gambling David Spanier
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Reno is on a roll. "The greatest little city in the world", as this gambling cross-roads in the north-west of Nevada first billed itself, has long been eclipsed by Las Vegas. Now it has picked itself up thanks to a surprising diversion: ten-pin bowling.
Americans' passion for bowling goes on without attracting much attention just because it is so ordinary. It was an inspired stroke by Reno city planners to build a national stadium, within bowling distance of the casinos. This high-tech stadium, with 80 bowling lanes (imagine 80 cricket pitches in a row), now hosts the American bowling championships for both sexes. It will produce two million room-nights for Reno hotels over the next decade, and add $1bn to the local economy.
The centre of Reno contains a cluster of big casinos which blaze out their attractions in a dazzle of glitz and neon. Now in a new development, the casino complex has, literally, crossed to the wrong side of the tracks, and moved north. Among the new properties, the new Silver Legacy is among the best-designed casinos I have ever seen. In the centre of the gaming floor, a huge replica of a mining shaft chunters away, under a painted sky which changes colour from dawn to dusk. (Silver mining in Nevada these days is only a romantic memory, supplanted by nuclear testing.) The Silver Legacy's frontier-modern decor is all glossy wood and shiny brass, under multi-coloured tiffany lamps.
Reno is never going to challenge Vegas. But as a gambling resort four hours' drive from San Francisco, and 40 minutes from the skiing at Lake Tahoe, it has its own appeal. The poker, however, is not up to much. The games are low-level hold 'em and seven-card stud, which help pass the time for blue-collar retirees and off-duty casino employees. All the action has moved across to the card rooms of California, where a new arrival is Ladbroke's poker club at San Pablo, just outside San Francisco. This is a big, friendly card room, whose pop-Spanish design contrasts with its mainly Asian clientele. Well worth a visit.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments