Illegal Of The Day-Nevada post.
This post is in that thread.

I love the challenges the “Illegal Of the Day” posts brings. Many are in email but this one was on the BB.

You can read up the thread but here is the gist of the challenge.

BJ's Casino in Pahrump operated without a license from 1978 to 1979 and was closed down - they had $5 and $25 chips. Should they be classified as an Illegal? Thanks for all of the great articles, I wait in anticipation each day for the new one. I'm saving them all.
Larry

My reply:

First time I heard that story.
AND:
I do not believe that story.

And would not believe it unless I read it in the gaming commission minutes. Gaming commission came into being in 1955.
IMO there is no way a casino would have operated in the late 70's for a year without a license.

All of their minutes are available. I have copies of them for the 1st 5 years. Sounds like one of those "Nevada Boys" stories to me.

_______________

It looks like both of us were wrong.
BJ’s was not an illegal operation as Larry states.
The Chips are real NV casino chips, which I doubted.

Harvey Fullers book has some mistakes just like any other book with massive database entries.

Harvey lists BJ’s casino. I missed it as it is not in alphabetical order, IMO. I can’t believe others did not notice the entry. Phil Jensen did notice it.

Harvey says:
BJ’s Lounge & Casino-Hwy 52 and East Road Tonopah, Nye County 1978-79.

Hwy 52 and East Road search comes back to Pahrump, Nye County.

Phil Jensen confirms BJ’s was in Pahrump and used the chips. He had no clue where the illegal operation story came from. BJ’s has had several names over the years. Spragg says the location is a Big O Tires store today.

I have asked for a records search on the BJ’s chips. Problem is Harvey does not have a license holder in his listing for BJ’s. Records were listed in those days by the person’s name that actually put the order in. Still may get it.

TCR database lists John T Campellone and Bill Zell as operators of BJ’s. May or may not be correct. These 2 names may have come with the Illegal operation story that the authors were told.

Info on Campellone & Zell:

In Sept.1975 John T. Campellone and Robert Huffman applied for a license to operate a 21 game, 2 poker tables and 11 slot machines at a place called "Saddle West" in Pahrump. In April 1976 they were recommended for approval. At the time, Campellone was described as having worked in Las Vegas casinos for over a decade, at least part of that time as a baccarat manager at the Frontier (Huffman assistant manager at the Landmark).

In July 1977 the Gaming Control Board approved Campelone's sale of his 50% share of the Saddle West
to Robert Huffman.

By October 1977, Campellone and Bill Zell were leasing, with the option to buy, a place in Pahrump called "Jim's Bar" and were seeking a gambling license (located at the corner of East Street and state highway 372). At the time, Campellone and Zell were described as "experienced Las Vegas gambling executives."
(Per Phil, NV state highways were renumbered about this time. East Street and state highway 372 may be the same address listed in 1979 for BJ’s.)

In December 1979 John Campellone was working as a casino manager of Bally's Park Place Casino in Atlantic City.

(Harvey says BJ’s was open 6/1/78-3/2/79)
No way Campellone was hired in Atlantic City with an illegal gambling citation on his record in NV.

Atlantic City has the toughest casino employee application process in the USA. I took one look at it when I was asked to apply for Poker Mgr at the Tropicana, AC, and pitched it in the trash can. Not sure how long it was but I always say 200 pages when I tell the story.

John Thomas Campellone, born 1937. I have the last phone number listed for him but it has gone non working.

Summary:
BJ’s chips are real casino chips.
Not an illegal operation.