Jonah Patel
Nevada legalised gambling in 1931, when Governor Fred Balzar signed Assembly Bill 98 into law. The state's economy was in decline, and the legalisation of gambling was a way to bring in revenue and lift Nevada out of the Great Depression. Nevada was the first state to allow most gambling, except a lottery, which was still banned by the Nevada Constitution. Gambling has been part of Nevada's history since before it became a state in 1864.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Year gambling was ratified in the Nevada constitution | 1931 |
| Motivation for legalising gambling | To lift the state out of the Great Depression |
| Previous ban on gambling | In place since 1909 |
| Current status of gambling in Nevada | Legal for over 90 years |
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What You'll Learn
Gambling was legalised in Nevada in 1931
Nevada was the first state to allow most gambling, except a lottery, which was still banned by the Nevada Constitution. The state even allowed games like keno (or bingo for people who lack eye-hand coordination), but rejected a locals-focused lottery.
Gambling has been in Nevada since before it became a state in 1864. In 1859, the discovery of the "Comstock Lode" of gold and silver spurred the first substantial number of settlers into Nevada to exploit the territory's mining opportunities. However, by the beginning of the Great Depression, Nevada's mines were in decline, and its economy was in shambles. The state legislature responded to population flight by taking the drastic measure of legalising gambling.
Located in the Great Basin desert, few settlers chose to live in Nevada after the United States acquired the territory at the end of the Mexican War in 1848. Nevada was hastily made the 36th state in 1864 during the Civil War to strengthen the Union.
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Nevada was the first state to allow most gambling
Gambling has been in Nevada since before it became a state in 1864. However, it was not until the 1930s that it was fully legalised. The "Wide Open Gambling Bill" was passed in 1931, allowing most forms of gambling except for a lottery, which was still banned by the Nevada Constitution. The bill defined a "gambling game" as "any game played with cards, dice, equipment or any mechanical or electronic device or machine for money, property, checks, credit or any representative of value". A "wager" was defined as "a sum of money or representative of value that is risked on an occurrence for which the outcome is uncertain".
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The motivation was to bring in revenue and tourists
Gambling was ratified in the Nevada constitution in 1931, when Governor Fred Balzar signed Assembly Bill 98 into law. The motivation was to bring in revenue and tourists. Nevada was suffering from the Great Depression, with its mines in decline and its economy in shambles. The state needed to find a way to lift itself out of hard times and so took the drastic measure of legalising gambling.
Nevada was the first state to allow most gambling, except for a lottery, which was still banned by the Nevada Constitution. The state wanted to lure tourists to take their money and so allowed games like keno (bingo for people who lack eye-hand coordination) to be played in casinos. However, it rejected locals-focused lotteries, as there was a sense that if gambling was going to happen, it should be an attraction to get people to leave their money behind, not a seduction for locals to feed the beast.
The definition of a 'gambling game' in Nevada is 'any game played with cards, dice, equipment or any mechanical or electronic device or machine for money, property, checks, credit or any representative of value'. This definition excludes games played with cards in private homes or residences in which no person makes money for operating the game, except as a player, or games operated by charitable or educational organisations that are approved by the Nevada Gaming Control Board. Under Nevada law, a 'wager' is 'a sum of money or representative of value that is risked on an occurrence for which the outcome is uncertain'.
Gambling has been a part of Nevada's history since before it became a state in 1864. However, it was not until the 1930s that it was legalised and regulated by the state. Today, Las Vegas, Nevada, is famous for its casinos, nightclubs, and sporting events, and has become the gambling and entertainment capital of the world.
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The definition of a 'gambling game' in Nevada
Gambling has been a part of Nevada's history since before it became a state in 1864. In 1931, Nevada's state legislature voted to legalise gambling in an attempt to lift the state out of the Great Depression. The state needed revenue and luring tourists to take their money was optimal.
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The definition of a 'wager' in Nevada
Gambling has been a part of Nevada's history since before it became a state in 1864. In 1931, Nevada's state legislature voted to legalise gambling to help lift the state out of the Great Depression. This was known as the 'Wide Open Gambling Bill'.
Under Nevada law, a 'wager' is defined as 'a sum of money or representative of value that is risked on an occurrence for which the outcome is uncertain'. This means that a wager is an agreement to bet a certain amount of money or something of value on the outcome of an uncertain event. For example, a wager could be made on the outcome of a sporting event, a card game, or a roll of the dice.
The definition of a 'gambling game' in Nevada is 'any game played with cards, dice, equipment or any mechanical or electronic device or machine for money, property, checks, credit or any representative of value'. This means that a wide range of games and activities can be considered gambling in Nevada, as long as they involve risking something of value on an uncertain outcome.
It is important to note that the definition of a wager in Nevada excludes certain types of games. For example, games played with cards in private homes or residences where no one is making money for operating the game, except as a player, are not considered gambling. Additionally, games operated by charitable or educational organisations that are approved by the Nevada Gaming Control Board are also excluded from the definition of gambling.
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Frequently asked questions
Gambling was legalised in Nevada in 1931.
Nevada's mines were in decline and its economy was in shambles at the beginning of the Great Depression. The state needed revenue and legalising gambling was a way to attract tourists and their money.
The bill that legalised gambling in Nevada was called the "Wide Open Gambling Bill".
Games played with cards in private homes or residences where no person makes money for operating the game, except as a player, are excluded from the definition of a "gambling game". Games operated by charitable or educational organisations that are approved by the Nevada Gaming Control Board are also excluded.
