Before the neon. Before the sound of jackpots. There were whispers, backrooms, and a river that kept secrets.
When most people think of gambling in Nevada, Las Vegas flashes to mind. But before Vegas became synonymous with sin, Reno was already placing its bets and winning big with a different kind of story.
The Railroad Roots of a Gambling Town
Reno’s journey into gaming glory began, fittingly, at a crossroads. In 1868, the Central Pacific Railroad laid tracks through what would become downtown Reno. The town quickly became a haven for pioneers, miners, and hustlers chasing gold and silver up north in Virginia City. As fortunes were won and lost in the hills, Reno became the place to go to blow off steam, drink hard, and take risks. Long before anyone thought about the legality of gambling, card tables and dice games thrived in the shadows. Locals played. So did lawmen. Everyone turned a blind eye to it because in Reno, risk was the way of life.
Speakeasies, Prohibition, and the Wild West Spirit
The 1920s brought Prohibition to America, but Reno never liked being told what to do. Like other in other areas of the nation, speakeasies bloomed along the Truckee River. Hidden doors and password-protected parlors became gathering places. And inside, beneath the jazz and cigarette smoke, the real action wasn’t just the booze, it was the cards.
Gambling during this time was technically illegal, but enforcement was inconsistent. Reno’s frontier character meant rules were treated more like suggestions. It was about preserving freedom and had little to do with feelings of rebellion or breaking the law. For many in Reno, that meant keeping the dice rolling.
1931: The Year That Changed Everything
After the Great Depression gripped America, Nevada lawmakers rolled the dice in a different way to get ahead. They legalized gambling in 1931; the first state to do so. Las Vegas would capitalize on this years later. But in 1931, Reno was already ready.
Suddenly, what had once been hidden in smoky backrooms became main street businesses. Poker halls, blackjack tables, and roulette wheels lit up Reno’s nightlife. Legalization gave Reno a rebirth. It was already known as “The Biggest Little City in the World,” and now it had the heart of a hustler.
The Golden Era: Divorcees and Dice
The 1930s and ’40s were Reno’s golden years, not just for gambling, but for culture. Nevada’s six-week residency divorce law brought thousands of wealthy East Coast and Hollywood elites to Reno. They came to get shed of marriages discretely and quietly. And while they waited out their six weeks… they played.
Divorce ranches catered to women seeking freedom by day, and by night, Reno’s casinos and cabarets buzzed with excitement. It wasn’t glitzy like Vegas. It was grittier. It had character. It was real.
Slots, Suburbs, and the Rise of Locals’ Gaming
As the decades rolled by, Reno’s casinos adapted and changed. The 1950s and ’60s saw slots become king. They were easy to play, transactions were fast, and they didn’t require a poker face. Reno began to serve not just out-of-towners, but locals too. Neighborhood joints popped up with nickel slots and generous liquor pours. Gambling wasn’t just for vacationers anymore; it was part of daily Reno life.
The Peppermill, the Eldorado, and the Silver Legacy would go on to define the skyline. But smaller, locals-first places like Baldini’s carved out a different kind of loyalty; community-centered casinos where your bartender knew your name and you could get a steak special after midnight.
Reinvention and Resilience
While Vegas surged into the stratosphere with mega-resorts, Reno stayed grounded. In the early 2000s, with economic shifts and new competition, the city doubled down on its identity. Gambling remained central, but so did culture, food, art, and sports betting.
Reno didn’t try to become Vegas. It stayed Reno. Scrappy, soulful, and proud of it.
Today’s Reno: Where Slots Still Whirl
Today, Reno’s gambling history echoes in every slot jackpot and roulette spin. From smoky speakeasies to modern-day machines, the city’s story is still being written by those who bet big, win some, lose some, and come back anyway.
In Reno, gambling isn’t just a game. It’s in its DNA.
Experience history today for yourself and step inside a locals’ casino like Baldini’s. Feel the past and the present come alive. The best things happen at Baldini’s.