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On This Day in History: Nevada Approves Casino Gambling

94 Years Later, The Silver State Still Holds The Winning Hand

Marco Marin Ricky Vaughn
- 3 min read

Technically, It’s Eight States

We always talk about how only seven states in the US have gambling regulations for online casinos. But, did you know that number is actually eight?

The problem is, that in Nevada, legitimate gambling sites are overshadowed by the glitz of the Las Vegas Strip.

Yes, cash casinos can offer mobile gambling apps if they want to but who needs digital reels when you have the Fremont Street lights or the Bellagio fountains out your window?

Believe me, once you’re in Vegas, scrolling on a phone can’t compare to the real thing. Plus, with Vegas casinos having their 2nd best January ever, 60 days ago I don’t think there’s much need for online bet platforms in this area.

So let’s go back almost a century to the day it all started and the Silver State doubled down on its big bet and would set the stage for cultural gifts like Casino with Robert De Niro or fun movies like The Hangover. (Sorry Leaving Las Vegas!)

Rolling the Dice in the Desert

94 years ago Nevada Governor, Fred Balzar, made a decision that would change America and eventually the world. On March 19, 1931, he signed Assembly Bill 98 into law.

At the time the country was in the midst of the Great Depression and Nevada needed a lifeline. By expanding casino gambling statewide the Silver State made a bet few others would.

This wasn’t Nevada’s first spin of the wheel though. Gambling had been allowed in 1869. It would last 40 years before being banned in 1909 and then come back 22 years later. Talk about a bust on prohibition…

Funny enough and perhaps one of the greatest journalistic understatements in casino news history was in the Las Vegas Evening Review-Journal that day. They hardly mentioned the new law and only gave it a few lines of ink.

Who could have predicted the neon empire of Las Vegas casinos that would rise from this desert railroad stop?

Well, it didn’t happen overnight especially with money being tight. It would take another decade or so and World War II to put Nevada’s gaming on the map.

From Small Tables to a Global Gaming Titan

As the years went by, the card rooms and bingo parlors gave way to big casino resorts.

The El Rancho Vegas opened in 1941 and was the first major casino on what is now the Las Vegas Strip. It started the era of glitz, glamour, and eventually the over-the-top extravagance we see in movies.

By the 60s and 70s huge hotels, showrooms, and celebrity residencies made Las Vegas casinos the entertainment capital of the world.

Today Nevada generates $11.3 billion a year in gaming revenue. More than 436 licensed casinos operate across the state, and the industry generates thousands of jobs and visitors from around the world.

 

The Digital Frontier

Fast forward to 2025 and the gambling landscape has changed in ways those early pioneers couldn’t have imagined.

Mobile gambling apps are the norm in jurisdictions that allow them. But in Nevada, the glamour of the Strip is still the main event.

While the state does allow some online sports betting and interactive gaming, the real slots, the iconic blackjack tables, and the experiences you can’t replicate on a screen are things that keep drawing us in.

The Silver State is a great example of how one policy decision can turn into a full-blown cultural phenomenon. The glittering towers of today’s Las Vegas Strip are proof of Nevada’s bold decision 94 years ago: that the biggest risk often yields the biggest reward.

So, Happy Birthday Sin City. Here’s to another year!

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