1976
- February 3
- Netherlands issues a postage stamp for the 250th anniversary of the National Lottery, depicting an 18th century lottery ticket. [143.1175]
- May 3
- New Jersey State Assembly votes 52-23 in favor of a resolution to place a referendum on the November ballot to legalize casino gambling in Atlantic City, privately owned, with tax revenue to aid the eldery and disabled. [807.31]
- June 28
- New Jersey State Senate votes 24-9 in favor of a resolution to place a referendum on the November ballot to legalize casino gambling in Atlantic City. [807.31]
- (month unknown)
- In the USA, the Commission on the Review of National Policy toward Gambling releases its report. [39]
- The new independent nations within South Africa allow casino gambling. [187.465]
- In France, the Société Française introduces the Loto, a weekly lottery in which participants pick 6 of 49 numbers. [187.472]
- The province of Alberta, Canada, establishes Canada's first gaming control body. [387.18]
- Gaming machines start using microprocessors storing programs with information to determine game outcome. [818.45]
- The Stardust hotel/casino and Tropicana hotel/casino in Las Vegas are discovered to have been skimming from slot machine cash since 1974, with an estimated $7-15 million distributed to organized crime. [818.31]
- August 1
- Pinball is legalized in New York City and Chicago; previously was banned as a gambling game. New York City mayor signs law legalizing pinball games. [846.89]
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- August
- In Canada, five provinces form the Interprovincial Lottery Corporation. [40.19]
- (month unknown)
- In Canada, the Interprovincial Lottery Corporation launches the Provincial lottery. Tickets cost $5 each, and offer a top prize of CDN$1 million. Each ticket contains a 7-digit number, and an instant-win scratch box. [40.154]
- October 31
- In Canada, the first draw of the Provincial lottery is held. [40.154]
- November 2
- A referendum in New Jersey approves legalizing casino gaming for Atlantic City by a 3-to-2 margin. [39] [86.68,145,179] [1009.22]
- Michigan state voters reject casino gambling by 3-2 margin at polls. [807.115]
- December 12
- Delaware State Lottery cancels its Touchdown II multiple-choice fixed-odds sports card game, due to risk of loss. [86.103]
- December 15
- In Canada, the Atlantic Lottery Corporation is set up for managing lottery operations in New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, and Newfoundland. [387.150]
- December
- New Jersey Lottery begins Touchdown football-themed lottery game. [86.58]
- Year
- Lottery ticket sales revenue in the USA: US$975.5 million. [40.152]
- New York state's Off-Track Betting Corporation gross revenue: over US$100 million. [807.99]
1977
- March 13
- Benin issues a postage stamp marking the 10th anniversary of the National Lottery. [700.925]
- June 2
- New Jersey allows casino gambling in Atlantic City. [1]
- (month unknown)
- Vermont authorizes a state lottery. [86.101]
- The Southern Sun opens a casino in Mmabatho, Bophuthatswana in South Africa. [187.465]
- Residents of Monroe County in Pennsylvania state vote 5060 to 1320 rejecting establishment of a casino in the Poconos area. [807.120]
- September 16
- Upper Volta issues a 55-franc postage stamp marking the 10th anniversary of the National Lottery. [700.1246]
1978
- March 31
- In Canada, Loto Canada ends its first full fiscal year. Ticket sales: CDN$225 million, prize payouts: $78 million, profit: $74 million, payment to Olympic debt: $56 million. [40.14]
- (month unknown)
- New Jersey becomes the second US state to legalize casino gambling, restricted only to Atlantic City. [39]
- May 26
- Atlantic City, New Jersey, opens its first gambling casino, run by Resorts International. New Jersey governor Brendan Byrne opens the casino at 10AM. The first legal bet is made by Steve Lawrence, $10 on craps, pass, loses. (The casino makes a world record US$2.9 million in the first 6 days. The casino is soon earning an average US$600,000 a day.) [39] [86.73] [187.425] [807.45,99] [841] [1009.23]
- (month unknown)
- US Congress passes the Interstate Horseracing Act, legalizing transmission of racing odds and results between states where racing is legal. [187.375]
- New York state launches a successful lotto, in which players choose six numbers from 40. [187.389]
- William Redd buys video slot manufacturer Fortune Coin. [187.480]
- September
- In Canada, Quebec joins the Interprovincial Lottery Corporation. [40.20]
- November 4
- In the USA, Florida voters reject by 73 percent to 27 a proposal to legalize casinos along the state's Gold Coast. [807.42]
- November
- In Canada, the Maritime provinces join the Interprovincial Lottery Corporation. [40.20]
- December
- The first World Championship of Blackjack is held at Del Webb's Sahara Hotel in Las Vegas, Nevada. [312.22]
1979
- April
- In Canada, the Ontario Lottery Corporation draws a CDN$1.3 million winner in its Lottario lottery. [40.78]
- (month unknown)
- In Florida, the Seminole Indian tribe opens a high stakes bingo parlor. [39]
- Hal Fowler wins US$270,000 in the World Series of Poker. He is the first non-professional to win the series. [187.414]
- The MGM Grand Darwin opens in Australia, the second casino in the country. [187.460]
- The Sun City resort and casino opens in Bophuthatswana in South Africa, with roulette and slot machines. [187.465]
- Four people are convicted of skimming cash from the Aladdin hotel/casino in Las Vegas in the mid-1970s. [818.32]
- Bally Gaming stops making elctromechanical "pull" slot machines. [818.45]
- Ralph Engelstad opens the Imperial Palace Casino on the Las Vegas Strip. [818.56]
- July 13
- Vegas World opens in Las Vegas, Nevada, owned by Bob Stupak. [386.125]
- July
- The British Gaming Board refuses to renew the licenses of three casinos operated by the Ladbroke Group. [86.160]
- October
- Playboy Limited of England acquires Victoria Sporting Club, two other casinos, and sixty betting shops for US$13 million. [86.182]
- November 3
- British Gaming Board inspectors and over 400 police raid four casinos operated by Coral Leisure Group in London, England. [86.161]
- December
- London Metropolitan Police and the British Gaming Board commence proceedings to cancel the gaming license of Victoria Sporting Club for various illegal practices. [86.160]
- Three London casinos of the Ladbroke Group are closed. [86.160]
- Bally's Park Place hotel/casino, part of the Dennis Hotel, opens on the Boardwalk in Atlantic City, New Jersey. [187.430]
- December 28
- In Canada, the last Loto Canada lottery draw is held, as the federal government agrees to leave lotteries to the provinces. [40.20]
1980
- March
- Public Gaming Research Institute issues report "Further Legalization of Gambling in the United States in the Decade of the Eighties", predicting expansion of casino gaming to other states (other than New Jersey), as many as 18 by 1990. [807.91]
- April 24
- The Pennsylvania Lottery is rigged by six men including the host of the live TV drawing, Nick Perry. [120]
- (month unknown)
- Hollywood Park racetrack in Southern California introduces a "Pick 6" wager in which bettors select the winning horses in six consecutive races. [86.87]
- Playboy Limited re-opens the Victoria Sporting Club casino in London, England. [86.183]
- The New York state lotto pays US$5 million to a winner. [187.390]
- Arizona authorizes a state lottery. [807.158] (1981 [86.101]
- William Lee Bergstrom bets US$777,000 on the "don't pass" line at The Horseshoe casino in Las Vegas, and wins. [187.411]
- July 1
- The US federal revenue tax on gaming devices is repealed. [87.204]
- November 4
- Rhode Island voters reject casinos by 81 percent. [807.130]
- Year
- New Jersey state gross gaming revenues: $642 million. [807.1]
1981
- March
- International Sporting Club, Palm Beach, and the Curzon casinos in London, England, all close. [86.183]
- May
- David Zarin is charged with 93 counts of theft by deception from Resorts International casino in Atlantic City, New Jersey, related to gambling debts. [86.138]
- June
- International Sporting Club, and Palm Beach casinos in London, England, re-open. [86.183]
- (month unknown)
- Fortune Coin is renamed International Game Technology. [187.480]
- Detriot, Michigan, voters reject casinos by vote of 161,000 against, 96,000 in favor. [807.117]
- Pennsylvania legalizes charity bingo. [807.119]
- July
- North Dakota legalizes charitable and non-profit blackjack. [86.48]
- November
- Playboy Limited in England announces the sale of its British gambling operations to Trident Television Limited for US$34 million. [86.161]
1982
- January
- Trident Television pays US$26 million for Playboy Limited's British gambling properties. [86.184]
- Scandal in the Pennsylvania lottery: some balls injected with fluid to make them heavier and more likely to be chosen. [39]
- February
- The Clermont and the Playboy Club of London casinos in London, England, close. [86.161]
- March
- In the USA, Pennsylvania state's Keystone State lottery is exposed to have a rigged numbers draw. [807.119]
- April
- Colorado state authorizes a state lottery. [86.101,231]
- June
- In Canada, the Interprovincial Lottery Corporation introduces the Lotto 6/49 lottery. [40.20]
- June 17
- In Canada, Bill C-117 amends the Criminal Code to permit pari-mutuel intertrack betting and telephone account betting. [387.145]
- (month unknown)
- The New Jersey state lotto pays US$11.1 million to a single player. [187.390]
- International Game Technology introduces a draw poker video slot machine, which becomes very successful. [187.480]
- July 13
- In Canada, the Interprovincial Lottery Corporation launches the Super Loto lottery game, with top prize CDN$1 million. [40.42]
- August 23
- Washington, D.C., begins a lottery. [86.231]
- September
- Attorney general of Vermont rules that video gaming devices are beyond the authority of the Lottery Commission to operate. [86.60]
- November 15
- Washington State Lottery is established. [86.65,231]
- November
- Minnesota and Oklahoma legislatures authorize pari-mutuel horse racing betting operations. [86.94]
- December
- Donald Bakley wins over US$4 million on six numbers chosen in the New Jersey state lottery. [86.200]
- Year
- In the USA, total bingo wagering estimated at US3 billion. [86.48]
- Total legal gambling in the USA: US$125 billion. [86.54]
- Gross income from gaming in Nevada: US$2.7 billion. [86.81]
1983
- January
- Colorado state begins offering its state lottery. [86.231]
- February 8
- Baseball orders Mickey Mantle to sever ties with Claridge Casino. [1]
- March 1
- New Jersey Governor Thomas Kean signs bill into law prohibiting use of video gaming devices by New Jersey State Lottery Commission. [86.60]
- One US$2 ticket wins US$988,326 for the correct six winners of Jai Alai in the Jai Alai Fronton in West Palm Beach, Florida. [86.88]
- March
- Art Schlichter, quarterback for NFL's Baltimore Colts, admits to losing over US$750,000 gambling on professional football games. [86.138]
- March 31
- Total sales of the New York State Lottery over the past twelve months: US$645 million, generating revenue of US$359 million. [86.61]
- May 17
- Residents of Monroe County, Pennsylvania, vote 10,019 to 2537 rejecting casinos. [807.123]
- June
- California Horse Racing Board allows Hollywood Park racecourse to carry over a "Pick 6" pool to the next day if there are no winners. [86.87]
- Iowa legislature authorizes pari-mutuel horse racing betting operations. [86.94]
- (month unknown)
- The NFL suspends Art Schlichter for betting on professional football games. [86.138]
- In Canada, Newfoundland introduces the Lotteries Control Program. [387.59]
- Universal Distributing of Nevada Incorporated, a Las Vegas subsidiary of Japan's Universal Company Limited, introduces the Magnificent 7s slot machine, first to run slot reels with computerized stepper motors, and awarding smaller jackpots more frequently than others with completely mechanical reels. [818.104]
- For the first time in Nevada casinos, revenue from slot machines exceeds that of table games. [818.105]
- July 9
- Joe Marquis ends a record-breaking 109-hour session dealing poker at the Edgewater Hotel and Casino in Laughlin, Nevada, entering the Guiness Book of World Records. [805.38]
- July 16
- Washington State Governor John Spellman signs a bill establishing the Washington State Lottery, authorizing video lottery devices. [86.60]
- August
- The Lions Club of Fort Calhoun, Nebraska, installs the first legal video lottery devices in the USA. [86.60]
- September 9
- Vitas Gerulatis bets his house that Martina Navratilova can't beat the 100th ranked male tennis player. [1]
- October
- Six people are convicted of cash skimming at the Tropicana hotel/casino in Las Vegas in the late 1970s. [818.31]
- Two Chicago, Illinois, organized crime chiefs and 13 others are indicted in connection with cash skimming operation during 1982 at the Stardust Hotel in Las Vegas, totalling $1.5 million. [818.81]
- December 22
- The national lottery of Spain awards US$73 million as first prize, paying to 46 ticket holders with number 53288. [86.102]
- Year
- Total betting in the USA: US$163 billion. [86.1,224]
- In the USA, an estimated US$2.2 billion is raised in State government lottery income, from ticket sales of US$5.6 billion. [86.67,131,224]
- In the USA, total casino gaming income: US$107.5 billion. [86.224]
- In the USA, total pari-mutuel gaming income: US$14.6 billion. [86.224]
- In the USA, total bingo gaming income: US$3.1 billion. [86.224]
- Gross income from casino gaming in Atlantic City, New Jersey: US$1.77 billion. [86.83,147]
1984
- January 14
- In Canada, Lotto 6/49 lottery draw has a grand prize of CDN$13.9 million won by a single player in Ontario. Winning numbers are 2, 12, 29, 31, 44, 46. This is a Canadian record for a single winner, and a record for a single draw. [40.4,82]
- January 16
- Douglas County District Court Judge Theodore Carlson rules that video lottery devices in Nebraska are legal for use under the lottery law. [86.60]
- January 24
- Residents of Galveston, Texas, USA, vote 7992 to 4632 against legalizing gambling on Galveston Island. [807.143]
- March
- Nebraska legislature approves a bill banning all video and mechanical lotteries after January 1, 1985. [86.60]
- The Canadian government introduces the Sports Select Baseball sports pool. [40.20]
- March 31
- Belgium issues a postage stamp marking the 50th anniversary of the Belgian National Lottery. [700.886]
- May
- In London, England, the Aspinall Curzon casino opens, formerly called the Curzon. [86.183]
- Four New York residents share a US$22 million lottery prize. [40.8]
- June
- Birmingham, Alabama legislature authorizes pari-mutuel horse racing betting operations. [86.94]
- In the USA, the Massachusetts Megabucks lottery draw sets a record for an unshared win, giving US$15.6 million to one person. [40.8]
- (month unknown)
- Former operators of the Stardust Hotel in Las Vegas are fined $3.5 million for failing to prevent cash skimming at the hotel. [818.46]
- July 26
- In the USA, one New York resident wins US$20 million in the state lottery, a new record for unshared win. [40.8]
- August 1
- Illinois Lottery begins a six-month test of 300 video lottery terminals. [86.61]
- August 16
- Largest harness racing purse (US$2,161,000 - Nihilator wins US$1,080,500). [1]
- September 3
- 28-year-old Chicago resident wins US$40 million in Illinois Lottery Lotto state lottery. [1] [86.41,102]
- September
- The Canadian government abandons the Sports Select lottery, having lost CDN$46 million. [40.65]
- September 30
- In Canada, the final draw of the Sports Select lottery is held. A group of thirteen shares a CDN$4.8 million jackpot. [40.66]
- November 6
- In the USA, voters approve introduction of state lotteries in California, Oregon, Missouri, and West Virginia. Pari-mutuel racing betting is approved in Missouri. Colorado and Arkansas defeat proposed casino introductions. Oregon votes to amend constitution to prohibit casinos. [39] [86.68,101,104] [807.151,158,163]
- November
- William Lee Bergstrom bets US$1 million on the "don't pass" line at The Horseshoe casino in Las Vegas, and loses. [187.412]
- Missouri legislature authorizes pari-mutuel horse racing betting operations. [86.94]
- Year
- Lottery ticket sales in Canada: CDN$2.17 billion. [40.1]
- Lottery ticket sales in the USA: almost US$10 billion. [40.8]
- Gross income from casino gaming in Atlantic City, New Jersey: US$1.95 billion. [86.147]
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