Gambling, Casinos, Lotteries and Other Games of Chance
Show Low, AZ
For our category of weird town names, such as Linoleumville.
The city's home page.
Their Wikipedia entry, from which we learn:
According to a legend, the city's unusual name[5] resulted from a marathon poker game between Corydon E. Cooley and Marion Clark. The two men were equal partners in a 100,000-acre (400 km2) ranch; however, the partners determined that there was not enough room for both of them in their settlement, and agreed to settle the issue over a game of "Seven Up" (with the winner taking the ranch and the loser leaving).[6] After the game seemed to have no winner in sight, Clark said, "If you can show low, you win." In response, Cooley turned up the deuce of clubs (the lowest possible card) and replied, "Show low it is."[7] As a tribute to the legend, Show Low's main street is named "Deuce of Clubs" in remembrance
Posted By: Paul - Tue Nov 07, 2023 -
Comments (1)
Category: Regionalism, Weird Names, Gambling, Casinos, Lotteries and Other Games of Chance, Nineteenth Century
The Alaskan Slot Machine
1990: Customers of a laundromat in Anchorage, Alaska frequently complained that the slot machine in the establishment never paid out any money, even if a winning combination came up, and one of them eventually called the police about it.The police initially agreed that it seemed like theft to never pay out winnings, so they confiscated the slot machine. But then the owner of the laundromat explained that the machine was deliberately fixed to not pay off, because gambling was illegal in Alaska. Furthermore, a small sign next to the machine said that it was "For Amusement Only". Perhaps, he conceded, the sign was not prominent enough, but it was there nevertheless.
Upon hearing this, the police decided the slot machine was legal and let the owner take it back.
Daily Sitka Sentinel - Jan 4, 1990
Tampa Bay Times - Mar 17, 1996
Posted By: Alex - Sat Sep 18, 2021 -
Comments (3)
Category: 1990s, Gambling, Casinos, Lotteries and Other Games of Chance
Out of This World by Jam Handy
Heaven and Hell battle for the soul of a bread salesman.
Posted By: Paul - Thu Jul 02, 2020 -
Comments (0)
Category: Food, Religion, Supernatural, Occult, Paranormal, 1950s, Gambling, Casinos, Lotteries and Other Games of Chance
The Great Scottish Bingo Panic of 1958
Original text here.
Posted By: Paul - Sun Oct 02, 2016 -
Comments (4)
Category: 1950s, Gambling, Casinos, Lotteries and Other Games of Chance, Europe, Moral Panics and Public Hysteria
The Science of Craps
If this is true, I assume the effect isn't significant enough to overcome the house advantage.
St. Louis Post-Dispatch - Sep 7, 1937
Posted By: Alex - Sun Apr 10, 2016 -
Comments (9)
Category: Science, 1930s, Gambling, Casinos, Lotteries and Other Games of Chance
The Slot Sisters
Those playing might be interested in the experience of the "Slot Sisters" who committed themselves BIG TIME to the game when it ran last year.
By making mass purchases of Ramen noodles, they managed to acquire 42,000 game tickets. They also toured through 6 states, driving close to 3000 miles, because they thought that getting tickets in different locations would increase their chances of winning.
Their final grand total of winnings was $365 in gift cards and $800 in free groceries. Not a great return on investment. As they note, it's "not a game for people on a food budget."
And yet they promised that they'll be playing again this year.
Posted By: Alex - Sat Mar 26, 2016 -
Comments (15)
Category: Gambling, Casinos, Lotteries and Other Games of Chance
Longshot Bet
In 1997 Steve Caldicott of Birmingham placed a bet with William Hill Bookmakers that his son Jack, who was 3½ months old, would score a goal for England in the World Cup final in 2018. If he scores, Steve will win $1.67 million.Jack is now 19. Any sign that he's a budding soccer star? He's still got two years to go. But, of course, England will also have to make it to the World Cup final.
Southern Illinoisan - Jan 16, 1997
Posted By: Alex - Fri Jan 15, 2016 -
Comments (6)
Category: 1990s, Gambling, Casinos, Lotteries and Other Games of Chance
The Dark Underbelly of Bingo
Over at about.com, I did a two-part series exploring the dark underbelly of bingo — articles here and here.My favorite story was the 1990 case of a grandmother who started having non-stop orgasms and developed lesbian tendencies after a bingo scoreboard fell on her head.
Posted By: Alex - Wed Dec 09, 2015 -
Comments (3)
Category: Gambling, Casinos, Lotteries and Other Games of Chance
Rat Roulette
Based on the description, it doesn't sound like this was particularly cruel to the rat, though perhaps slightly stressful for it. Apparently the Humane Society got custody of the rat once the game was closed down.
Source: Santa Cruz Evening News - Jun 15, 1939
Posted By: Alex - Thu May 29, 2014 -
Comments (16)
Category: Animals, Sports, 1930s, Gambling, Casinos, Lotteries and Other Games of Chance
Confusing Cool Cash
Camelot, makers of a "Cool Cash" lottery scratchcard, thought the rules of the game were fairly simple. Users could win a prize if the number revealed by scratching off the window was "a lower temperature than the one displayed on each card." But the company had to withdraw the card after numerous people became confused by these rules. Case in point, Tina Farrell of Manchester who said:[Yahoo! News]
Posted By: Alex - Fri Dec 13, 2013 -
Comments (12)
Category: Gambling, Casinos, Lotteries and Other Games of Chance
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| Alex Boese Alex is the creator and curator of the Museum of Hoaxes. He's also the author of various weird, non-fiction, science-themed books such as Elephants on Acid and Psychedelic Apes. Paul Di Filippo Paul has been paid to put weird ideas into fictional form for over thirty years, in his career as a noted science fiction writer. He has recently begun blogging on many curious topics with three fellow writers at The Inferior 4+1. Contact Us |