Quick Fact – Beginners’ Luck

Casino History, Cleveland's Mayfield Road Gang, Desert Inn (Las Vegas, NV), Did You Know?, Gambling History, Gambling: Run, Games / Races: Craps, Geographical Areas, Las Vegas--Nevada, Moe Dalitz, Moe Dalitz, Nevada, Quick Facts, United States, Wilbur ClarkLeave a comment

1950 The $1.6 million Desert Inn resort had just opened in Las Vegas, and a gambling naif nearly put it out of business. A 22-year-old sailor, who didn’t know much about gambling, bet $1 on craps and had a run of 27 straight passes. During it, the people around him started winning, too. “There was…

Cuban Casino Push

Benjamin "Bugsy" Siegel, Casino History, Casino International (Havana, Cuba), Clifford "Cliff" A. Jones, Cuba, Desert Inn (Las Vegas, NV), Fremont Hotel and Casino (Las Vegas, NV), Gambling, Gambling History, Gaming History, Hilton (Havana, Cuba), Hy Abrams, It Really Happened, Las Vegas--Nevada, Moe Dalitz, Morris Kleinmann, Nacional (Havana, Cuba), Politicians / Politics: Cuba President Fulgencia Batista, Riviera (Havana, Cuba), Thomas McGinty, Thunderbird (Las Vegas, NV), United States, Wilbur ClarkLeave a comment

1952–1958 When Fulgencio Batista returned to power as president in Cuba in 1952, he aimed to foster a gambling empire from which he could generate revenue for his coffers. To facilitate casino development, he and his administration: • Restricted gambling licenses to hotels or nightclubs worth $1 million or more • Waived taxes, which were…