Pick Hobson's Casinos

Richard 'Pick' Hobson came to be in Illinois on May 15, 1911. He headed west in 1929, eventually landing in Reno where he worked being a dealer on the Palace Club. After gaining some experience, and a few friends, Pick invested his money in a gaming operation at the Colombo Club at 244 Lake Street, inside Colombo Hotel. The Toscano Hotel, just outside, housed advertising for Pick's clubs for a long time, reminding those driving by, to visit his other casinos.
Joe Hobson, Pick's brother, joined him in the casino based in the tiny capital of scotland - Hawthorne, Nevada during the Second World War, when the munitions facility what food was in full swing. Also in full swing were the constantly fighting service men in the city, working at the munitions facility. The Pick returned to Reno in 1943 and opened 'Pick's Club,' which reopened in 1946 since the Frontier Club when Joe dedicated to the casino at 220 North Virginia Street.
The casino featured a bar, craps, 21, and roulette, and also a race-horse book. A bingo hall was added 1948, and 30 video poker machines were brought-in by Virgil Smith. Later a Keno game was added as well as the table games expanded. By 1956 if the club was sold to Bill Harrah, there have been 172 slot machine games.
Harrah paid nearly $1 million for your casino, and part of his price was a stipulation that Hobson wouldn't operate another casino for three years. In 1960, Pick purchased the Overland Hotel, just around the corner on Commercial and Center Street. The club backed-up to his old Lake Street casino.
In 1970, Pick purchased the Cosmo Club, that she operated for four years until it had been closed so he could expand the Overland. At the same time, Pick was operating the Gold Club in Sparks, along with the Topaz Lodge on the California State Line.
Once again, Bill Harrah came knocking, offering to lease the Overland, but the hotel and casino immediately closed as well as the property was demolished in June 1977. The Cosmo Club was also demolished, and Harrah purchased the Riverside hotel casino from Jessie Beck and traded it to Hobson in exchange for the Overland and Cosmo Club land.
Pick Hobson was the very read more last owner of the Riverside casino, which closed in December 1986. An auction of slots and memorabilia through the Riverside and the Overland was held, and also the hotel closed in November 1987. Pick gone to live in Portola, California soon afterwards. He passed on August 19, 1996, always remembered as being a very congenial boss who did his advisable to take care of his employees.

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