Gaming on Lake Tahoe's north shore barely has a pulse these days. The Cal-Neva Lodge is closed for renovations. The Crystal Bay Club, Tahoe Biltmore and slots-only Jim Kelley's Nugget are often nearly empty most weekdays. The Hyatt Regency is usually a little better, but only a little.

But it's still worth visiting if you like casino history. The second floor of the Biltmore, near the hotel registration desk, is filled with old photos of Lake Tahoe and its casinos, including some of its own historic building. This place has had four different names since opening in 1946 - Tahoe Biltmore, Cal-Neva Biltmore, Nevada Club and Nevada Lodge (and back to its current Tahoe Biltmore) - and remains one of the coolest buildings on the north shore.

It's also supposed to be haunted, but that's another story.

The Cal-Neva Biltmore $100, pictured below, is one of my favorite chips in my collection.