“Gambling is ubiquitous in the desert communities today, but that wasn’t always the case. In fact, gambling was considered taboo in Palm Springs back in the 1930s and 1940s.
In 1931, Nevada legalized gambling. While it was still illegal in most of the country, many communities looked the other way; after all, the Depression years were tough, and gambling was a welcome diversion. Gambling boats had started appearing offshore near Los Angeles, where water taxis shuttled out customers. Clubs also began opening in the city itself…”
