- July 14
- A roulette table at Caesar's Palace in Las Vegas lands the ball on "7" six times in a row. [565.158]
- August
- How the West Was Won Blackjack Tournament at the Stardust is won by Joe Pane, collecting US$100,000. [312.23]
- The new Aladdin Hotel opens in Las Vegas, with 2500 rooms, 500,000 square foot shopping mall, and big casino. [386.197]
- Kerry Packer of Australia loses 13.6 million pounds Sterling during a 3-day baccarat binge in Las Vegas. [565.253]
- October
- Groundbreaking ceremony is held on the Palms hotel/casino project in Las Vegas. [386.353]
2001
- January
- Nevada gaming board and commission approve slot games based on The Addams Family and The Munsters TV programs, and the Pac-Man video game. [818.xix]
- Nevada gaming board withdraws state ban on wagering on college sports teams based in Nevada. [818.xix]
- February
- Boston Baked Blackjack Tournament is held at the Stardust Casino in Las Vegas. Richard Gordon wins US$100,000. [312.23]
- (month unknown)
- Park Place Entertainment opens the Caesars Gauteng casino in South Africa. [187.467]
- In Australia, the Interactive Gaming Act criminializes online card, dice, and slot-based games to Australians. [187.491]
- The government of the United Kingdom removes the tax on gambling wagers. [375.59]
- November 12
- On the same day as Flight 587 crashes in New York, New Jersey Lottery's Pick-3 game winner is "587", paying $16 each on 27,829 winning 50-cent tickets. [565.333]
- December
- At the Jersey Shore casino, in New Jersey, USA, Park Place Entertainment is the first area casino to introduce the EZ Pay paper voucher slot payout technology system of International Game Technology. [353.23]
- Year
- International lottery sales: US$125.6 billion. [187.xvii]
2002
-
- Two winners from Illinois and Michigan split a US$363 million Big Game jackpot. [187.390]
- September
- New York City lottery winning numbers are 9-1-1, almost on the first anniversary of the 9/11 attacks on New York, paying $250 each on 5,631 50-cent tickets. [565.333]
- October 17
- Austria issues a postage stamp marking the 250th anniversary of the National Lottery. [700.684]
2003
- May
- The 34th edition of the World Series of Poker is held at Binion's Horseshoe in Nevada, USA. Chris Moneymaker of Tennessee beats Sam Farha for a record win of US$2.5 million. [187.477]
- June
- At the Atlantic City Convention Center, the 3rd annual Technology and Gaming Conference is held. The New Jersey Casino commission and local casino industry discuss incorporating coinless gaming into Atlantic City's casinos. [353.22]
- (month unknown)
- At the Las Vegas Excalibur casino, a record slot machine jackpot of over US$39 million is won on a dollar bet on a Megabucks machine. [187.480]
- Borgata Casino Hotel opens in Atlantic City, New Jersey, USA, the first American casino to completely eliminate traditional use of coins in slot machines. The machines dispense paper currency, which can be converted to vouchers and cash. [353.22]
- July
- The Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa opens in Atlantic City, New Jersey, USA. It cost US$1.1 billion to build, featuring 2000 rooms, 11 restaurants, and 135,000 square-foot casino. [386.231]
- December
- The MGM Grand resort and casino opens in Las Vegas, Nevada. The resort includes 5000 guest rooms, casino, and theme park. This is the first hotel to cost US$1 billion. [187.485]
2004
- January 29
- The Castaways hotel and casino in Las Vegas closes. (The hotel originaly opened in the 1950s as the Showboat.) [386.169]
- (month unknown)
- The President of Brazil outlaws bingo. (The senate later repeals the ban.) [187.462]
- February
- Boyd Gaming acquires Coast Casinos for US$1.3 billion. [386.232]
- April
- Ashley Revell of Kent, England, bets 76,500 pounds on one spin of roulette wheel at The Plaza casino in Las Vegas. He bets on red, and wins. [565.274]
- May
- The Sands Macau casino opens in Macau. [187.456]
- May 18
- The Sands Macau hotel and casino opens in Macau, including 360 betting tables, and 850 slot machines, in the 1 million square foot casino. 50,000 people visit on opening day. [386.285]
- June 23
- Actor Ben Affleck wins Commerce Casino's California State Poker Championship, winning $356,400, the first celebrity to win a major poker tournament. [565.352]
- (month unknown)
- New Zealand's Sky City buys Australia's MGM Grand Darwin, renaming it Sky City Darwin. [187.460]
- Boyd Group buys Coast Casinos for US$1.3 billion. [818.xviii]
- Harrah's buys Horseshoe Gaming for US$1.4 billion. [818.xviii]
- August
- The UK National Lottery jackpot of 20.1 million pounds is won by one person, a record. [565.271]
- November
- Stuart Bolland of Manchester, England, wins 1,132,657 pounds on a Scoop6 lottery by correctly picking the six winners of six horse races that day. This is the largest single betting-shop win to date. [565.347]
- Year
- Americans lose US$78 billion on gambling. [187.xvii]
2005
- April
- The Wynn Las Vegas hotel and casino opens in Las Vegas. The 45-story resort features 2700 suites, and 111,000 square foot casino. Cost of construction was US$2.7 billion. [386.280] [818.xx]
- April 28
- The Wynn Las Vegas hotel and casino opens, the world's most expensive casino resort, at a cost of US$2.7 billion. [187.298a, 495]
- (month unknown)
- A Duke University (North Carolina) study finds that macaque monkeys prefer to follow a target that gives varying amounts of juice than a target that gives a consistent amount. The memory of a "jackpot" influences their choice in accepting risk. [187.5]
- MGM Mirage acquires Mandalay Resort Group for US$7.9 billion. [187.487] [818.xviii]
- Harrah's Entertainment acquires Caesars Entertainment for almost US$9 billion. [187.487]
2006
-
- Nevada Gaming Commission changes its rules to allow central computer control over individual slot machines, to change game's theme, denominations, or payout percentages. [193.74]
- September 14
- Romania issues a postage stamp marking the 100th anniversary of the National Lottery. [278.556]
- (month unknown)
- The USA passes the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act. [312.16]
- November 1
- The Stardust Resort & Casino closes after 48 years of business in Las Vegas. [27]
- December
- UBT Tournament of Champions (blackjack) is win by David Matthews, collecting US$250,000. [312.23]
- December 22
- Uruguay issues a 15-peso postage stamp to mark the 150th anniversary of the Uruguayan Lottery. [285.876]
- Year
- US casino gambling revenue: US$32 billion. [53]
- Atlantic City (USA) casino revenue for the year: US$5.2 billion. [362.20]
2007
- March 1
- The Doyle's Room Internet Web site closes its Web site access to Americans. [312.16]
- March 6
- In the USA, Mega Millions sets a new world record for the highest lottery jackpot of US$370 million. [38]
- August 15
- NBA referee Tim Donaghy surrenders to police and pleads guilty to charges brought up by the FBI investigation that he placed bets on games that he refereed. [38]
- August 28
- The Venetian Macau casino opens in Macau. With a capacity of 15,000 patrons, it is the world's biggest casino, with 870 tables, and 3400 slot machines. Cost to build was US$2.4 billion. [77.62]
- September 1
- New law in the United Kingdom allows creation of licensed Internet casinos located in the country. [375.59]
- September 17
- Norwegian 18-year-old Annette Obrestad wins US$2 million in the World Series of Poker. [375.59]
- October 19
- The Doyle's Room Internet Web site re-opens its Web site access to Americans. [312.16]
- October 24
- The inaugural Caesars Palace Classic poker tournament is won by David Singer, winning US$1 million. [312.18]
- December 3
- Premiere of Ace In The House TV show on the GSN network, about an amateur home poker game with one professional player, playing for big money. [312.59]
- December 4
- Death of Chip Reese, American professional gambler (born 1951). [38]
- Year
- US casino revenue from slot machines: US$25 billion. [193.72]
- Atlantic City (USA) casino revenue for the year: US$4.9 billion, down 5.7 percent from 2006. [362.20]
2008
- January 10
- European Poker Tour PokerStars Caribbean Adventure is held at the Atlantis Resort and Casino on Paradise Island, Bahamas. Bertrand Grospellier, who collects US$2 million. [327.90]
- January 20
- Aussie Millions Poker Championship is held at the Crown Casino in Melbourne, Australia is won by Alexander Kostritsin, who collects US$1,450,396. [312.70] [327.54]
- February 12
- Casino de Montreal hosts the world's largest poker tournament ever run on automated tables, with 240 players at 25 tables, with only four staff. Top prize is $20,000. [322.29]
- February 23
- European Poker Tour Scandinavian Open is held at Casino Copenhagen in Copenhagen, Denmark. Tim Vance wins, collecting US$1,210,699. [322.90]
- February 24
- A man in Yorkshire, England, wins 1 million pounds on a 50 pence bet on horse racing, by selecting all eight winners of races throughout the country. [35]
- March 14
- Bay 101 Shooting Star tournament is held at Bay 101 in San Jose, California. Brandon Contu wins, collecting US$1 million. [321.78]
- March 23
- In a bingo hall in Coatbridge, north Lanarkshire, Scotland, a woman wins a record 1,167,795 pounds (US$2.3 million) in the National Bingo Game. [35]
- April 13
- Death of Brandi Hawbaker, poker player, suicide at age 26. [320.27]
- April
- World Poker Tour Championship is held at Bellagio. Winner is David Chiu, collecting US$3,389,149. [320.77]
- April 17
- European Poker Tour Grand Final at the Monte Carlo Bay Hotel Casino Resort in Monte Carlo, Monaco. Winner is Glen Chorny, collecting US$3,193,822. [320.91]
- May 4
- A Las Vegas Showboat casino $1 chip from 1955 sells for US$28,988.88 in an online auction, setting a record price for a $1 casino chip. [413.107]
- May 5
- Tropicana Entertainment (Las Vegas casino) files for bankruptcy protection. [364.6]
- May
- Privately held casino operator Tropicana Entertainment files for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in the US. [35]
- November 4
- Arkansas votes 63 percent in favor of a state lottery. [308.45]
- December 8
- In Ontario, Canada, a Buccaneer slot machine indicates a man won CDN$42.9 million, but the machine operator refuses to pay, claiming the machine malfunctioned. [105]
- December 12
- Australian gambler Harry Kakavas, who lost A$37 million (US$24 million) over 14 months, sues Crown Casino in Melbourne for A$50 million damages, claiming he was targeted by managers despite a known gambling addiction. [35]
2009
- February 17
- Trump Entertainment Resorts casino operator files for bankruptcy protection in New Jersey, with assets of about US$2.1 billion and total debts of about $1.74 billion as of the end of 2008. [35]
- February 22
- Canada's Lotto 6/49 lottery top prize of CDN$50.3 million is won by holders of four winning tickets. The prize is the second-biggest jackpot in Canadian lottery history. [105]
- March 17
- In Ontario, Canada, a man sues the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation for CDN$45.9 million, after one of its slot machines allegedly indicated he'd won $42.9 million, which he never received because the company claimed it was an error resulting from a "machine malfunction." [105]
- May 8
- A EuroMillions ticket holder in Spain wins a 126 million euro (US$170 million) jackpot. [57]
- July 1
- Thousands of casinos, slot-machine parlors, and betting halls shut down across Russia, under new law passed three years ago comes into effect, allowing gambling businesses only in four remote regions. An estimated 400,000 people are put out of work. [357.6A]
- August
- A record European lottery ticket win is made on the Italian SuperEnalotto, with a single ticket-holder winning 128 million British pounds (US$210 million). [57]
- August 22
- The Italian state lottery draw, Superenalotto, is won on a single ticket worth 146.9 million euros (US$211.8 million). The draw of 10, 11, 27, 45, 79, 88 broke the losing streak of 87 consecutive draws. [57]
- August 31
- Florida governor Charlie Crist signs a gambling pact with the Seminole tribe, lasting 20 years, specifying payment of minimum US$12.5 million per month for the first 30 months for the privilege of running legal slot machines and blackjack at their seven casinos. [361.40]
- August (month)
- Gambling revenue in Macau hits a record high for the month of US$1.4 billion. [35]
- September 18
- In Canada, the Interprovincial Lottery Corporation holds the last draw of the Lotto Super 7. [330.A9]
- September 25
- In Canada, the Interprovincial Lottery Corporation begins a new national lottery game. [330.A9]
- October 9
- Initial public stock offering for the Wynn Macau casino in Macau, China, raises US$1.63 billion, valuing the company at US$6.9 billion. [35]
- October
- South Africa launches its PowerBall lottery. [35]
- November 6
- A CDN$50-million Lotto Max lottery jackpot is won by a person in Pine Falls, Manitoba, Canada. [105]
- A couple from Caerleon, south Wales, win 45.5 million British pounds (US$76 million) on the EuroMillions lottery draw. A ticket purchased by seven workers at Hewlett Packard in Liverpool splits another 45.5 million pounds. [57]
- December 15
- A French court splits the jackpot from a casino slot machine in March between the woman who put in the money and the man who pulled the lever. The court splits the winnings 80/20, giving the woman 1.6 million euros, while the man receives 0.4 million euros. [35]
2010
- January 7
- In Quebec, Canada, a class-action lawsuit from 2001 between Loto-Québec and nearly 120,000 gamblers over the cost of treating their addiction is settled. The provincial government agrees to reimburse the costs of addiction treatment between 1994 and 2002, at a cost to the provincial government of around CDN$50 million. [105]
- January
- A family syndicate of four wins 26.1 million British pounds (US$42 million) in a EuroMillions draw. [57]
- February 12
- The EuroMillions lottery grand prize is 112 million British pounds (US$174 million), shared by a UK ticketholder (Britain's biggest lottery prize) and a winning ticket bought in Spain. [57]
- February 26
- Two winning tickets share the CDN$50 million jackpot in Canada's Lotto Max draw. [105]
- March 6
- Armed robbers storm the Grand Hyatt Hotel in Berlin Germany where the European Poker Tour poker tournament is taking place. Armed with assault rifles and hand grenades, they make off with the tournament jackpot of 800,000 euros (US$1.1 million). [57]
- June 3
- The European Union Court of Justice says countries can ban online gambling, if their aim is to combat fraud. [35]
- June
- France makes non-government controlled online sports betting legal. [35]
- June 26
- CDN$50 million jackpot won by two tickets in Canadian Lotto Max lottery. [105]
- July 15
- The British Columbia Lottery Corporation opens online gambling website PlayNow.com, the first government-sanctioned online casino in North America. Then came others, as 888.com casino for example. [105] [475.A10]
- July 21
- Financial Transactions and Reports Analysis Centre of Canada reports that the B.C. Lottery Corporation has been fined CDN$670,000 in penalties for more than 1000 violations under the federal Proceeds from Crime Act, the only gaming commission in Canada to be penalized. [475.A9]
- August 13
- Canada's Lotto Max $50 million jackpot is shared by two winning tickets, with a further 14 $1 million MaxMillion prizes won. [105]
2011
- September 7
- Austria issues a circular postage stamp depicting a lottery ball, marking the 25th anniversary of the state lottery. [729.113]
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