Casinos in Reno, Nevada
Reno is one of the leading gambling cities in the US. It has gained the nickname of being The Biggest Little City in the World, and it has a reputation for offering great gambling without the craziness that can be associated with Las Vegas.
Many visitors love Reno for the fact it offers a smaller and more relaxed version of Vegas, along with a wide range of outdoor activities and desert adventures, world-class dining and a range of evening entertainment, from shows to bars.
When it comes to casinos, there is no shortage of venues in the Reno area. The city offers 665,816 sq/ft of gaming space, along with almost 12,000 slots, hundreds of table games and a multitude of hotel and eating options.
Best Reno Casinos
History of Gambling in Reno, Nevada
Reno was founded in 1868, and it got its nickname of the Biggest Little City in the World thanks to its combination of a relatively small location with a plethora of cosmopolitan amenities.
At the start of the 1900s, the city was a renowned as a destination for quickie divorces, but it was in 1931 that gambling was legalized and a whole new identity was born. It was a forerunner in establishing the idea of hotel and casino destination travelling - something which has now spread around the world.
Virginia Street, which runs from north to south through downtown, became a hub of hotel and casino fun with a range of locally owned and moderately scaled hotel and casino combinations along with a variety of retail stores.
Motor lodges then sprang up around Virginia Street to support a booming trade in post-war car-trip tourism. This all helped to ensure that gaming, entertainment and tourism were major players in Reno’s economy throughout the 20th century.
It is home to the world-renowned Caesars Entertainment Group along with all kinds of casino games and eateries. It has embraced its relatively small proportions and sells itself as a calmer version of the likes of Las Vegas and Atlantic City.
The history of gambling in Reno can go back to the 1800s, when prospectors were working hard and playing even harder. They bought the gambling bug to the area, and the local saloons played host to nightly betting games.
In 1860, however, James Nye, the then Governor of the Nevada Territory, decided to take a stand in a bid to get gambling banned. This was achieved by 1861.
This did not eradicate gambling in Nevada territories, however, and the penalties were reduced by 1864 - only applying to people operating games and not people playing them.
Some types of gambling were legalized in 1869, and in 1909 there was another big push in an effort to make all gambling legal. This marked the start of a local love for slot machines as Nickel games became popular.
Card games grew in popularity during the 1920s, and Reno became Nevada’s gambling capital. In the 1930s, all gambling games became legal when the Assembly Bill 98 was approved by Governor Fred Balzar.
Games moved out of backrooms and shacks into casinos, but there was a requirement for establishments to get a license. This led to the initial licensing of small casinos., bingo parlors and card rooms.
More licenses were available, and this drew in new operators, including William Fish Harrah, who opened his first Reno bingo hall in 1937. He then went on to take his first step into mainstream gambling by opening Reno’s Plaza Tango in 1938. This was the man who founded Harrah’s Entertainment - or Caesars Entertainment as it is better known.
The state took over the handling of gambling licenses from the counties in 1945 and imposed a one percent tax on gross gambling earnings. This tax, which came into effect, make Nevada the first place in the US to impose a tax on the gambling industry.
In Reno, the gambling industry continued to grow, however, and in 1947 the first high-rise hotel was built.
By the 1960s, the industry was booming, and 1965 saw the Gaming Industry Association formed in Reno. In the 1970s, a large number of casinos opened, including the Sands and the Atlantis Casino Resort. As the 20th century ended, however, Reno found it couldn’t offer anything new, and so it started to rebrand as a place for gambling and outdoor adventure, drawing on the natural resources of the area.
Reno, Nevada Casinos by the Numbers
Players can enjoy action and excitement in 21 casinos, home to over 11,770 electronic gaming machines and slots, around 370 table games, more than 56 live poker tables and bets ranging from tiny amounts to mammoth $50,000 stakes.
Casino Games Available in Reno, Nevada
There is fun for all sorts of different players in Reno, Nevada. From high-stakes poker players to fans of penny slots, there is something to suit all tastes and budgets in this Nevada city.
Reno, Nevada Casinos FAQs
What is the largest casino in Reno, Nevada?
When it comes to the number of table games and electronic machines and slots on offer, the Peppermill Hotel & Casino is the biggest in Reno. It offers 107,272sq ft of gaming space, bursting with more than 1,500 slots and over 52 table games.
What is the oldest casino in Reno, Nevada?
Most of Reno’s original casinos have gone, but the Nugget is often cited as the oldest. It is in Sparks rather than in Reno but is still part of the metro area and opened in 1996 as the Dick Graves’ Nugget. It is now owned by Global Gaming. In Reno itself, Club Cal Neva is the oldest, having opened in 1962.
How old do you need to be to go to a casino in Reno, Nevada?
All players have to be at least 21 in Nevada. This applies to anyone wanting to play in bricks and mortar or online casinos. In the US, it is only tribal casinos that allow people aged over 18 to play.
