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Ashley Revell’s $135,300 Roulette Bet: What Happened
On April 11, 2004, Ashley Revell put $135,300 on red at a Las Vegas roulette table and was paid $270,600. Here is what happened,…
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The History of Pari-Mutuel Betting: From Paris to the Track
How pari-mutuel betting began in 1860s Paris, survived courts and bans, gained a 1913 tote machine and reached American racetracks.
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The Origins of Poker: Where Did the Game Come From?
How poker began: the poque, pochen and as-nas theories, the first New Orleans references, the 52-card pack, the draw, stud and wild cards.
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The History of Slot Machines: From Brooklyn to Las Vegas
How the slot machine evolved from Sittman and Pitt’s 1891 Brooklyn poker machine to Fey’s Liberty Bell, the 1909 ban and Nevada’s video slots.
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The History of Lotteries: From Bruges to New Hampshire
How lotteries grew from medieval Bruges to Elizabeth I, Jamestown, the Louisiana scandal and New Hampshire’s 1964 sweepstakes, with disputed dates noted.
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Edward O. Thorp: The Professor Who Beat Blackjack
Who was Edward O. Thorp? Follow the MIT mathematician from a 1958 Las Vegas trip to Beat the Dealer, the casinos’ 1964 rule change…