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In
the initial years of the Las Vegas Strip, "no" was a big word -- no
cover, no minimum, no state speed limit, no sales tax, no waiting
period for marriages, no state income tax and no regulation of
gambling as it is known today. In modern times about the only "no's"
remaining are no state income tax and no waiting period to obtain a
marriage license. No cover charge is still the rule in some casino
lounges.
The state legislature has imposed sales taxes and strict gambling regulation laws. The federal government has forced Nevada, as well as other states, to adopt highway speed limits.
Nevada gambling styles, games and machines evolved to keep pace with more sophisticated, affluent players. Baccarat, known in France as chemin de fer, appeared in high-roller Strip casinos. Keno writers no longer used black indelible ink brushes to mark tickets.
Mechanical slot machines, once affectionately termed "one- armed bandits," became antique collector items in the age of electronic gaming.
Blackjack dealers no longer dealt single decks but switched to "shoes" that held multiple decks. Silver dollars, once the coin of the realm in Nevada, disappeared and were replaced in casinos with silver-dollar-size tokens.
In the 60s, multiple coin slot machines debuted. Mechanical penny and nickel slot machines that took one coin at a time evolved into the popular computerized dollar slot machines capable of accepting multiple tokens simultaneously. High-roller slot players today can find machines that accept $500 tokens.
The size of jackpots grew from a few hundred dollars to $10 million dollar progressive jackpots paid on a computerized statewide network of slot machines.
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In the 70s, video machines that substituted television screens for reels, were introduced. Computerized slot machines now feature poker, keno, blackjack, bingo and craps.
Some slot machines accept credit-card style gambling. Casinos continue their evolution toward high-tech wagering with every applicable breakthrough in modern technology
Vegas
Brief History
Mormon Influence
Famous strip starts
Building boom
Entertainment is Las Vegas
No holds barred
Dawn of
mega resorts
Downtown
A Century |
Las
Vegas
travel guide
 Tours
Shows
Hotels
Vacation
Rental
 Restaurants
Madame Tussauds
Wax Museum
Tips from Vegas
locals
 Nightlife
Kids
Car rental
Babysitter
provisions @ hotels
Pools
Spas
Attractions
Buffets
Bars and Lounges
 Vegas
Golf
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