Uncovering the Truth Behind Las Vegas Casinos: Debunking Myths About Tony Cornero’s Meadows Club

Uncovering the Truth Behind Las Vegas Casinos: Debunking Myths About Tony Cornero’s Meadows Club Discover more about [N/A – Quick Run]. The history of entertainment in Nevada changed forever on May 2, 1931, when the Meadows Club opened its doors, signaling a new era for Las Vegas casinos. This milestone occurred just five weeks after state lawmakers legalized gaming, marking a significant evolution in the landscape of Las Vegas casinos and setting the stage for the massive gambling industry that defines the city today.

The club was less than half a mile outside city limits near Boulder Highway, the newly paved road for workers constructing the Hoover Dam, making it beyond the immediate reach of law enforcement. This geographical positioning was advantageous for its founders, who were involved in serving alcohol, often illegally.

According to Las Vegas historian Patrick Gaffey, this was the first casino built from the ground up. It had live entertainment at its opening where guests were required to don tuxedos, a novel experience for the time.

Among its first performing acts was a member of the famous Gumm Sisters, young Frances Gumm, who later became known as Judy Garland.

However, despite its grandeur, many of the stories surrounding the Meadows Club are more myth than reality, often distorted by the passage of time and the assumptions of authors and journalists. The errors and myths surrounding the club have accumulated akin to a game of telephone.

Here, we debunk the top three myths about the Meadows Club:

MYTH #1: The Meadows Club Belonged to Tony Cornero

This falsehood originates from Cornero’s obituary in Las Vegas Review-Journal. Everyone wanted to believe this infamous figure managed the casino; he was even portrayed in the 1943 film, “Mr. Lucky,” starring Cary Grant.

In reality, the casino was developed by Cornero’s brothers, Frank and Louis. They financed the establishment and held the gambling license while Tony was incarcerated for smuggling rum during Prohibition.

During the grand opening, Tony was still serving his two-year prison sentence. Despite the family’s bootlegging background, it was Frank and Louis who successfully launched the club, with Tony being the least involved.

MYTH #2: The Mob Burned Down the Meadows Club

The Meadows Club originally opened with 25 hotel rooms, and after growing popularity, plans were laid for a hotel expansion. Unfortunately, shortly after it opened, the new addition was devastated by a fire that many claim was orchestrated by mobsters due to Tony’s supposed refusal to cut them in on profits.

Contrary to this theory, Gaffey points out that the fire was likely accidental—originating in the boiler room—without any suspicion of arson. He states that the establishment was too fresh and untested to have attracted such drastic criminal attention.

1. Only the new hotel was lost; the original casino with its initial rooms continued to operate unharmed for nearly another ten years.
2. There were no genuine references to the property as

{“@context”: “https://schema.org”, “@graph”: [{“@type”: “Article”, “headline”: “The Real History Behind Las Vegas Casinos: Debunking Myths About Tony Cornerou2019s Meadows Club”, “image”: “/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/pixabay-894430-1776344490017.jpg”, “publisher”: {“@type”: “Organization”, “name”: “10BET”}, “datePublished”: “2026-04-01”}, {“@type”: “FAQPage”, “mainEntity”: [{“@type”: “Question”, “name”: “What is the significance of the Meadows Club?”, “acceptedAnswer”: {“@type”: “Answer”, “text”: “It marked the beginning of a new era for Las Vegas casinos after gambling was legalized in 1931.”}}, {“@type”: “Question”, “name”: “Did Tony Cornero own the Meadows Club?”, “acceptedAnswer”: {“@type”: “Answer”, “text”: “No, it was actually developed by his brothers while he was incarcerated.”}}, {“@type”: “Question”, “name”: “What are common myths about the Meadows Club?”, “acceptedAnswer”: {“@type”: “Answer”, “text”: “Many myths include supposed mob involvement in its burning down.”}}]}]}

Related guide: Play now