- August 23
- Paul Hornung awarded US$1,160,000 by a Louisville court against NCAA who barred him as a college football analyst for betting on games. [1]
- September 12
- In Canada, the Lotto 6/49 lottery expands to two weekly draws, with the first Wednesday evening draw. [40.138]
- October 29
- In Canada, Bill C-117 amends the Criminal Code to allow Canadians to bet on foreign horse races. [387.145]
- December 20
- The Criminal Code of Canada gives the provinces exclusive jurisdiction over lotteries, video devices, and slot machines, in exchange for annual payment of CDN$18 million from the provinces. [387.83,154]
- Year
- Lottery ticket sales in Canada: CDN$2.7 billion. [40.9]
1986
- January 18
- New York Lotto pays US$30.5 million to one winner (numbers are 19-20-27-34-41-46). [1]
- March 2
- First million-dollar purse for a handicap race won at Santa Anita. [1]
- March 6
- International Game Technology introduces the Megabucks progressive slot machine network in nine casinos in Las Vegas, Nevada. The system pools bets across the network, allowing huge jackpots. [87.51] [187.480]
- March
- In Montreal, Canada, one person wins CDN$7.6 million on the Lotto 6/49 draw. [40.101]
- June
- At the Harrah's Tahoe casino, the largest slot machine jackpot is won, US$3 million. [87.20]
vvv advertisement vvv
^^^ advertisement ^^^
- William T. Walters puts up $2 million at Golden Nugget casino in Atlantic City, New Jersey, in a winner-take-all contest at roulette against the house. Walters bets $2000 on each of five numbers: 7, 10, 20, 27, 36. After 18 hours, he is ahead by $2 million, winning the contest. The casino agrees to allow him to continue, and he quits after 38 hours taking $3.8 million. [565.237]
- (month unknown)
- South Dakota voters approve a state lottery, but reject local-option gaming by vote of 58 percent to 42. [807.195]
- July 5
- The newly recognized sovereign tribe Mashantucket Pequot open a US$4 million bingo hall on tribal land in Connecticut, USA. Construction was funded by a loan from the United Arab-American Bank. (By 2004 it becomes the world's most profitable casino.) [187.xvii,437]
- November
- The Las Vegas Hilton Matchplay Blackjack Championship II is held. [312.22]
1987
- February 1
- Terry Williams of Los Gatos, California wins US$5 million at Harrah's Reno playing the MegaBuck slot machine, after spending US$47. [87.19]
- February
- The US Supreme Court rules in the landmark case, California v. Cabazon Band of Mission Indians. The Court upholds the right under federal law for Indians to run gambling operations without state regulation in states where such gaming is legal for any purpose. [39] [187.435]
- May 9
- British Columbia Steamship Company Ltd begins Canada's first experiment in passenger ferry gambling, on two ships running between Victoria and Seattle, Washington, with slot machines. [881.29]
- (month unknown)
- French government legalizes slot machines. [187.468]
- Arizona state legislature legalizes private card games for money stakes in taverns. [807.161]
- Nevada's Gaming Control Board creates the Electronic Services Division to handle examination of computerized games. [818.45]
- September 30
- Macau issues four postage stamps depicting four types of gambling: Fan-tan, Cussec, Baccarat, and Roulette. [1367.617]
- October 30
- Austria issues a postage stamp marking the 200th anniversary of the gambling monopoly. [700.668]
- December 24
- In the USA, the Illinois State Lottery draw for US$39.5 million is split between four winners. [40.28]
- Year
- Atlantic City, New Jersey, USA, casino revenue: US$2.5 billion. [807.27]
1988
- February 14
- At the Cal Neva Club casino in Reno, Nevada, Cammie Brewer wins the largest slot machine jackpot of US$6.8 million on a Megabucks machine, after playing about US$20. [87.20]
- April
- Nevada Gaming Control Board orders Universal to halt sales of its slot machines with a near-miss feature, pending amendment to regulations. [818.112]
- (month unknown)
- Florida state legalizes a state lottery. [187.388]
- South Dakota residents vote 65 percent in favor of a constitutional amendment for casino gaming in Deadwood. [807.195]
- A Florida woman wins a lottery draw of US$55.1 million. [40.40]
- Sheldon G. Adelson buys the Sands Hotel/casino in Las Vegas from Kirk Kerkorian for $110 million. [818.128]
- August 2
- Detroit, Michigan, voters reject casinos by 62 percent to 38. [807.118]
- August 9
- Just one day after 8/8/88 New York lottery's daily number is 888. [1]
- August
- Detroit, Michigan, USA, votes 62 percent against building a casino. [387.44]
- September 22
- Universal agrees to pay a fine of $25,000 for slot machines with a near-miss feature, and retrofit all of its devices in Nevada. [818.112]
- October 17
- US Public Law 100-497 allows Indian reservations to offer gaming that is legal in any form within a state. [807.194]
- October 20
- The Royal Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada, closes. [818.57]
- October 30
- Two gambling clubs and one player share US$61.38 million California lotto jackpot. [1]
- November
- South Dakota votes to allow slot, video, and other gambling machines in the state. [804.13]
- December 3
- New York Lotto pays US$45 million to twelve winners (numbers are 1-8-13-18-28-48). [1]
- December 24
- In Spain, the El Gordo lottery draw first prize is US$194 million, shared by 72 winners. [40.41]
- December 28
- A couple in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, holds 28 tickets for the Lotto 6/49 lottery draw that day. Every one wins, with between 3 and 5 winning numbers per ticket. Total win is CDN$5260. [40.43]
1989
- February 22
- New York Lotto pays US$26.9 million to one winner (numbers are 1-5-12-19-44-50). [1]
- February 24
- The Nevada Gaming Commission fines Ralph Engelstad $1.5 million and places several stipulations on continuing to hold a gaming license for the Imperial Palace hotel/casino in Las Vegas, resulting from controversy over use of collected items from World War II Germany and Italy and destruction of documents related to a lawsuit. [818.66]
- March 27
- Sports Illustrated magazine exposes baseball player Pete Rose's gambling activities. The article alleges 'Charlie Hustle' bet from the Riverfront dugout using hand gestures with an associate. [56]
- April 1
- In Canada, four people share a Canadian record CDN$15.5 million Lotto 6/49 jackpot. [40.82]
- April 11
- Deadwood, Arizona, USA residents vote 690-230 in favor of local casinos with up to 15 games per casino, with bet limit $5. [807.195]
- April 12
- In Canada, four people share a CDN$14.2 million Lotto 6/49 jackpot. [40.82]
- April 15
- Largest lottery win to date in North America (US$69 million) drawn in Illinois. [1]
- April
- Sheldon Adelson's Interface Group buys the Sands hotel and casino in Las Vegas from Kirk Kerkorian for US$110 million. [386.290]
- April 27
- Iowa governor signs a bill into law authorizing an amendment to the state constitution allowing riverboat gaming. [807.193]
- June
- An anonymous informant informs the Nevada Gaming Control Board of cheating in American Coin slot machines. [818.41]
- (month unknown)
- South Dakota legalizes limited-stakes casino gambling in the mining town of Deadwood. [39]
- In Canada, Bill C-7 amends the Criminal Code to allow Canadians to make off-track betting. [387.145]
- July 14
- Larry Volk, programmer for American Coin Machine Company, confesses to the Nevada Gaming Control Board about programs in slot machine EPROMs to cheat gamblers. [818.43]
- July 27
- Nevada Gaming Commission suspends licenses of American Coin Machine and American Coin Enterprises due to cheating on paying winnings. 1106 computerized video poker and keno machines in 93 locations in the Las Vegas valley are removed. [818.45]
- August 4
- American Coin Machine Company files for Chapter 11 bankruptcy. [818.46]
- August
- Iowa legislature passes a riverboat gaming act, legalizing gambling in licensed boats on several rivers, if approved by the adjacent county. [39] [187.440]
- August 24
- Record-setting baseball player Pete Rose agrees to a lifetime ban from the sport following allegations of illegal gambling, thereby preventing his induction into the Baseball Hall of Fame. [1] [43]
- October 28
- In Canada, four people share a CDN$14 million Lotto 6/49 jackpot. [40.82]
- November 1
- South Dakota begins legal gambling in Deadwood city. [187.443]
- Casinos open in Deadwood, Arizona, USA. [807.198]
- November 22
- The Mirage hotel and casino opens in Las Vegas, Nevada. This is the first "megaresort" built in Las Vegas, at a cost of $640 million, providing 3400 hotel rooms. On opening night, Elmer Sherwin wins US$4.6 million on a Megabucks spin. About 200,000 people attend the opening. [187.298a,482] [818.xiv]
- December 29
- In Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, the provincial government opens the Crystal Casino, the first permanent casino in the country, on the 7th floor of the Fort Gary Hotel, with 19,000 square feet (589 m2) of gaming space. [40.21,122] [387.4,29,68]
- Year
- Soviet Union citizens spent US$700 million on draw, loto, and instant-win tickets. [187.474]
1990
- January 6
- New York Lotto pays US$35 million to one winner (numbers are 18-25-26-32-42-44). [1]
- January
- Illinois state passes a riverboat gambling act. [187.441] (1989 [39])
- February 22
- Nevada Gaming Commission imposes $1 million fine on American Coin Machine owners, and revokes their gaming license. [818.47]
- March
- Nevada Gaming Control Board and Nevada Gaming Commission approve pari-mutuel racing in Nevada. [818.161]
- April 11
- New York Lotto pays US$35 million to two winners (numbers are 6-14-24-32-34-51). [1]
- June
- West Virginia's Mountaineer Park racetrack introduces video lottery terminals. [804.35]
- (month unknown)
- Colorado voters approve limited-stakes casino gambling in three former mining towns: Cripple Creek, Black Hawk, and Central City. [39]
- West Virginia is the first US state to authorize slot machines and video lottery terminals at racetracks. [187.376]
- The second megaresort of Las Vegas opens, the Excalibur hotel and casino. Cost of building was $290 million, providing 4000 hotel rooms. [818.xv]
- At the 21st World Series of Poker, champion is Mansour Matloubi of Wales, winning US$1,628,000. [1008.34]
- September 15
- Florida lottery goes over US$100 million. [1]
- September 22
- In Canada, three people share a CDN$15 million Lotto 6/49 jackpot. [40.82]
- October 1
- Death of Larry Volk, shot dead at age 49 at home in Las Vegas, Nevada, USA; was programmer for American Coin Machine Company; had admitted to Nevada State Gaming Control Board that he had altered software used in video poler and keno machines, preventing awarding of some jackpots and increasing others, allowing estimated $10-20 million to be illegally won from 1986 to 1989. [818.35]
- October 27
- In Canada, 18 people share a Canadian record CDN$19.8 million Lotto 6/49 jackpot. [40.82]
- November 15
- Macau issues four postage stamps depicting gambling games using animals: cricket fight, bird fight, greyhound race, horse race. [1367.618]
- December
- In Canada, video lottery terminals are introduced in Newfoundland province. [387.84]
- Year
- Lottery ticket sales in the USA: US$21 billion, net profit US$10 billion. [40.13] [804.32]
- US video lottery terminals revenue: US$282 million. [804.32]
1991
- January 26
- New York Lotto pays US$90 million to nine winners (numbers are 5-15-30-35-46-50). [1]
- March 9
- In Canada, one person wins a CDN$13.2 million Lotto 6/49 jackpot. [40.82]
- March 16
- New York Lotto pays US$33.3 million to one winner (numbers are 18-21-32-33-35-38). [1]
- March 28
- At Lake Tahoe Horizon, Patricia Andres wins US$777,571.71 jackpot in Quartermania state-wide progressive system, won after $20 in quarters. [1008.22]
- April 1
- In Iowa, USA, riverboat gambling is legalized, as the Diamond Lady is launched. Maiden voyage of Casino Belle from Dubuque, Iowa on the Mississippi River, with 9000 square feet of casino space, including 500 slot machines. [187.441] [1011.14]
- April
- Iowa launches the first gaming vessel in recent U.S. history. [39]
- May 16
- 22nd Annual World Series of Poker at Binion's Horseshoe Hotel and Casino, Las Vegas. In $1500 Buy-in 7 Card High, Artie Cobb of New York wins $146,400. In $1500 Buy-in Limit Hold'em, Max Linder of Los Angeles wins $256,000. In $1500 Buy-in No-Limit Hold'em, Brent Carter of Illinois wins $166,800. [1008.34] [1011.29]
- June 29
- In Canada, one person wins a Canadian record (for a single winner) CDN$13.9 million Lotto 6/49 jackpot. [40.82]
- September
- WMS Gaming of Illinois introduces the Midas Touch videl lottery terminal, featuring video slots, keno, blackjack, six types of video poker, Speed Control, Quick Pick for keno, Auto Hold for poker, single CPU board, VGA monitor with touchscreen controller, Star Micronics printer, Multi-Bill Validator, 1000-bill capacity stacker. [804.48]
- October 26
- In Canada, two people share a CDN$15 million Lotto 6/49 jackpot. [40.82]
- November 5
- Binion's Horshoe Casino hosts the Hall of Fame Classic event, with a record $3.3 million in prize money and 2000 tournament participants.
- $1500 Limit Texas Hold 'em winner Vince Palma with $144,600;
- $1500 Pot-Limit Omaha winner Tommy Grimes with $62,400;
- $1500 Pot-Limit Hold 'em winner Phil Hellmuth Junior with $80,400;
- $1500 7-Card Stud (Limit) winner Pete Dixon with $81,000;
- $1500 No-Limit Texas Hold 'em winner Mark Ervin with $114,000;
- $2500 Pot-Limit Omaha winner Brent Carter with $114,000;
- $2500 7-Card Stud winner Men Nguyen with $71,000;
- $5000 No-Limit Hold 'em winner Lyle Berman with $240,000 and $5000 gold Neiman-Marcus watch.
[805.41]
- December
- The 14th World Championship of Blackjack is held at the Aladdin Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas. Over 650 players take part. Rod Boone wins US$100,000 grand prize. [312.22]
- December 21
- 95 people share in Madrid, Spain $1.3 billion lottery (number47996). [1]
- Year
- US lottery industry sales: US$20.99 billion. [804.32]
- US video lottery terminals revenue: US$366 million. [804.32]
1992
- February 15
- The Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation opens the Foxwoods Resort Casino in Ledyard, Connecticut, with financing from Malaysian billionaire Lim Goh Tong. [187.437] [208.40]
- Australian Arithalee Alex and syndicate of about 2500 members win the $27 million Virginia State lottery, plus 145,000 smaller prizes, after spending an estimated $5 million on tickets covering all possible outcomes of 5 permutations of 6 numbers, 1-44. [565.263]
- February
- In the USA, the Florida state lottery draw gives an unshared win of US$15.5 million to a resident of Ontario, Canada. Winning numbers are 2, 6, 23, 33, 40, 48. [40.40]
- The 3rd Annual Knights of Blackjack Tournament is held at the Stardust Resort and Casino in Las Vegas. 587 players take part. Ed Del Toro wins US$100,000. [312.22]
- March
- Oregon state introduces video lottery terminals. [804.34]
- April
- The Stardust Hotel casino in Las Vegas is robbed of $1.1 million in cash and negotiable checks. [804.13]
- May 30
- New York Lotto pays US$30 million to one winner (numbers are 12-15-30-33-40-48). [1]
- (month unknown)
- Louisiana becomes the third US state to legalize land-based casino gambling. [39]
- Multistate Lottery Corporation ends Lotto America, and starts Powerball, in which players pick 5 numbers from 45, and 1 number from 45. [187.390]
- Sun International opens the Lost City casino resort complex at Sun City, Bophuthatswana in South Africa. [187.466]
- Nineteen University of Maine football and baseball players are suspended for participating in a US$10,000 per week gambling operation. [328.38]
- August 1
- The Isle of Capri casino opens in Biloxi, Mississippi, made of two former riverboats of the Mississippi River. The casino has 600 gaming machines, 45 table games, and a restaurant at the dock. [804.5]
- September 15
- Wally Taylor of Queensland, Australia wins A$1 million (360,000 pounds) on lottery ticket, and gives all but a few hundred dollars away within 30 minutes. [565.266]
- September 22
- The Stardust Hotel casino in Las Vegas loses $225,000 cash and $283,000 in casino tokens, probably the largest theft in Las Vegas history. [804.13]
- September 26
- In Canada, three people share a CDN$18 million Lotto 6/49 jackpot. [40.82]
- October 12
- The Sport of Kings horse race and sports book opens in Las Vegas, a 25,000-square-foot facility. [804.40] [818.177]
- November 3
- First slot machine is surrupticiously modified by source code created by Nevada Gaming Control Board employee Ronald Harris, at the Imperial Palace in Las Vegas. At least four machines in different locations are altered, allowing jackpots to be paid under certain predictable conditions, and preventing others. In 1998 Harris is sentenced to 7 years in prison for the scheme. [818.198]
- Year
- Canadian lottery gross revenue: CDN$2.7 billion. [387.149]
1993
- February
- Italian Antonio Ciro Blenx completes his goal of gambling away his 5 million pound lottery winning, then shoots and kills himself. [565.326]
- April 3
- In Canada, two people share a CDN$15 million Lotto 6/49 jackpot. [40.82]
- June 18
- The Club Regent casino opens in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. [387.29]
- June 25
- The McPhillips Street Station casino opens in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. [287.29]
- (month unknown)
- In Las Vegas, Nevada, USA, Circus Circus' pyramid-shaped Luxor hotel/casino opens, featuring an Egyptian theme and amusement park. [39] [818.xv]
- The Treasure Island hotel/casino megaresort opens in Las Vegas. [818.xv]
- The MGM Grand hotel/casino megaresort opens in Las Vegas, with record 5005 rooms, at a record construction cost of $1 billion. [818.xv]
- July
- The Sport of Kings race book in Las Vegas stops taking bets. [818.185]
- (month unknown)
- In the USA, the Wisconsin Powerball lottery grand prize of US$111 million is won by a couple. [40.40]
- August 1
- Riverboat gambling is launched in Mississippi state. [187.442]
- September
- The roulette table at Stakis Club in Bristol, England lands the ball on "4" seven times in a row. [565.159]
- In Canada, the last draw of the Provincial lottery is held. [40.154]
- October 8
- The Casino de Montréal opens in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. [187.462] [287.29]
- October 23
- In Canada, one person wins a Canadian record (for a single winner) CDN$15 million Lotto 6/49 jackpot. [40.82]
- October 27
- The Dunes Hotel in Las Vegas is imploded. [386.61]
- (month unknown)
- The Concord Card Casino opens in Vienna, Austria. [1006.59]
- December 9
- At Harrah's Reno casino, in Las Vegas, Lola Bailey wins a world record US$955,132 nickel jackpot on a Nevada Nickels state-wide progressive slot machine, using less than 40 nickels. [1006.50]
- December
- The Sport of Kings race book in Las Vegas closes. [818.185]
- Year
- 92 million people visit casinos in the USA. [39]
1994
- January 13
- The Barona Indian tribe in the USA opens the largest tented casino in the world, at the Barona Casino near Lakeside, California, with a total of 105,000 square feet, including almost 1000 video gaming machines. [1006.58]
- January 24
- Chris Boyd of England makes a single bet of 147,000 pounds on one spin of the roulette wheel on red at Binions Horseshoe Casino. He wins, and returns home. [565.273]
- March
- Six people in Quebec, Canada, share a CDN$19 million Lotto 6/49 lottery jackpot, the largest single ticket in Canadian history. [40.63]
- April
- The April Shower of Money blackjack tournament is held at the Stardust Resort and Casino in Las Vegas. John Ressman wins US$100,000. [312.22]
- May 17
- The Casino Windsor riverboat casino opens in Windsor, Ontario, Canada. [287.29]
- June 24
- The Casino de Charlevoix opens in Pointe-au-Pic, Quebec, Canada. [287.29]
- (month unknown)
- Voters in Iowa vote to eliminate wager and loss limits in riverboat casinos. [39]
- In Ontario, Canada, Casino Windsor opens. [187.462]
- Great Britain introduces the National Lottery, run by the Camelot company. Participants choose 6 of 49 numbers in a weekly draw. [187.473]
- September 27
- In Canada, the Rama First Nation holds a plebiscite on having a casino built on the reserve. 168 vote yes, 65 vote no. [387.42]
- November 19
- First National Lottery draw in England. Ticket sales estimated at 45 million pounds. [1] [565.270] [830.17]
- December 5
- Ontario, Canada, choses Rama as the First Nation tribe to host a casino in the province. [287.42]
- December
- The National Blackjack Finals tournament is held at the Riviera Casino in Las Vegas. 612 players coompete. Clinton Borland wins US$100,000. [312.23]
- Year
- Mississippi state gross gaming revenue for the year: US$1.46 billion. [1012.56]
1995
- January 14
- At Bally's Park Place Hotel in Atlantic City, New Jersey, USA, Reid Errol McNeal wins $100,000 jackpot on keno, the largest keno jackpot ever in Atlantic City. McNeal has bet on numbers in coordination with friend Ronald Dale Harris, tracking previous winning numbers on a computer in a nearby hotel room. Harris was employed at the Nevada Gaming Control Board, with full access to the game's software. [818.187]
- March
- The Hard Rock Hotel and Casino opens in Las Vegas. The hotel cost US$92 million to construct, and features 340 rooms. [386.346]
- March 30
- The Sport of Kings horse race and sports book in Las Vegas, Nevada, sells at foreclosure auction for $3.5 million. [818.60,186]
- June 1
- The Sheraton Casino opens in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada. [287.29]
- (month unknown)
- In Nova Scotia, Canada, government-owned casinos first open. [187.462]
- Two winners share a record 22.5 million pounds on the UK National Lottery. [565.271]
- August 1
- The Sheraton Casino opens in Sydney, Nova Scotia, Canada. [287.29]
- November 11
- In New Orleans, Louisiana, USA, the casino venture files for Chapter 11 bankruptcy. [39]
- December 13
- The Northern Belle Casino opens in Windsor, Ontario, Canada. [287.29]
- December 22
- A new 76-table poker area opens at Foxwoods Resort and Casino in Connecticut. [1012.30]
- Year
- Legal gambling in the United States grosses over US$40 billion in revenues. [39]
- Worldwide sales for legal lotteries: US$95 billion. #1 is USA at US$28.7 million, #2 is Germany at US$9.2 billion. [39]
- Mississippi state gross gaming revenue for the year: US$1.72 billion. [1012.56]
1996
- January 1
- California begins a three-year moratorium on new cardclubs in the state. [39]
- January 6
- Record US$65.2 million British lottery won by three people (winning numbers: 2-3-4-13-42-44). [1]
- January 26
- Casino Regina opens in Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada. [287.29]
- (month unknown)
- At Bally's Grand hotel and casino in Atlantic City, New Jersey, Joe D'Amato of New Jersey wins US$4,428,936 on a Megabucks progressive slot machine. [1012.59]
- March 1
- The Gold Eagle Casino opens in North Battleford, Saskatchewan, Canada. [287.29]
- March 6
- The Northern Lights Casino opens in Prince Albert, Saskatchewan, Canada. [287.29]
- March 24
- Casino Hull opens in Hull, Ontario, Canada. [287.29]
- June 24
- California Supreme Court rules in the case of Western Telcon v. California State Lottery. The court rules that the lottery's electronic keno game is not a lawful lottery game, but an illegal banked game. [39]
- June 30
- The Sands hotel/casino in Las Vegas, Nevada closes. [818.58]
- (month unknown)
- The Casino di Liban re-opens in Beirut, Lebanon. [187.459]
- South Africa passes the National Gaming Act, authorizing a national lottery and up to 40 casinos. [187.467]
- Thirteen Boston College football players are suspended after betting on college and professional games. [328.38]
- July 31
- The Casino Rama opens in Orillia, Ontario, Canada, on 64 hectares of land, with 195,000 square feet (5522 m2) of gaming space, operated by Carnival Hotels and Casinos. [287.29,67]
- August
- First legal tournament-play site on the Internet opens: Blackjack Time on CasinoTime.com. [312.23]
- September 28
- Jockey Frankie Dettori finishes first for the seventh time of the day at Ascot racetrack on racehorse Fujiyama Crest, making racing history. Darren Yates, on a bet of 67.58 pounds, wins 550,823.54 pounds. The William Hill betting agency loses 8 million pounds; total payout on this win is 40 million pounds. [565.283]
- November 12
- The Bear Claw Casino opens in White Bear, Saskatchewan, Canada. [287.29]
- November
- In Louisiana, USA, casino gaming is ratified in a referendum. [39]
- Detroit, Michigan, USA votes to build three casinos. [387.46]
- December 9
- The Casino Niagara opens in Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada. [287.29]
- December 14
- The Printed Hand Casino opens in Yorkton, Saskatchewan, Canada. [287.29]
- Year
- Sports wagering online: US$60 million. [328.99]
1997
- January 3
- Opening of $460 million New York-New York Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada. [447.71]
- (month unknown)
- World Sports Exchange of Antigua goes online as the first full-service Internet sports book, with online betting. [187.489]
- March 19
- US Senator Jon Kyl introduces the Internet Gambling Prohibition Act. [387.162]
- June 30
- In past 12 months, Nevada state gaming industry recorded $7.6 billion gross revenue, paying $445 million in tax. [818.xv]
- (month unknown)
- The US Congress creates the National Gambling Impact Study Commission to examine the effects of the gaming industry on American society. [818.32]
- July 2
- Tom Walters of Meridian, Mississippi wins powerball of US$11 million. [18]
- July 4
- At Harrah's casino in Las Vegas, Nevada, Dennis Nikrasch's gang illegally wins $3,778,000 jackpot on a microchip-controlled slot machine that had been force-fed the jackpot code. [565.365]
- October 22
- Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada-based Starnet Communications International begins hosting Internet gambling. [387.165]
- November
- Kerry Packer wins A$6 million (2.8 million pounds) on the Melbourne Cup horse race, betting on Might And Power. [565.255]
- Year
- Revenue in Canadian government-owned gambling houses: CDN$6.8 million. [387.1]
- Canadian lottery gross revenue: CDN$6.8 billion. [387.149]
- Nevada casino revenue: US$7.8 billion, 62.7 percent from gaming machines. [818.33,111]
1998
- March 4
- US Attorney General Janet Reno declares it is illegal to transmit sports-wagering info over telephone lines, including the Internet. [328.105]
- March 6
- Matt Beck, an angry lottery accountant kills four at Connecticut state lottery. [1]
- April
- The British Columbia Court of Appeals rules municipalities can ban slot machines. [387.185]
- June 10
- The FBI arrests Dennis Nikraschi's gang, which was plotting a hack of $17 million Megabucks jackpot, charging them with theft of $16 million of Las Vegas casinos from September 1996 and November 1997. [565.365]
- (month unknown)
- The Oasis Casino opens in Jericho under the Palestinian Authority. [187.458]
- July 24
- The US Senate votes 90 to 10 to make gambling on the Internet illegal. [387.162]
- July 29
- In Windsor, Ontario, Canada, Casino Windsor hotel and casino opens, with 389 rooms, 135 table games and 2948 slot machines in 100,000 square feet of gaming space, at a cost of CDN$505 million. [387.66]
- October
- The Internet Gambling Prohibition Act fails to pass as the US House of Congress adjourns. [387.162]
- The Bellagio hotel/casino resort (3000 rooms) opens in Las Vegas, built at a cost of $1.6 billion. [818.33]
- November 3
- California voters approve Indian casinos by 63-37 margin. [1013.86]
- Missouri voters approve riverboat casinos. [1013.86]
- Voters in Kenosha, Wisconsin, vote 56 percent against a ban on casino gambling. [1013.86]
- New Jersey (USA) voters adopt constitutional amendment allowing state legislature to authorize off-track betting and telephone wagering. [1013.86]
- December 17
- In Ontario, Canada, the Windsor Raceway opens The Bonanza Slots room, with 712 slot machines. [387.147]
- Year
- Canadians wager CDN$1.8 billion on horse races. [387.143]
- Nevada casino revenue: US$8 billion. [818.33]
- Sports wagering online: US$600 million. [328.99]
1999
-
- The Canadian government legalizes the dice gambling game craps. [387.14]
- March
- Circus Circus Enterprises opens the Mandalay Bay casino/hotel resort (3700 rooms) in Las Vegas, built at a cost of $900 million. [187.484] [818.33]
- March 16
- Beau Rivage hotel and casino opens in Biloxi, Mississippi. [1013.50]
- May 4
- The Venetian Casino Resort opens in Las Vegas, Nevada, with 3036 suites, 500,000 square feet of shopping mall, 500,000 square feet of meeting space. Cost of construction was $1.5 billion. The resort opens despite incomplete rooms, shops, and restaurant. [386.295] [818.33,155]
- (month unknown)
- The North Korean government opens the Emperor Casino in Raijin, open to foreigners only. [187.457]
- Belgium's parliament declares casinos legal, and allows slot machines. [187.470]
- The Lasseters casino of Alice Springs, Northern Territory, Australia, is the first land-based casino to offer an online casino site on the Internet. [187.491]
- A woman in Brazil burns her 50,000 pound sterling winning lottery ticket after church minister said she would go to Hell if she took the "devil's money". [565.11]
- July
- The US National Gambling Impact Study Commission find no significant presence of organized crime in legal US gambling, but recommends no new casinos for now, and tighter regulations on Indian and Internet gambling. [187.418] [818.32]
- September
- The Paris Las Vegas hotel and casino resort opens in Las Vegas. Built at a cost of $785 million, the 2916-room complex includes a 50-story replica of the Eiffel Tower. [386.240] [818.33]
- Kerry Packer loses 7.5-11 million pounds Sterling in a 3-week losing streak at blackjack at Crockfords in London. [565.254]
- November
- The US Senate passes the Internet Gambling Prohibition Act, which makes operating a virtual casino or sports book on the Internet a federal crime. [328.100]
- December 31
- UK's Ladbrokes betting shop pays out 194,400 pounds to an individual in Newport, South Wales, based on a 30 pound bet made in December 1989, on five events to happen in the 1990s, all of which did happen (Cliff Richard knighted, music group U2 remain together, Eastenders and Neighbours and Home and Away all remain on TV). [565.320]
- Year
- Sports wagering online: US$1.2 billion. [328.99]
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