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Scholar in Residence: David G. Schwartz – YouTube

I’d like to share my Neon Museum Scholar in Residence Lecture: The lecture looks at the years 1967-1988, which are the “middle child” of Las Vegas Strip casino history. People usually focus on the “classic” or “Rat Pack” era or the Mirage/megaresort era, but don’t think too much about the early corporate period. Hope you […]

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Author David G. Schwartz summarizes chapter 17,…

Author David G. Schwartz summarizes chapter 17, “Reinventing the Wheel,” of Roll the Bones: The History of Gambling (Casino Edition).

This chapter covers the events of the last decade or so in the gambling world, minus the rise of Asian casinos, which was covered in chapter 16. It begins with a discussion of how Las Vegas casinos changed their approach after the 9/11 recession, becoming less dependent on gambling. This led to a mid-decade boom that was followed by a crash from which the Las Vegas industry has still not recovered.

The second half of the chapter discusses the short history of online gaming, beginning with the first sites in the mid-1990s and covering most of the regulatory and legal challenges it has faced.

Finally, the author discusses the epilogue that closes the books with thoughts on the present and future of gambling.

For more information about the book, visithttp://www.rollthebonesbook.com

If you don’t see a video, go here: http://youtu.be/1qQWzSfk-ok

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If you don’t see a video, go…

If you don’t see a video, go here: http://youtu.be/sxWHmPafsGc

Author David G. Schwartz summarizes chapter 16, “All In: Gambling’s Global Spread,” of Roll the Bones: The History of Gambling (Casino Edition).

This chapter includes the background of casino gambling in a number of nations, including China (Macau), Singapore, Malaysia, South Korea, North Korea, the Philippines, Australia, Canada, South Africa, Germany, Great Britain, and more.

For more information about the book, visit http://www.rollthebonesbook.com

If you don’t see a video, go… Read More »

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If you don’t see a video, it’s…

If you don’t see a video, it’s here: http://youtu.be/EqZ82UwJuBQ

Author David G. Schwartz summarizes chapter 15, “A Clockwork Volcano: Las Vegas Strikes Back,” of Roll the Bones: The History of Gambling (Casino Edition).

This chapter starts by discussing some of the technological changes that made possible the rise of slot machines, like the introduction of video poker and wide area progressive games like Megabucks. It then talks about The Mirage, which opened in 1989 and kicked off the 1990s boom for Las Vegas. Although it completely changed the Las Vegas Strip, before it opened, many were skeptical that it would succeed.

We then learn about other important companies like MGM Mirage and the Mandalay Resort Group, which, through a series of mergers (including one with Mirage Resorts) became MGM Resorts. Las Vegas Sands, which owns the Venetian and Palazzo, is also profiled.

For more information about the book, visit http://www.rollthebonesbook.com

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Author David G. Schwartz summarizes chapter 14, “Runaway…

Author David G. Schwartz summarizes chapter 14, “Runaway American Dream: Gambling in the public interest,” of Roll the Bones: The History of Gambling (Casino Edition).

This chapter describes how casinos expanded from two states, Nevada and New Jersey, to being found nearly nationwide. It starts by discussing the origins of Indian casinos, and also handles the rise of riverboat gambling, limited gaming in South Dakota and Colorado, land-based casinos, urban casinos, and racinos.

If you don’t see a video, go here: http://youtu.be/Vl2wFimz7o4

For more information about the book, visithttp://www.rollthebonesbook.com

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Author David G. Schwartz summarizes chapter 13, “The…

Author David G. Schwartz summarizes chapter 13, “The Burger King Revolution: Las Vegas bounces back for the first time,” of Roll the Bones: The History of Gambling (Casino Edition).

If you don’t see a video above, go here: http://youtu.be/SlyHlAfgxqM

This chapter covers the changes that tranformed Las Vegas in the 1980s. First, it deals with the forces that led to the mob’s decline and eventual exit from the ownership of casinos in Las Vegas. Then, it discusses the trends that led to a crisis for Las Vegas in the early 1980s, and how Las Vegas rebounded by remaking itself to appeal to mass-market and family vacationers.

Some casinos discussed include the Stardust, Riviera, Circus Circus, and Tropicana.

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Author David G. Schwartz summarizes chapter 12,…

Author David G. Schwartz summarizes chapter 12, “America’s Playground…Again: Atlantic city becomes the casino capital of the East,” of Roll the Bones: The History of Gambling (Casino Edition).

If you don’t see a video above, go here: http://youtu.be/UtsacolklS4

This chapter covers the development of casinos in Atlantic City. It starts with a brief recap of the city’s history through the 1960s, and discusses the trends that led to the successful 1976 referendum that approved casinos in the city.

From there, the chapter covers the development of New Jersey’s regulatory and licensing system, the first casino (Resorts International), and several other landmark casinos, including Caesars Boardwalk Regency, Bally’s, the Sands, the Golden Nugget, and Donald Trump’s three casinos. Finally, it talks about the last few years, taking the city from the excitement surrounding the opening of the Borgata in 2003 to the malaise and doubt surrounding Revel’s opening in 2012.

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Author David G. Schwartz summarizes chapter 11, “The…

Author David G. Schwartz summarizes chapter 11, “The Sky’s the Limit: Las Vegas reaches for the stars,” of Roll the Bones: The History of Gambling (Casino Edition).

This chapter starts with the arrival of Jay Sarno, a true casino visionary who built Caesars Palace and Circus Circus. It then covers the impact on Las Vegas of an even more eccentric figure, Howard Hughes. From there, it discuses the corporate gaming acts, Kirk Kerkorian, the origins of the World Series of Poker, and several personalities who came to prominence in Downtown Las Vegas, including Steve Wynn, Jackie Gaughan, and Sam Boyd.

For more information about the book, visit http://www.rollthebonesbook.com

If you don’t see a video, please go here: http://youtu.be/Uxo63Wrx6Ns 

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Author David G. Schwartz summarizes chapter 10, “A Place…

Author David G. Schwartz summarizes chapter 10, “A Place in the Sun: The Las Vegas Strip is Born,” of Roll the Bones: The History of Gambling (Casino Edition).

This chapter covers the development of the Strip from the 1941 opening of the El Rancho Vegas into the 1960s. It discusses pioneers like Thomas Hull, Bill Moore, and Billy Wilkerson, and the infamous Bugsy Siegel who muscled Wilkerson out of the Flamingo casino.

It also explains the three factors that gave mob-connected casinos an advantage (for a time) in Las Vegas, discusses syndicate ownership as exemplified by the Desert Inn, and takes on topics as varied as the Rat Pack, the development of skill play and card-counting, and the desegregation of the Strip and Downtown.

If you don’t see a video, go here: http://youtu.be/5PwpS528RLc 

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What better way to celebrate Memorial Day than by watching the…

What better way to celebrate Memorial Day than by watching the author summarize chapter 9, “Hard to Resist,” of Roll the Bones? Certainly, there are several, but watching the video won’t be the least fun way to spend your next five minutes. In it, I talk about all sorts of fun things contained in this chapter, which covers the development of legal commercial gambling in Nevada. You can even learn my favorite quirk of Nevada’s 1869 gambling law and the real reason that Harolds Club made it into the book.

If you don’t see a video, you can watch it here: http://youtu.be/doNK7FHREd0

As always, for more info about the book, including how to order and plenty of videos, facts, and samples from Roll the Bones, visit http://rollthebonesbook.com.

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Author David G. Schwartz discusses Chapter 8, “Wise Guys…

Author David G. Schwartz discusses Chapter 8, “Wise Guys & One-Armed Bandits,” of Roll the Bones: The History of Gambling (Casino Edition). 

This chapter covers the rise of Saratoga Springs as a racing and gambling center, the invention of slot machines, and the development of gambling syndicates throughout the nation. These groups dominated illegal gambling in the cities they controlled and were a precursor of the larger organized crime groups that took over during Prohibition.

Finally, it discusses the growth of illegal casinos throughout the United States, legal casinos in Cuba and Tijuana, and the Kefauver Committee, whose reforming zeal closed down illegal operations in many states.

If you don’t see the video, go here: http://youtu.be/0QZ0nmBekGI

For more information about the book, including where to buy it, visit http://rollthebonesbook.com/.

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Video summary of Chapter 7, “Fools of Fortune,” in Roll…

Video summary of Chapter 7, “Fools of Fortune,” in Roll the Bones: The History of Gambling (Casino Edition).

This chapter covers the spread of gambling throughout urban America during the 19th century, starting with the first urban gambling houses and ending with “trade stimulators” throughout the small towns of America. Topics covered include wolf traps and other early gambling houses, New York City faro houses, John Morrissey, Chicago gambling, Midwestern gambling houses, and professional gamblers.

If you don’t see a video, watch it on YouTube.

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In this short video, I summarize chapter 4 of Roll the Bones,…

In this short video, I summarize chapter 4 of Roll the Bones, “Baiting John Bull.” Highlights include the golden days of Bath as a gambling resort, the proliferation of gambling clubs in London’s West End, the invention of the sandwich, and the story of Edmund “According to” Hoyle.

In this short video, I summarize chapter 4 of Roll the Bones,… Read More »

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