1952
-
- The Sahara hotel and casino opens in Las Vegas, Nevada. [80.304]
- Malaya law prohibits lotteries, with exceptions. [80.340]
- December 15
- The Sands hotel and casino opens in Las Vegas, Nevada, USA. [80.304] [187.400] [386.290] [818.58]
- Year
- In Norway, total spending on the state lottery is US$6.9 million. [80.341]
1953
-
- Malaya law prohibits gambling houses and other forms of public gambling. [80.340]
1954
-
- In Canada, an Act of Parliament makes all gambling houses, casinos, clubs, betting shops, etc. illegal with certain exceptions. [80.332]
- In Czechoslovakia, a national lottery is started. [80.333]
vvv advertisement vvv
^^^ advertisement ^^^
- The O.D. Jennings slot machine company is bought by TJM Corp. [87.207]
- The Japanese government abandons its national lottery. [187.450]
- December 25
- Rhythm and blues recording star Johnny Ace dies offstage during a show in Houston, Texas, by playing and losing at Russian Roulette. [1] [467] (December 24 [457])
- Year
- Total government income from Lotto lottery in Italy: US$45 million. [80.235]
1955
-
- The Nevada legislature creates the Nevada State Gaming Control Board within the Tax Commission; casino gambling is made a privileged business, in which licenses can be denied without cause. [818.24] [823.52]
- April 19
- The Royal Nevada casino opens on Highway 91 in Nevada. [187.398]
- April 20
- The Riviera casino opens on Highway 91 in Nevada. [187.398] [386.26]
- May
- The Dunes hotel and casino opens on the Las Vegas strip, Nevada. [187.298a] [386.61]
- (month unknown)
- Japan bans private bookmaking. [80.339]
- The Royal Nevada Hotel/casino opens on Las Vegas Boulevard, Nevada, and goes bankrupt before year-end. [818.80]
- Nevada state increases tax on gross receipts of gambling from 2 percent to a sliding scale of 3-5.5 percent. [823.51]
- August 4
- In Italy, a decree controls state lotteries. [80.339]
- Year
- In Australia, US$526 million is bet on horse and dog races. [80.330]
- In Australia, US$62 million is spent on lottery tickets. [80.330]
1956
-
- In England, a government-run lottery is introduced. [80.241]
- In Ireland, a gaming and lotteries law is enacted. [80.338]
- Portugal law legalizes on-track totalizator gambling at horse races. [80.342]
- New South Wales legalizes slot machines, called poker machines or pokies. [187.459]
1957
- March
- In Hungary, a soccer betting pool is introduced. [80.243]
- April
- The Tropicana hotel and casino opens in Las Vegas. [386.174]
- (month unknown)
- The 91st Irish Hospital Sweepstakes is held, tied to the Grand National horse race in England. 6455 prize winners are paid US$7.5 million; first prize is US$1.05 million. [80.245]
- In Czechoslovakia, two sports betting pools are started. [80.334]
- Hungary state bank starts a lottery. [80.337]
- Year
- In New Zealand, total betting on horse racing amounts to US$130 million. [80.340]
1958
- May 3
- At Churchill Downs racecourse near Louisville, Kentucky, the 84th Kentucky Derby race is held. Ismael Valenzuela aboard Tim Tam wins in 2:05. Total gambling bets on the race: US$1,635,500. [1] [80.185]
- (month unknown)
- Portugal permits casinos at specific locations. [80.342]
- The Soviet Union begins lotteries for cash and merchandise. [187.473]
- July 2
- The Stardust hotel opens in Las Vegas, with 105-foot long pool, 16,500 square foot casino, and world's largest electric sign. [386.230]
- December
- A state-sponsored soccer betting pool is started in Greece. [80.337]
1959
-
- The Las Vegas Annual Tournament of Champions golf game is held. Total amount in bettors pool: US$285,000. Golf winner Stan Leonard results in record pool payout of US$95,760 to winning bettor. [80.99]
- The New Zealand government legalizes gambling on bingo (housie). [80.340] [187.461]
- The Casino di Liban opens in Beirut, Lebanon. [187.459]
- Nevada creates the Nevada Gaming Commission, and the Nevada State Gaming Control Board, independent of the Tax Commission. [818.25] [823.52]
- July 9
- A roulette table at El San Juan Hotel in Puerto Rico lands the ball at "10" six times in a row, the first recorded time of this occurrence. [565.158]
- Year
- In Chile, total betting on horse racing totals US$17 million. [80.333]
1960
- June
- The first casino opens in Ghana, the Casino Africa, at the Ambassador Hotel in Accra. [80.335] [187.467]
- June 17
- Fire consumes the El Rancho Vegas casino resort, on the Las Vegas Strip. [386.31] [762.84]
- (month unknown)
- The Nevada Gaming Control Board adopts and distributed a "Black Book" list of individuals required by law to stay out of all gambling establishments in Nevada for life. The initial list includes 11 people. [818.26] [823.159]
- In Great Britain, the Betting and Gaming Act comes into force, legalizing off-course bookmaking. [80.272] [187.471] [806.137]
- O.D. Jennings introduces the "Buckaroo" slot machine, with four reels. [87.206]
- Casino/resort operators on the Las Vegas Boulevard agree to abandon segregationist policies. [187.401]
- Year
- Total amount of legal bets on horse racing in the USA: US$3 billion. [80.188]
- Total New York state bets on all forms of animal racing: over US$1 billion. [80.205]
- In Belgium, total betting on horse racing totals US$13.6 million. [80.331]
- In Canada, total pari-mutuel betting on horse races through the Department of Agriculture: US$141.4 million. [80.333]
1961
- March 17
- New York district attorney arrests professional gamblers who implicate Seton Hall players. [1]
- (month unknown)
- Cunard Line begins a trial of twenty slot machines on the Queen Mary liner. [73.32]
- European lotteries band together and form the European Football Pool and establish the International Football Cup. [187.468]
- July 18
- IRS special agents raid the Sportsman Club in Newport, Kentucky, taking illegal slot machines, a rigged number drawing device, and records indicating only 1/7 of income was being reported for taxes. [806.158]
- September 29
- In Cuba, Fidel Castro announces casino gambling would henceforth be illegal in Havana. [187.385]
- Year
- Total amount spent on legal soccer pools: Scandinavia US$150 million, Australia US$240 million, Great Britain US$333 million. [80.95]
- Total New York state bets on all forms of animal racing: over US$1 billion. [80.205]
- In Austria, total spent on lotteries: US$1.3 million. [80.331]
- In Austria, government tax revenue from casinos totals US$1.9 million. [80.331]
- In Japan, total betting on horse racing totals US$93.3 million. [80.339]
- In Sweden, total betting on soccer matches amounts to US$38.4 million. [80.342]
- In Sweden, US$55.6 million is spent on the national lottery. [80.342]
- In Federal Republic of Germany, total gambling enterprise income is US$425 million, giving the government tax revenue of US$71.25 million. [80.345]
- Top Nevada gambling resort revenues: Harrah's Club in Lake Tahoe ($20 million), Harold's Club in Reno ($13 million), Stardust on the Las Vegas Strip ($12 million), Harrah's Club in Reno ($10 million), Wilbur Clark's Desert Inn on the Las Vegas Strip ($9 million). [823.3]
- US state government tax revenue from gambling: New York $96.5 million, California $38 million, Florida $26.2 million, New Jersey $25.3 million, Illinois $17.5 million, Massachusetts $14.5 million, Nevada $10.7 million, total of all states: $294.8 million. [823.56]
1962
- April
- The Isle of Man passes a law permitting gambling casinos. [80.76]
- June 24
- Total legal betting on Longchamps horse race in France: US$4 million. [80.186]
- (month unknown)
- The Raymond I. Smith family sells Harold's Club hotel/casino chain for $16,675,000 over 5 years. [823.42]
- Year
- Total spending in the USA on legal pari-mutuel greyhound racing: US$500 million. [80.200]
- Total state lottery income in France: US$50 million, total payout US$128 million. [80.238]
- In Sweden, total betting on horse racing amounts to US$77 million. [80.342]
- Total quantity of Swedish lottery ticket sales: 17,980,000. [80.241]
- In Finland, total state income from soccer betting pools is US$18 million. [80.334]
- In France, total betting on off-track legal pari-mutuel totals US$520 million. [80.334]
- Total betting amounts spent in Great Britain:
- horse races: US$1.5 billion,
- soccer pools: US$239 million,
- greyhound racing: US$322 million,
- bingo: US$84 million,
- premium bonds: US$43 million.
[80.336]
- In Italy, US$81 million is bet on the state lottery, which pays out US$37 million in prizes. [80.338]
- In Poland, total spending on the national lottery amounts to US$40 million. [80.341]
- In Norway, total spending on the state lottery is US$18 million. [80.341]
1963
- January
- Actor Sean Connery bets on the number 17 for three consecutive spins of the roulette wheel at Saint Vincent casino in Italy, winning all three times, for a total win of US$30,000. [80.227]
- March
- The governor of New Hampshire, USA, authorizes a state lottery. [80.246] [187.387] [807.12]
- April
- In the USA, New Hampshire establishes a state lottery. [80.344]
- June 30
- Total legal betting on Longchamps horse race in France: US$7 million. [80.186]
- (month unknown)
- Bally Manufacturing introduces the Money Honey slot machine, considered the first modern slot machine. It features a 2500-coin hopper, and electronic workings. [187.479]
- Nevada Electronics produces the first game combining electronics with video display, the Automatic Blackjack game. [187.480]
- September 11
- Chairman of the Nevada State Gaming Control Board issues a complaint to the Nevada Gaming Commission over Cal Neva Lodge and chief stockholder Frank Sinatra for 1) allowing Sam Giancana at the hotel in July, in contravention of being required to keep him off their property, 2) that Sinatra threatened the Chairman, 3) that employees attempted bribing GCB audit agents, and 4) that an employee avoided a subpoena to the board by leaving the state. (One day before the deadline to file an answer to the complain, Sinatra withdraws completely from Nevada gaming industry.) [823.164]
- November 21
- US President John Kennedy administration asks Congress to authorize coining of silver dollars for use by gambling casinos. [1619.62]
- Year
- Nevada gaming house revenue: $248 million. [823.17]
1964
- March 12
- The first legal lottery in the USA in the twentieth century is the New Hampshire Sweepstakes. Draws are held twice per year, at a cost of $3 per ticket. The lottery commission pays US$500,000 to the IRS as a ten percent wagering excise tax. [5] [39] [86.6] [187.387] [807.12] [1114.53]
- March 27
- Arkansas governor orders illegal casinos in Hot Springs closed. [807.145]
- November 3
- Arkansas voters reject legalization of casinos by 318,000 to 215,000. [807.146]
1965
-
- South Africa passes the Gambling Act, forbidding all lotteries, sports betting, and games of chance. [187.465]
- July
- The Franklin Mint begins producing metal $1 tokens for Harrah's, to replace US silver dollars. (By the end of the year, the Mint is supplying five other Nevada gaming casinos as well.) [508.14]
- (month unknown)
- Cunard Line adds roulette and blackjack as well as slot machines to its Franconia cruises of the Canary Islands. [73.32]
1966
-
- New York general election favors introducing a lottery. [86.56]
- Caesars Palace hotel, casino, convention center opens on Highway 91 in Nevada. [187.407]
- The Nevada Gaming Commission issues a report claiming casino money is not being filtered to organized crime. [818.28]
1967
- March 22
- Howard Hughes buys the Desert Inn hotel/casino in Las Vegas, Nevada, from Moe Dalitz for US$13.2 million. [187.409] [818.28]
- (month unknown)
- New York becomes the second state to sponsor a lottery in the USA. [39]
- South Korea allows casinos to be opened in hotels, catering primarily to Japanese and Taiwanese visitors. [187.456]
- September
- Howard Hughes buys the Frontier hotel/casino in Las Vegas for US$14 million. [818.28]
- (month unknown)
- Howard Hughes buys the Sands hotel/casino, Castaways hotel/casino, and New Frontier hotel/casino in Las Vegas. [818.28]
- December
- The Paradise Island Hotel and Casino opens in the Bahamas. [1009.23]
1968
- May
- In Canada, Montreal Mayor Jean Drapeau introduces a "voluntary tax": for CDN$2, taxpayers get a chance to win $150,000 in silver. The scheme lasts for several draws before the Canadian government shuts it down. [40.19]
- (month unknown)
- In Great Britain, the Gaming Act gives the British Gaming Board the right to issue a certificate to run a casino, and the right to refuse to issue a certificate with no reason given. [86.80] [187.471]
- Howard Hughes buys the Silver Slipper hotel/casino and Stardust hotel/casino in Las Vegas. [818.28]
- October 18
- Circus Circus hotel/casino opens on Las Vegas Boulevard, Nevada. [1] [187.408]
1969
- June 27
- The Canadian government changes the criminal code to allow provinces to operate and licence lotteries and slot machines. [40.19] [187.462] (1970 [387.13])
- (month unknown)
- Malaysian Prime Minister Tunku Abdul Rahman awards the nation's only casino license to the Genting Highlands resort. [187.457]
- The Edmonton Fairgrounds in Alberta, Canada, includes a "Klondike Village", with legal "casino" consisting of five blackjack tables with $5 bet limit. At the end of ten days, revenue is $25,000. [387.17]
- Nevada legislature passes the Corporate Gaming Act, allowing public corporations to invest in casinos without each shareholder having to apply for a gaming license. [818.29]
- July 2
- The International resort/casino opens in Las Vegas Boulevard, Nevada. With 1500 rooms, it is the world's largest hotel, with the world's largest casino, at 29,000 square feet. [187.420]
1970
- February 1
- In Canada, Loto-Québec is set up. [387.150]
- March 14
- In Canada, Quebec is the first province to launch a legal lottery. The Inter Plus lottery offers a CDN$150,000 grand prize for $2 tickets. [40.19]
- April
- In Florida, USA, residents of Miami Beach vote 9265 to 7343 rejecting casinos. [807.133]
- April 22
- New York Governor Nelson Rockefeller signs into law a package of revenue aids for New York City, including off-track betting. [86.170] [187.373]
- (month unknown)
- A bill to legalize casinos in New Jersey is introduced in the Assembly, but fails to pass the Senate. [1009.22]
- New York state lottery awards the first US$1 million jackpot. [187.388]
- The first Binion's World Series of Poker is held at The Horseshoe casino in Las Vegas. Johnny Moss is the winner. [187.413]
- South Dakota voters agree to change state constitution to permit bingo and charity lotteries. [807.195]
- New Jersey authorizes a state lottery. [86.101]
- December 16
- New Jersey State Lottery begins sale of 50-cent tickets in a weekly lottery on a drawn 6-digit number. (This proves to be a big improvement over monthly and higher cost lotteries of New Hampshire and New York.) [86.57] [187.388] (1971 [39])
1971
- March 17
- Edward Henry of Morristown, New Jersey, is first person to win US$1 million in a State lottery. [86.57]
- (month unknown)
- New York state legalizes off-track betting. [807.99]
- April 8
- First legal off-track betting system begins (OTB-New York). [1]
- (month unknown)
- In the USA, Massachusetts and Pennsylvania authorize state lotteries. [86.101] [807.119]
- Connecticut state legalizes a lottery, off-track betting, and betting on horse racing. [86.101] [807.227]
- The second World Series of Poker is held in Las Vegas. Johnny Moss is the winner. [187.413]
- December 3
- At a concert by Frank Zappa and the Mothers of Invention in Montreux casino's showroom, a fan fires a flare gun, which results in burning down the entire casino. Members of rock music group Deep Purple witness the blaze, and later record the song "Smoke on the Water" about the incident. [187.468] [457]
1972
- February 7
- Morocco issues a 25-centimes postage stamp promoting the creation of the national lottery. [143.1074]
- (month unknown)
- Maryland authorizes state lottery. [86.101]
- Connecticut state in the USA legalizes betting on dog races and jai alai. [807.227]
- November
- Michigan voters approve lottery and charity gambling and removes prohibition against other forms of gambling. [86.101] [807.114]
- November 6
- Upper Volta issues a 35-franc postage stamp for the 5th anniversary of the National Lottery. [700.1243]
- November
- New Jersey begins a daily drawn lottery. [86.58] [187.388]
1973
- May 13
- Tennis hustler Bobby Riggs, age 55, beats Margaret Smith Court 6-2, 6-1 in a Mother's Day match at San Diego Country Estate in California, USA. Riggs wins a $5000 bet that he could win. [1] [565.195]
- (month unknown)
- In the USA, the Commission on the Review of National Policy toward Gambling is created to study gambling in the United States. [39]
- Delaware and Ohio authorize state lotteries. [86.101]
- The Wrest Point Hotel Casino opens in Hobart, Tasmania, Australia's first legal casino. [187.460]
- Three bills are introduced in the New Jersey state Assembly to legalize casinos, but all fail to pass. [1009.22]
- July 5
- The MGM Grand Hotel opens in Las Vegas, built at a cost of US$107 million. It features 2100 rooms, Jai-alai fronton, and 1200-seat showroom. [386.309]
- September 6
- New York Times reports almost all Superfecta harness racing run at Yonkers, Roosevelt and Monticello from January to March of 1973 were fixed. [1]
- September 12
- Two bettors win the largest US Daily Double (US$19,909.60 in Detroit, Michigan). [1]
- November 8
- Nevada approves pari-mutuel betting on Jai Alai. [1]
1974
- March 6
- An Italian loses a record US$1,920,000 at roulette in Monte Carlo. [1]
- April 15
- The first Olympic lottrery draw is held in Canada. Nine winners share the CDN$1 million top prize, while one person wins the $500,000 second prize. [40.87]
- May 28
- Massachusetts State Lottery begins selling first instant game lottery tickets (latex-covered scratch-off area). [86.58] [187.389]
- June 21
- The Western Canada Lottery Corporation is established in Canada, serving Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Yukon Territory, and Northwest Territories. [387.150]
- (month unknown)
- Holland America Line adds a Slot Machine Room to the Rotterdam cruise ship. [73.32]
- Home Lines adds a Slot Machine Room to the Oceanic cruise ship. [73.32]
- Gamex Industries develops one of the first electronic slot machines. [87.14]
- The Nevada Gaming Control Board lowers the state tax on sports bets to be paid by sports books from 10 to 2 percent. [328.34]
- A bill to legalize casinos passes the New Jersey Assembly, and will appear in referendum in November. [1009.22]
- October 23
- Austria issues a postage stamp marking the 25th anniversary of the Austrian Sports Pool lottery. [700.652]
- (month unknown)
- Illinois, Maine, and Rhode Island authorize state lotteries. [86.101]
- November 5
- New Jersey referendum on government-owned/operated casinos in the state fails by 3-to-2 margin. [86.177] [807.28] [1009.22]
- Year
- In the USA, total bingo wagering estimated at US1.7 billion. [86.48]
- In the USA, total state lottery gross sales: US$681 million. [86.131]
- In the USA, total legal gambling: US$17.3 billion. [86.241]
|