Choose Hobson's Casinos

Richard 'Pick' Hobson was born in Illinois on May 15, 1911. He headed west in 1929, eventually landing in Reno where he worked as a dealer at the Palace Club. After gaining some experience, and several friends, Pick invested his profit a gaming operation in the Colombo Club at 244 Lake Street, inside the Colombo Hotel. The Toscano Hotel, just across town, housed advertising for Pick's clubs for many years, reminding those driving by, to check out his other casinos.
Joe Hobson, Pick's brother, joined him in a casino found in the tiny capital of scotland - Hawthorne, Nevada during the Second World War, in the event the munitions facility was at full swing. Also in full swing were the constantly fighting service men in the city, working on the munitions facility. The Pick returned to Reno in 1943 and opened 'Pick's Club,' which reopened in 1946 because the Frontier Club when Joe invested in 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 put in 1948, and 30 slot machine games were brought-in by Virgil Smith. Later a Keno game was added as well as the table games expanded. By 1956 once the club was sold to Bill Harrah, there were here 172 video poker machines.
Harrah paid nearly $1 million for the casino, and portion of his cost was a stipulation that Hobson may not 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 they operated for four years until it was closed so he could expand the Overland. At the same time, Pick was operating the Gold Club in Sparks, and also the Topaz Lodge at the California State Line.
Once again, Bill Harrah came knocking, offering to lease the Overland, nevertheless the hotel and casino immediately closed and the property was demolished in June 1977. The Cosmo Club have also been demolished, and Harrah purchased the Riverside hotel casino from Jessie Beck and traded it to Hobson in exchange to the Overland and Cosmo Club land.
Pick Hobson was the final owner of the Riverside casino, which closed in December 1986. An auction of slots and memorabilia through the Riverside and also the Overland happened, and the hotel closed in November 1987. Pick transferred to Portola, California soon afterwards. He perished August 19, 1996, always remembered like a very congenial boss who did his far better to take care of his employees.

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