- October 29
- In Canada, Bill C-117 amends the Criminal Code to allow Canadians to bet on foreign horse races. [387.145]
- December 20
- The Criminal Code of Canada gives the provinces exclusive jurisdiction over lotteries, video devices, and slot machines, in exchange for annual payment of CDN$18 million from the provinces. [387.83,154]
- Year
- Lottery ticket sales in Canada: CDN$2.7 billion. [40.9]
1986
- January 18
- New York Lotto pays US$30.5 million to one winner (numbers are 19-20-27-34-41-46). [1]
- March 2
- First million-dollar purse for a handicap race won at Santa Anita. [1]
- March 6
- International Game Technology introduces the Megabucks progressive slot machine network in nine casinos in Las Vegas, Nevada. The system pools bets across the network, allowing huge jackpots. [87.51] [187.480]
- March
- In Montreal, Canada, one person wins CDN$7.6 million on the Lotto 6/49 draw. [40.101]
- June
- At the Harrah's Tahoe casino, the largest slot machine jackpot is won, US$3 million. [87.20]
- William T. Walters puts up $2 million at Golden Nugget casino in Atlantic City, New Jersey, in a winner-take-all contest at roulette against the house. Walters bets $2000 on each of five numbers: 7, 10, 20, 27, 36. After 18 hours, he is ahead by $2 million, winning the contest. The casino agrees to allow him to continue, and he quits after 38 hours taking $3.8 million. [565.237]
- July 5
- The newly recognized sovereign tribe Mashantucket Pequot open a US$4 million bingo hall on tribal land in Connecticut, USA. Construction was funded by a loan from the United Arab-American Bank. (By 2004 it becomes the world's most profitable casino.) [187.xvii,437]
- November
- The Las Vegas Hilton Matchplay Blackjack Championship II is held. [312.22]
1987
- February 1
- Terry Williams of Los Gatos, California wins US$5 million at Harrah's Reno playing the MegaBuck slot machine, after spending US$47. [87.19]
- February
- The US Supreme Court rules in the landmark case, California v. Cabazon Band of Mission Indians. The Court upholds the right under federal law for Indians to run gambling operations without state regulation in states where such gaming is legal for any purpose. [39] [187.435]
- (month unknown)
- French government legalizes slot machines. [187.468]
- October 30
- Austria issues a postage stamp marking the 200th anniversary of the gambling monopoly. [700.668]
- December 24
- In the USA, the Illinois State Lottery draw for US$39.5 million is split between four winners. [40.28]
1988
- February 14
- At the Cal Neva Club casino in Reno, Nevada, Cammie Brewer wins the largest slot machine jackpot of US$6.8 million on a Megabucks machine, after playing about US$20. [87.20]
- (month unknown)
- Florida state legalizes a state lottery. [187.388]
- A Florida woman wins a lottery draw of US$55.1 million. [40.40]
- August 9
- Just one day after 8/8/88 New York lottery's daily number is 888. [1]
- August
- Detroit, Michigan, USA, votes 62 percent against building a casino. [387.44]
- October 30
- Two gambling clubs and one player share US$61.38 million California lotto jackpot. [1]
- December 3
- New York Lotto pays US$45 million to twelve winners (numbers are 1-8-13-18-28-48). [1]
- December 24
- In Spain, the El Gordo lottery draw first prize is US$194 million, shared by 72 winners. [40.41]
- December 28
- A couple in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, holds 28 tickets for the Lotto 6/49 lottery draw that day. Every one wins, with between 3 and 5 winning numbers per ticket. Total win is CDN$5260. [40.43]
1989
- February 22
- New York Lotto pays US$26.9 million to one winner (numbers are 1-5-12-19-44-50). [1]
- March 27
- Sports Illustrated magazine exposes baseball player Pete Rose's gambling activities. The article alleges 'Charlie Hustle' bet from the Riverfront dugout using hand gestures with an associate. [56]
- April 1
- In Canada, four people share a Canadian record CDN$15.5 million Lotto 6/49 jackpot. [40.82]
- April 12
- In Canada, four people share a CDN$14.2 million Lotto 6/49 jackpot. [40.82]
- April 15
- Largest lottery win to date in North America (US$69 million) drawn in Illinois. [1]
- April
- Sheldon Adelson's Interface Group buys the Sands hotel and casino in Las Vegas from Kirk Kerkorian for US$110 million. [386.290]
- (month unknown)
- South Dakota legalizes limited-stakes casino gambling in the mining town of Deadwood. [39]
- In Canada, Bill C-7 amends the Criminal Code to allow Canadians to make off-track betting. [387.145]
- August
- Iowa legislature passes a riverboat gaming act, legalizing gambling in licensed boats on several rivers, if approved by the adjacent county. [39] [187.440]
- August 24
- Record-setting baseball player Pete Rose agrees to a lifetime ban from the sport following allegations of illegal gambling, thereby preventing his induction into the Baseball Hall of Fame. [1] [43]
- October 28
- In Canada, four people share a CDN$14 million Lotto 6/49 jackpot. [40.82]
- November 1
- South Dakota begins legal gambling in Deadwood city. [187.443]
- November 22
- The Mirage hotel and casino opens in Las Vegas, Nevada. On the opening night, Elmer Sherwin wins US$4.6 million on a Megabucks spin. About 200,000 people attend the opening. [187.298a,482]
- December 29
- In Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, the provincial government opens the Crystal Casino, the first permanent casino in the country, on the 7th floor of the Fort Gary Hotel, with 19,000 square feet (589 m2) of gaming space. [40.21,122] [387.4,29,68]
- Year
- Soviet Union citizens spent US$700 million on draw, loto, and instant-win tickets. [187.474]
1990
- January 6
- New York Lotto pays US$35 million to one winner (numbers are 18-25-26-32-42-44). [1]
- January
- Illinois state passes a riverboat gambling act. [187.441] (1989 [39])
- April 11
- New York Lotto pays US$35 million to two winners (numbers are 6-14-24-32-34-51). [1]
- (month unknown)
- Colorado voters approve limited-stakes casino gambling in three former mining towns: Cripple Creek, Black Hawk, and Central City. [39]
- West Virginia is the first US state to authorize slot machines and video lottery terminals at racetracks. [187.376]
- September 15
- Florida lottery goes over US$100 million. [1]
- September 22
- In Canada, three people share a CDN$15 million Lotto 6/49 jackpot. [40.82]
- October 27
- In Canada, 18 people share a Canadian record CDN$19.8 million Lotto 6/49 jackpot. [40.82]
- December
- In Canada, video lottery terminals are introduced in Newfoundland province. [387.84]
- Year
- Lottery ticket sales in the USA: US$20 billion, net profit US$10 billion. [40.13]
1991
- January 26
- New York Lotto pays US$90 million to nine winners (numbers are 5-15-30-35-46-50). [1]
- March 9
- In Canada, one person wins a CDN$13.2 million Lotto 6/49 jackpot. [40.82]
- March 16
- New York Lotto pays US$33.3 million to one winner (numbers are 18-21-32-33-35-38). [1]
- April 1
- In Iowa, USA, riverboat gambling is legalized, as the Diamond Lady is launched. [187.441]
- April
- Iowa launches the first gaming vessel in recent U.S. history. [39]
- June 29
- In Canada, one person wins a Canadian record (for a single winner) CDN$13.9 million Lotto 6/49 jackpot. [40.82]
- October 26
- In Canada, two people share a CDN$15 million Lotto 6/49 jackpot. [40.82]
- December
- The 14th World Championship of Blackjack is held at the Aladdin Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas. Over 650 players take part. Rod Boone wins US$100,000 grand prize. [312.22]
- December 21
- 95 people share in Madrid, Spain $1.3 billion lottery (number47996). [1]
1992
- February 15
- The Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation opens the Foxwoods Resort Casino in Ledyard, Connecticut, with financing from Malaysian billionaire Lim Goh Tong. [187.437] [208.40]
- Australian Arithalee Alex and syndicate of about 2500 members win the $27 million Virginia State lottery, plus 145,000 smaller prizes, after spending an estimated $5 million on tickets covering all possible outcomes of 5 permutations of 6 numbers, 1-44. [565.263]
- February
- In the USA, the Florida state lottery draw gives an unshared win of US$15.5 million to a resident of Ontario, Canada. Winning numbers are 2, 6, 23, 33, 40, 48. [40.40]
- The 3rd Annual Knights of Blackjack Tournament is held at the Stardust Resort and Casino in Las Vegas. 587 players take part. Ed Del Toro wins US$100,000. [312.22]
- May 30
- New York Lotto pays US$30 million to one winner (numbers are 12-15-30-33-40-48). [1]
- (month unknown)
- Louisiana becomes the third US state to legalize land-based casino gambling. [39]
- Multistate Lottery Corporation ends Lotto America, and starts Powerball, in which players pick 5 numbers from 45, and 1 number from 45. [187.390]
- Sun International opens the Lost City casino resort complex at Sun City, Bophuthatswana in South Africa. [187.466]
- Nineteen University of Maine football and baseball players are suspended for participating in a US$10,000 per week gambling operation. [328.38]
- September 15
- Wally Taylor of Queensland, Australia wins A$1 million (360,000 pounds) on lottery ticket, and gives all but a few hundred dollars away within 30 minutes. [565.266]
- September 26
- In Canada, three people share a CDN$18 million Lotto 6/49 jackpot. [40.82]
- Year
- Canadian lottery gross revenue: CDN$2.7 billion. [387.149]
1993
- February
- Italian Antonio Ciro Blenx completes his goal of gambling away his 5 million pound lottery winning, then shoots and kills himself. [565.326]
- April 3
- In Canada, two people share a CDN$15 million Lotto 6/49 jackpot. [40.82]
- June 18
- The Club Regent casino opens in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. [387.29]
- June 25
- The McPhillips Street Station casino opens in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. [287.29]
- (month unknown)
- In Las Vegas, Nevada, USA, Circus Circus' pyramidal Luxor opens, featuring an Egyptian theme and amusement park. [39]
- The Casino de Montréal opens in Québec, Canada. [187.462]
- In the USA, the Wisconsin Powerball lottery grand prize of US$111 million is won by a couple. [40.40]
- August 1
- Riverboat gambling is launched in Mississippi state. [187.442]
- September
- The roulette table at Stakis Club in Bristol, England lands the ball on "4" seven times in a row. [565.159]
- In Canada, the last draw of the Provincial lottery is held. [40.154]
- October 8
- The Casino de Montréal opens in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. [287.29]
- October 23
- In Canada, one person wins a Canadian record (for a single winner) CDN$15 million Lotto 6/49 jackpot. [40.82]
- October 27
- The Dunes Hotel in Las Vegas is imploded. [386.61]
- Year
- 92 million people visit casinos in the USA. [39]
1994
- January 1
- In Canada, a Celebration 1994 ticket on the Lotto 6/49 lottery gives CDN$1 million to a Toronto resident. [40.35]
- January 24
- Chris Boyd of England makes a single bet of 147,000 pounds on one spin of the roulette wheel on red at Binions Horseshoe Casino. He wins, and returns home. [565.273]
- March
- Six people in Quebec, Canada, share a CDN$19 million Lotto 6/49 lottery jackpot, the largest single ticket in Canadian history. [40.63]
- April
- The April Shower of Money blackjack tournament is held at the Stardust Resort and Casino in Las Vegas. John Ressman wins US$100,000. [312.22]
- May 17
- The Casino Windsor riverboat casino opens in Windsor, Ontario, Canada. [287.29]
- June 24
- The Casino de Charlevoix opens in Pointe-au-Pic, Quebec, Canada. [287.29]
- (month unknown)
- Voters in Iowa vote to eliminate wager and loss limits in riverboat casinos. [39]
- In Ontario, Canada, Casino Windsor opens. [187.462]
- Great Britain introduces the National Lottery, run by the Camelot company. Participants choose 6 of 49 numbers in a weekly draw. [187.473]
- September 27
- In Canada, the Rama First Nation holds a plebiscite on having a casino built on the reserve. 168 vote yes, 65 vote no. [387.42]
- November 19
- First National Lottery draw in England. [1] [565.270]
- December 5
- Ontario, Canada, choses Rama as the First Nation tribe to host a casino in the province. [287.42]
- December
- The National Blackjack Finals tournament is held at the Riviera Casino in Las Vegas. 612 players coompete. Clinton Borland wins US$100,000. [312.23]
1995
- March
- The Hard Rock Hotel and Casino opens in Las Vegas. The hotel cost US$92 million to construct, and features 340 rooms. [386.346]
- June 1
- The Sheraton Casino opens in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada. [287.29]
- (month unknown)
- In Nova Scotia, Canada, government-owned casinos first open. [187.462]
- Two winners share a record 22.5 million pounds on the UK National Lottery. [565.271]
- August 1
- The Sheraton Casino opens in Sydney, Nova Scotia, Canada. [287.29]
- November 11
- In New Orleans, Louisiana, USA, the casino venture files for Chapter 11 bankruptcy. [39]
- December 13
- The Northern Belle Casino opens in Windsor, Ontario, Canada. [287.29]
- Year
- Legal gambling in the United States grosses over US$40 billion in revenues. [39]
- Worldwide sales for legal lotteries: US$95 billion. #1 is USA at US$28.7 million, #2 is Germany at US$9.2 billion. [39]
1996
- January 1
- California begins a three-year moratorium on new cardclubs in the state. [39]
- January 6
- Record US$65.2 million British lottery won by three people (winning numbers: 2-3-4-13-42-44). [1]
- January 26
- Casino Regina opens in Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada. [287.29]
- March 1
- The Gold Eagle Casino opens in North Battleford, Saskatchewan, Canada. [287.29]
- March 6
- The Northern Lights Casino opens in Prince Albert, Saskatchewan, Canada. [287.29]
- March 24
- Casino Hull opens in Hull, Ontario, Canada. [287.29]
- June 24
- California Supreme Court rules in the case of Western Telcon v. California State Lottery. The court rules that the lottery's electronic keno game is not a lawful lottery game, but an illegal banked game. [39]
- (month unknown)
- The Casino di Liban re-opens in Beirut, Lebanon. [187.459]
- South Africa passes the National Gaming Act, authorizing a national lottery and up to 40 casinos. [187.467]
- Thirteen Boston College football players are suspended after betting on college and professional games. [328.38]
- July 31
- The Casino Rama opens in Orillia, Ontario, Canada, on 64 hectares of land, with 195,000 square feet (5522 m2) of gaming space, operated by Carnival Hotels and Casinos. [287.29,67]
- August
- First legal tournament-play site on the Internet opens: Blackjack Time on CasinoTime.com. [312.23]
- September 28
- Jockey Frankie Dettori finishes first for the seventh time of the day at Ascot racetrack on racehorse Fujiyama Crest, making racing history. Darren Yates, on a bet of 67.58 pounds, wins 550,823.54 pounds. The William Hill betting agency loses 8 million pounds; total payout on this win is 40 million pounds. [565.283]
- November 12
- The Bear Claw Casino opens in White Bear, Saskatchewan, Canada. [287.29]
- November
- In Louisiana, USA, casino gaming is ratified in a referendum. [39]
- Detroit, Michigan, USA votes to build three casinos. [387.46]
- December 9
- The Casino Niagara opens in Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada. [287.29]
- December 14
- The Printed Hand Casino opens in Yorkton, Saskatchewan, Canada. [287.29]
- Year
- Sports wagering online: US$60 million. [328.99]
1997
- January 3
- Opening of $460 million New York-New York Hotel and Casino. [447.71]
- (month unknown)
- World Sports Exchange of Antigua goes online as the first full-service Internet sports book, with online betting. [187.489]
- March 19
- US Senator Jon Kyl introduces the Internet Gambling Prohibition Act. [387.162]
- July 2
- Tom Walters Sr. of Meridian, Mississippi wins powerball of US$11 million. [18]
- July 4
- At Harrah's casino in Las Vegas, Nevada, Dennis Nikrasch's gang illegally wins $3,778,000 jackpot on a microchip-controlled slot machine that had been force-fed the jackpot code. [565.365]
- October 22
- Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada-based Starnet Communications International begins hosting Internet gambling. [387.165]
- November
- Kerry Packer wins A$6 million (2.8 million pounds) on the Melbourne Cup horse race, betting on Might And Power. [565.255]
- Year
- Revenue in Canadian government-owned gambling houses: CDN$6.8 million. [387.1]
- Canadian lottery gross revenue: CDN$6.8 billion. [387.149]
1998
- March 4
- US Attorney General Janet Reno declares it is illegal to transmit sports-wagering info over telephone lines, including the Internet. [328.105]
- March 6
- Matt Beck, an angry lottery accountant kills four at Connecticut state lottery. [1]
- April
- The British Columbia Court of Appeals rules municipalities can ban slot machines. [387.185]
- June 10
- The FBI arrests Dennis Nikraschi's gang, which was plotting a hack of $17 million Megabucks jackpot, charging them with theft of $16 million of Las Vegas casinos from September 1996 and November 1997. [565.365]
- (month unknown)
- The Oasis Casino opens in Jericho under the Palestinian Authority. [187.458]
- July 24
- The US Senate votes 90 to 10 to make gambling on the Internet illegal. [387.162]
- July 29
- In Windsor, Ontario, Canada, Casino Windsor hotel and casino opens, with 389 rooms, 135 table games and 2948 slot machines in 100,000 square feet of gaming space, at a cost of CDN$505 million. [387.66]
- October
- The Internet Gambling Prohibition Act fails to pass as the US House of Congress adjourns. [387.162]
- December 17
- In Ontario, Canada, the Windsor Raceway opens The Bonanza Slots room, with 712 slot machines. [387.147]
- Year
- Canadians wager CDN$1.8 billion on horse races. [387.143]
- Sports wagering online: US$600 million. [328.99]
1999
-
- The Canadian government legalizes the dice gambling game craps. [387.14]
- May 4
- The Venetian hotel and casino opens in Las Vegas, with 3036 suites. [386.295]
- (month unknown)
- The National Gambling Impact Study Commission find no significant presence of organized crime in legal US gambling. [187.418]
- The North Korean government opens the Emperor Casino in Raijin, open to foreigners only. [187.457]
- Belgium's parliament declares casinos legal, and allows slot machines. [187.470]
- Circus Circus Enterprises opens the Mandalay Bay casino in Las Vegas. [187.484]
- The Lasseters casino of Alice Springs, Northern Territory, Australia, is the first land-based casino to go online on the Internet. [187.491]
- A woman in Brazil burns her 50,000 pound sterling winning lottery ticket after church minister said she would go to Hell if she took the "devil's money". [565.11]
- September
- The Paris Las Vegas hotel and casino opens in Las Vegas, with a 50-story replica of the Eiffel Tower. [386.240]
- Kerry Packer loses 7.5-11 million pounds Sterling in a 3-week losing streak at blackjack at Crockfords in London. [565.254]
- November
- The US Senate passes the Internet Gambling Prohibition Act, which makes operating a virtual casino or sports book on the Internet a federal crime. [328.100]
- December 31
- UK's Ladbrokes betting shop pays out 194,400 pounds to an individual in Newport, South Wales, based on a 30 pound bet made in December 1989, on five events to happen in the 1990s, all of which did happen (Cliff Richard knighted, music group U2 remain together, Eastenders and Neighbours and Home and Away all remain on TV). [565.320]
- Year
- Sports wagering online: US$1.2 billion. [328.99]
|
