S.S. Rex Illegal Gambling Boat 1938 Off Santa Monica, CA
Obsolete
Denom: $50
Issued: 1938
Color: Black
Mold: C&S
Collected By: A. J. Giametta
On 4/1/1938, 3,000 of these chips were delivered from B.C. Wills Co. in Detroit, MI. Not sure if there were any re-orders.
Cornero bought and remodeled the SS Rex for $600,000, money believed to be fronted by Bugsy Siegel and actor George Raft. He operated three gambling ships, S.S. Tango, S.S. Rex, and S.S. Lux, off the coats of California between 1934 and 1946. The Rex’s capacity was 2,000 passengers; it had a crew of 325, including world-class chefs, a full orchestra, broadcasters manning a commercial radio station, and, of course, working girls. The casino offered craps, roulette, blackjack, chuck-a-luck, poker, faro, 150 slot machines, and a 400-seat bingo parlor. The horse book received its results via short-wave radio. The games were honest, and Cornero posted a $100,000 reward for anyone who could prove that they weren’t. The Rex was so successful that Cornero and his partners netted upwards of $300,000 a month.
Obsolete
Denom: $50
Issued: 1938
Color: Black
Mold: C&S
Collected By: A. J. Giametta
Santa Monica, California
Type: Illegal
Status: Closed
Open: 5/1/1938, Close: 1940
On 4/1/1938, 3,000 of these chips were delivered from B.C. Wills Co. in Detroit, MI. Not sure if there were any re-orders.
Cornero bought and remodeled the SS Rex for $600,000, money believed to be fronted by Bugsy Siegel and actor George Raft. He operated three gambling ships, S.S. Tango, S.S. Rex, and S.S. Lux, off the coats of California between 1934 and 1946. The Rex’s capacity was 2,000 passengers; it had a crew of 325, including world-class chefs, a full orchestra, broadcasters manning a commercial radio station, and, of course, working girls. The casino offered craps, roulette, blackjack, chuck-a-luck, poker, faro, 150 slot machines, and a 400-seat bingo parlor. The horse book received its results via short-wave radio. The games were honest, and Cornero posted a $100,000 reward for anyone who could prove that they weren’t. The Rex was so successful that Cornero and his partners netted upwards of $300,000 a month.
