2026 · Nevada Gaming History
Why Nevada Legalized Gambling
Why Nevada legalized gambling in 1931, from economic desperation and Reno’s early operators to the casino boom that reshaped the state.
Read story →Archive topic
Nevada History
4 pieces from the Nevada Gaming History archive.
2026 · Nevada Gaming History
El Cortez Hotel & Casino: The Last of Old Las Vegas
A Complete Historical Narrative of Ownership, Construction, Mob Influence, and Legacy Few casinos in Las Vegas carry the weight of history quite like the El Cortez Hotel & Casino. Opened in 1941 and still operating today, it is the longest‑running casino in continuous operation* in Las Vegas, a living artifact from the city’s pre‑Strip era. … Read more
Read story →
2026 · Nevada Gaming History
George Wingfield: Nevada’s Banking Kingmaker and Political Power
Nothing Lasts Forever When George Wingfield arrived in Nevada in the final years of the nineteenth century, the state was still more frontier than settled society. The great silver bonanza of the Comstock Lode had faded into legend. Towns that once blazed with lamps and speculation had sunk into dust and memory. Yet Nevada remained … Read more
Read story →
2026 · Nevada Gaming History
Why Gambling Was Legalized in Nevada in 1931
The Economic, Political, and Social Reasons Behind the Decision Dispelling Common Myths About Nevada’s Gaming Legalization Many people believe that Nevada legalized gambling because of mob pressure or a desire to become “Las Vegas.” The truth may surprise you. Nevada experienced a boom-and-bust cycle as gold and silver mines flourished and faded just as California … Read more
Read story →