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Santa Monica, California
Type: Illegal
Status: Closed
Open: 1935, Close: 1946

Anthony Cornero operated three gambling ships, the S.S. Tango, S.S. Rex, and S.S. Lux, off the coast of California between 1934 and 1946. They were anchored beyond the ‘three mile limit' of state jurisdiction off from Santa Monica and Long Beach.

The wealthy of Los Angeles would take water taxis out to the ships to enjoy the gambling, shows, and restaurants. The success of Cornero's floating casinos brought outrage from California officials. State District Attorney Earl Warren ordered a series of raids against his gambling ships in the 1940s.

Photograph circa 1936 (Courtesy of the Los Angeles Public Library).
About Illegal Casinos - by their nature, information about illegal, or unlicensed, casinos is hard to find and difficult to verify. Information presented on the ChipGuide about these casinos is provided as the result of our best efforts but may not be 100% accurate. Even if the information is accurate, gamblers move around and may take their equipment with them; items used in one casino may have also been used in others. Please send verified information about illegal casinos to the ChipGuide so that we may improve our accuracy.
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Total Items (19)

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