Are there any Las Vegas casinos that offer Solitaire?
Today, the answer is a definite no, and when we first addressed this question many years ago, to the best of expert knowledge it appeared to be the case that the game had never been dealt in a Las Vegas casino. But some LVA readers and others, with long memories, have since countered with the fact that they clearly remember having played solitaire in a casino here. So, we will commence this answer with the historical background, which is interesting, and comes courtesy of David Schwartz, Director of the Center for Gaming Research at UNLV and author of Roll the Bones: The History of Gambling, and then we'll share what we have been able to glean about its history as a bona fide casino game.
Here's what Dave wrote, when we posed this query to him back in 2007:
"Solitaire has a long history. Sometimes called patience, the game dates back to at least 1875 (though it may be much older), when Lady Adelaide Cadogan published the first English-language book on the subject. This illustrated guide described 22 variations of solitaire, many with more than one deck. Eight years later, a competing guide offered 44 versions, and by 1910 more than 60 had been cataloged.
"The most common form of solitaire today, Klondike, is also known as Canfield, and was once called Demon. It's been alleged that legendary gambler Richard Canfield played the game under what are now called 'Las Vegas rules,' though Canfield's heyday came before the city of Las Vegas was founded, let alone became a gambling mecca. Under these rules, the player pays $52 for the deck, then receives $5 for each card that's played out. Though this game would return a steady profit to anyone banking it, it would require a dealer/player ratio of 1 to 1, making it too cumbersome for big-time play. Considering that during the time it takes to deal one "hand" of solitaire to one player, a casino could deal multiple hands to six blackjack players, it's easy to see why the game didn't catch on in American casinos.
"While it's impossible to prove a negative (that no casino ever offered solitaire as a bank game), a quick troll through about 150 years of gambling guides turns up a negative for any mention of solitaire or patience as a casino game. It's likely that the dollar scoring system was tagged 'Las Vegas rules' just because Las Vegas is known for casino gaming, and not because the game could actually be found there."
As to solitaire's history in Las Vegas, there was at least one now-defunct casino that did indeed deal it, while we've found comments online from other long-time residents, or regular visitors, who distinctly recall having seen/played solitaire elsewhere in Nevada, including one person who played at Circus Circus in Reno, which apparently dealt a version where the player was paid after the 10th card, while another Vegas local recalled it being dealt in "some of the smaller establishments" around 30 years ago.
With regard to the Las Vegas property that dealt the game, we can now confirm what follows on the strength of accounts from two different people, who both recall having played solitaire at the off-Strip Maxim, located on E. Flamingo. This casino opened in July 1977 and was popular on account of its reputation for customer care and service, but it fell out of favor in the '80s due to competition from newer, flashier properties on the Strip. In 1999, the casino was closed as the result of a dispute between its operator and the hotel owners; the entire property closed in 2001. It's now the Westin, home to the Max casino, evidently a nod to its once illustrious forebear.
Here's the account we were sent by an LVA reader of his experience playing solitaire at the Maxim 25-30 years ago:
"As I remember, you paid $50 (or $52) for the deck (new and unshuffled). You were allowed to make three shuffles only, then you would deal out your typical solitaire, i.e., seven rows with one card up in the first, 2nd row would be one down, one up, 3rd row two down, one up etc.
"You would then move any aces up to the 'out' position and follow the suits accordingly, as in a regular game of solitaire. Taking the remaining un-dealt cards, you were allowed to flip them up one at a time and ONLY ONCE through the deck, making all the normal moves you could make. You were paid $5 per card for each card you got up into the out position. Obviously, if you went out completely, you would be paid $260.
"Of course, it's VERY difficult to get many cards out when you can only shuffle them three times: You don't get a very good 'mix' generally."
While some people doubted this account, we subsequently found it corroborated by another player, who wrote:
"Yes it was a regular game. You had three chances to finish the game, by 'chances' means you finished the deck and turned over and started again. You did this two or three times -- I forget -- it's been a long time.
"The only time I saw it was at the old Maxim about 20 years ago. I remember it clearly because I asked if they had a table that played 'War'! I was kidding, because it just seemed funny to see solitare being played [in a casino]."
You can read up on the history of Las Vegas Solitaire as a gambling game, plus learn about the rules, odds, and strategy and play a free online version, at vegassolitaire.com.
