Massachusetts rebels against British tyranny. Mississippi goes hunting with the president. Michigan refuses to leave Toledo. Minnesota celebrates Christmas with friends. And Montana listens to a war story. These are the stories of the 50 States of A...
Nevada. The 36th state is mainly known for desert, Area 51, and Las Vegas. Speaking of Las Vegas, most of the gambling casinos are technically located in the unincorporated community called Paradise, but I digress. "The meadows" officially became a city in 1905, however, their popularity wouldn't boom until the 1930s.
A bunch of events were happening in Las Vegas in the effects of the Great Depression. For one, the Hoover Dam was beginning construction. As such, construction workers and their families relocated to the state, bringing a rise to Nevada's once declining population. In need to boost the economy, the government became more liberal with its laws, reducing its required residency to six months which attracted many people wanting a divorce. Most importantly, it legalized gambling. The city thought taxing the casinos would bring in the moolah, however, the casino owners, being smart-asses, built their casinos outside the city limits.
The Las Vegas Strip (in Paradise) became a central location for casinos and resorts in Las Vegas Valley. One of the first casinos to be built was the Flamingo Hotel & Casino. Like most casinos at the time, organized crime played a hand in its creation. Thanks to Bugsy Siegel, a well-known mobster of Murder Inc., the Flamingo, after going through rough construction and initial loss, became the modern model most casinos looked up to.
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Since the beginning of the 20th century, I've played all sorts of card games, starting out like any amateur without a clue on what to do. Over the years, I practiced my hand, becoming more experienced as I learned the ropes in every game, leading to my spot at the casino table. Whenever I can, I give a pointer or two to a newcomer who'll be at my table, letting them have an easy win before going hard on them. If they find this unfair, they aren't wrong. If every casino played fair, they would be out of business. No matter which game you choose, there's always a slight house advantage, and blackjack is no exception.
Among the card games I've played, blackjack has to be one of my favorites. Dozens of people always tell me I need to get a high number close to 21 in order to win, but that's absolute nonsense. Sure, having a high number increases your chances in winning. But when it comes down to it, blackjack is not a contest to see who's better. It's a chess game between the player and the dealer. As long as you beat the dealer without going over, you'll win. Guaranteed.
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June 1, 1947.
It was 11:00 on a Saturday night. It was a busy night for the valet workers as the entire parking lot was jammed pack with beige, gray, yellow, red, white, and black cars of all similar shapes and sizes. Rarely did any of the cars leave at this late hour. The valet workers were forced to relocate the new guests' cars elsewhere, taking them to the surrounding parking lots around the resort. It didn't help it was the summer time. Although at night, cooler than the rays of the blazing sun, their white tuxedo uniforms looked slightly unkempt with leftover sweat and gasoline fumes. Their ruffled neck collars and unbuttoned cuffs were necessary for proper ventilation from the heat. If Mr. Siegel saw what they were doing, he would've fired them immediately on the spot. Luckily for every worker at the Flamingo, he was nowhere in this high-class resort.
