ChipGuide - The Online Information Source For Casino Chip Collectors

S. S. Tango

Santa Monica, California
Type: Illegal
Status: Closed
Open: 1935, Close: 1946

Anthony Cornero operated three gambling ships, the S.S. Tango, S.S. Rex, and S.S. Lux, off the coast of California between 1934 and 1946. They were anchored beyond the ‘three mile limit' of state jurisdiction off from Santa Monica and Long Beach.

The wealthy of Los Angeles would take water taxis out to the ships to enjoy the gambling, shows, and restaurants. The success of Cornero's floating casinos brought outrage from California officials. State District Attorney Earl Warren ordered a series of raids against his gambling ships in the 1940s.

Photograph circa 1936 (Courtesy of the Los Angeles Public Library).

About Illegal Casinos - by their nature, information about illegal, or unlicensed, casinos is hard to find and difficult to verify. Information presented on the ChipGuide about these casinos is provided as the result of our best efforts but may not be 100% accurate. Even if the information is accurate, gamblers move around and may take their equipment with them; items used in one casino may have also been used in others. Please send verified information about illegal casinos to the ChipGuide so that we may improve our accuracy.

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Casino Money

Table Chips (2) [QuickView]

CG038592 Obsolete
Denom: 50
Issued: 1930s
Added: 2011-06-29
Last Update: 2013-01-30
Color: RED
Mold: C&S
Contributed by: Albert Scalzo (LM-2995-2)

CG038593 Obsolete
Denom: 100
Issued: 1930s
Added: 2011-06-29
Last Update: 2013-01-30
Color: BLUE
Mold: C&S
Contributed by: Albert Scalzo (LM-2995-2)

No Cash Value Chips (3) [QuickView]

CG038594 Obsolete
Issued: 1930s
Added: 2011-06-29
Last Update: 2013-01-30
Color: ORANGE
Mold: C&S
Contributed by: Albert Scalzo (LM-2995-2)

Image
Needed

CG038595 Obsolete
Issued: 1930s
Added: 2011-06-29
Last Update: 2013-01-30
Color: Yellow
Mold: C&S

CG106208 Obsolete
Issued: 1930s
Added: 2013-06-04
Last Update: 2013-06-04
Color: Yellow
Mold: C&S
Inlay: R-White
Contributed by: Rich Hanover

Tokens - Other (1) [QuickView]

CG177883 Obsolete
Added: 2017-03-25
Contributed by: Joel Reznick

Gold Award

Casino Equipment

Dice (1) [QuickView]

CG284859 Obsolete
Added: 2022-05-17
Color: Red
Contributed by: Torrey Morand

Casino Collectibles

Chip Order Cards (1) [QuickView]

CG296189
Issued: 1936
Added: 2022-12-02
Last Update: 2022-12-02
Mftr: United States Playing Card Co.

USPC Co. order record. 1,000 chips ordered on 7/2/1936.

Gaming Guides (1) [QuickView]

CG165882
Added: 2016-07-04

Roulette Card

Match Books (3) [QuickView]

CG060676
Added: 2012-01-13
Last Update: 2012-01-13
Color: Blue
Contributed by: Dave Hepburn

CG150119
Added: 2015-09-11
Color: Blue
Contributed by: Dave Hepburn

CG180172
Added: 2017-06-01
Color: Black
Contributed by: Bill Judge

Other Items (7) [QuickView]

CG060265
Added: 2012-01-07
Last Update: 2012-01-08
Contributed by: Dave Hepburn

Complimentary Dinner Invitation & parking info. Came in the blue card holder.

CG060266
Added: 2012-01-07
Last Update: 2012-01-07
Contributed by: Dave Hepburn

CG169914
Added: 2016-09-19
Contributed by: Robert Baker

Complimentary Dinner Invitation & speed boats for hire info.

CG060675
Issued: 1938
Added: 2012-01-13
Last Update: 2012-01-13
Contributed by: Dave Hepburn

looks like a free mailer telling what the menu was for Diner and what a great time you had.

CG175186
Issued: 1938
Added: 2017-01-24
Last Update: 2017-01-24
Contributed by: Dave Hepburn

looks like a free mailer telling what the menu was for Diner and what a great time you had.

CG150118
Added: 2015-09-11
Contributed by: Dave Hepburn

Ad

CG270718
Added: 2021-08-17
Color: White
Contributed by: C. T. Rodgers

Free Dinner card and parking, White with Blue print

Total Items (19)