Archive topic

Nevada's Small Town Casinos

7 pieces from the Nevada Gaming History archive.

2026 · Nevada Gaming History

The Silver Spur Casino in Carson City

From its 1955 opening across from the Nevada State Capitol to its final short-lived revival in 1978, the Silver Spur tells the story of a small Carson City casino trying to hold its ground.

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2026 · Nevada Gaming History

Carson City Casinos

An alphabetical record of Carson City casinos, hotel gaming rooms, and local clubs, gathered from a collector’s long view of Nevada gaming history.

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2026 · Nevada Gaming History

Nevada Casino History by Region: Las Vegas, Reno, Tahoe, and Beyond

Introduction Nevada’s gaming history is not defined by a single city. While Las Vegas became the global symbol of entertainment and excess, the state’s casino culture was shaped by multiple regions — each with its own identity, economic forces, and cast of characters. From the pioneering gambling halls of Reno to the glamorous lakefront resorts … Read more

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2026 · Nevada Gaming History

The Ormsby House Casino in Carson City

Carson City is the Capital of Nevada, but in the late ’70s, when I was there, it had fewer than 30,000 residents. It’s a miracle there were half a dozen casinos to choose from. Being a gambling man, I thought it was a good bet to get married at 19, in Carson City, and stay … Read more

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2017 · Nevada Gaming History

Searchlight, Nevada and The King of Casinos

Don’t feel bad if you’ve never heard of Searchlight, Nevada. It’s a small town with a rich history that makes it worth exploring. It’s an unincorporated town, 13 miles square, somehow holding 500 hearty souls. Ah, well, it’s a dot, that’s all. Really, if you are accidentally in Needles or Blyth, California, you might drift … Read more

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