
Next door to Barney’s at Lake Tahoe was Harrah’s Sports Casino. I walked in and was surprised by how small it was. There were about a dozen chairs for a keno game, several TVs by the bar, a craps game, and half a dozen blackjack tables. They had little yellow signs with $1 to $100 … Read more
