I have seen a number of "versions" of this story, but I was working next door to Harold's Club and saw it happen from beginning to end.
A group of students from the University of Nevada thought they had come up with a "system" to beat the roulette wheel. They played the wheel 24 hours a day for almost a week. I cut through Harold's purposely to see how they were coming, as did hundreds of people from all over the area. They were a great draw.
After almost a week, I think it was, their winnings got up above 100 thousand dollars, which was a ton of money in those days. Harold Smith senior, saw them losing money, when they got back to 100 thousand, he put a cover on the table and told them to take their money and go home, and not to try to play in any club in Reno, as he was going to ask all the other clubs in town to not take their "action."
Why would Harold do that? Well it was in every newspaper in the world, about the college students at HAROLD'S CLUB in RENO, who won $100,000.00. Probably a million or more in FREE advertising.
I have read other versions of this story, a crooked dealer, altering the height of the dividers and a few others, but, I was there and saw it happen, Pappy closed the table, told them to take their winnings, pay for their education and live happily ever after. I saw him put the cover on the table.
Now, you know the rest of the story.
