It Really Happened Archives

California Casino History Casino History U.S. Gambling History Gambling History U.S. Gambling: Cheating Devices: Faro Dealing Boxes Gambling: Cheating Devices: Manufacturers: Joseph Graves Gambling: Cheating Devices: Manufacturers: Will & Finck Gambling: Cheating Devices: Prepared Cards Games / Races: Faro Games / Races: Faro: Dealing Box Makers: Joseph Graves Games / Races: Faro: Dealing Box Makers: Robert Bailey Games / Races: Faro: Dealing Box Makers: Will & Finck It Really Happened United States Virginia

Faro Breeds Cunning Card Sharps En Masse

1700s-1950s Faro stands out in U.S. gambling history. The imported card game dominated the industry here for a long time, about 100 years. “Tiger” was the country’s favorite gambling pastime during the 1800s, though played…

Advertisements Casino History Gambling History Harolds Club (Reno, NV) It Really Happened Nevada Reno--Nevada United States

Place For a Roaring Good Time

1949 The Smiths, who owned and operated Harolds Club in Reno, Nevada appropriately named their casino Roaring Camp. Generally, a roaring camp was “a gold-prospecting camp characterized by wild behavior, unrestrained drinking and gambling,” according…

California Casino History California Casino History Nevada Casino History U.S. Charles Binaggio Colma--California Crimes / Violence / Punishments: Tax Evasion Elmer "Bones" F. Remmer Emilio "Gombo" Georgetti Gambler (Operators/Players): Cemeteries Buried In: Mountain View Cemetery Gambling History Gambling History California Gambling History Nevada Gambling History U.S. Gambling: Illegal Gaming History Horseshoe Club / Binion's Gambling Hall & Hotel (Las Vegas, NV) It Really Happened Kansas City--Missouri McNeil Island Corrections Center (WA) Nevada Reno--Nevada Samuel "Sam" F. Termini San Mateo County--California Tahoe Biltmore (Crystal Bay, NV) United States Willow Tree (Colma, CA)

10 Intriguing Facts About Mob Tied Gambler Sam Termini

1928-1972 Samuel “Sam” F. Termini (1903-1972) was known as a small-time racketeer who worked at and operated gambling enterprises mostly for others. Here are 10 interesting tidbits about him and his life: Gambling History 1)…

Casino History Gambling History Gambling: Illegal Games / Races: Slot Machines / Fruities It Really Happened Seattle--Washington Washington

Hate When That Happens

1934 A man named Hans Brucksmer played about $15 worth of nickels (about $300 today) in a slot machine at a place of business in Seattle, Washington and got only four coins back. He lifted…

California Casino History Crimes / Violence / Punishments: Gambling Games / Races: Slot Machines / Fruities Gaming History It Really Happened Los Angeles-California United States

It Took Just One

1936 A single penny got Los Angeles store owner Ethel Jamison convicted. One day at her shop, Police Officer James Mulligan placed a penny in the slot machine, pulled the lever, received a penny premium…

Incline Village--Nevada It Really Happened Mobsters / Gangsters / Syndicate Members (Alleged) / Organizations Nevada Reno--Nevada United States

New Podcast Airs About Mobsters in Reno

It Really Happened!’s Doresa Banning recently appeared on author Wayne Clingman’s Milwaukee Mob video podcast. She and Clingman discussed Mobsters involved in Northern Nevada’s gambling industry during the early 20th century. Check it out (click…

Casino History Charles Enquist Divorce / Annulment G.W. Summerfield Gambling History Gaming History It Really Happened Nevada The Big Casino (Tonopah, NV) Tonopah--Nevada United States William S. Johnson

U.S. Runs Gambling House in Nevada

1913-1915 Circumstances of a lawsuit in the U.S. led to an unusual occurrence, even for Nevada: the federal government taking over and running a Silver State casino. It was The Big Casino, a combination casino,…

Blakeland Inn (Denver, CO) Casino History Colorado Cottonwood Ranch (Denver, CO) Crimes / Violence / Punishments: Bombings Denver--Colorado Gambling History It Really Happened Leo Barnes Ova "Smiling Charlie" Elijah Stephens United States

Series: Car Blast Victim Tied to Gambling, Part II

1936 Gambler Leo Barnes and his wife had only been in Denver, Colorado for about six months, having moved from Kansas City, Missouri. On the night of Dec. 8, the couple got in their car…

Casino History Chicago--Illinois Defense Attorneys: George Beiber Gambling History Gambling: Illegal Gaming History Illinois It Really Happened Tony "Joe Batters" Accardo United States

Mobster Avoids Trial With Clever Scheme

1943-1944 Had it not been for a shifty plan Tony “Joe Batters” Accardo and/or his attorney, George Bieber dreamed up, the Mobster might’ve gone to prison at age 37, in 1944, for illegal gambling. Cigar Store…

Alphonse "Al/Scarface" Capone Casino History Chicago--Illinois Continental Press Service (Chicago, IL) Desert Inn (Las Vegas, NV) Fremont Hotel and Casino (Las Vegas, NV) Gambling History Gambling: Bookmaking Games / Races: Slot Machines / Fruities: Animated Gaming History Havana--Cuba Illinois It Really Happened Las Vegas--Nevada Nevada Nick Bosa Owl Club (Calumet City, IL) Paul "The Waiter" Ricca Riviera (Las Vegas, NV) Stardust (Las Vegas, NV) The Outfit (Chicago, IL) Tony "Joe Batters" Accardo United States

Bosa Bros.' Mobster Great Grandfather Involved in Gambling

1935-1965 Tony Accardo, né Antonino Leonardo Accardo (1906-1992), is credited with reviving and expanding the Chicago Outfit’s gambling business in the 1940s after the organization’s head Paul “The Waiter” Ricca named him underboss. Accardo himself…

California Casino History Events: 1953 California State Fair Gaming History Harrah's (Reno, NV) It Really Happened Nevada Reno--Nevada United States

An Offer That Was Refused

1953 Harrah’s in Reno, Nevada proposed, to event officials, the casino host an exhibit about gambling at the California State Fair. With a backdrop of silver dollars, the display was to contain gambling equipment and pamphlets…

California Casino History Crimes / Violence / Punishments: Bombings Emilio "Gombo" Georgetti Gambling History Gambling: Equipment: Manufacturers Games / Races: Dog Racing Games / Races: Horse Racing Gaming History Governing / Regulatory Bodies: California Crime Commission International Totalizer Company It Really Happened John O'Neil Miami Beach Kennel Club (Miami Beach, FL) Mile High Kennel Club Mile High Kennel Club (Denver, CO) Multnomah Kennel Club (Portland, OR) Olmo Group Richard "Big Dick" Charles Trabert San Mateo County--California Sportsman's Park (Cicero, IL) Thomas "Tom" A. Keen United States

Car Blast Victim Tied to Gambling, Part I

1952 The life of wealthy, prominent businessman with several connections to the gambling industry, Thomas “Tom” A. Keen, 56, was abruptly ended at about 10:07 a.m. on Tuesday morning, February 5. After giving some duck…