The S.S. Rex was one of about 25 gambling ships moored past the 3 Mile Limit from Long Beach & Santa Monica in the late 1920's-1930's.

The S.S. Rex was off Santa Monica, Ca from 1938-1939, when all of the boats were shut down by Gov. Earl Warren. The owner of the Rex was Tony Cornero (nee Anthony Strella.) He later opened a casino in the Apache Hotel named SS Rex, at 128 E. Fremont St. in Las Vegas, 1945-1946. It became the Club El Dorado, 1947-1951 and Binion's Horseshoe Club in 1953.