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At first, Nevada expected little revenue from gaming. Here's how that changed over time. When Nevada legalized gaming in 1931, it was almost an afterthought. The modest levies on card games and slots would be the garnish. The main course through tough economic times, state leaders believed, would be looser divorce laws adopted during the same legislative session to lure unhappy spouses to spend time - and money - in Nevada. The gaming bill's author, freshman legislator Phil Tobin, couldn't know that 78 years later the quality of Nevada's schools, public safety and services to the poor would depend on how much tourists drop in the slot machines and bet at the tables.

Last year, Las Vegas gaming revenue fell to 2005 levels. No industry wants to go backward. But considering the stock market has plunged to 1997 levels and homes may take decades to return to their peak values of a couple of years ago, three years of gaming growth seems like a small hit in this economy.

CARSON CITY -- There is a chess game going on between the Legislature and Gov. Jim Gibbons. It could end in a constitutional crisis, or it could lead to the first on-time legislative session in a decade. Share & Save Newsvine Digg Fark Technorati reddit StumbleUpon del.icio.us Slashdot Propeller Mixx Furl Twitter MySpace Facebook Google Bookmarks Yahoo! Bookmarks Windows Live Favorites Ask MyStuff myAOL Favorites What is this? Most Popular Stories # OFFICER KILLED: Driver: No lights or sirens # Police arrest 28-year-old in Caesars slaying # Body of slain man found near Caesars Palace # NORM: Allergic reaction halts performance # FALLEN POLICE OFFICER REMEMBERED # NORM: Duke goes all-in against Rivers # Woman found stabbed to death # Driver in fatal crash says police cars didn't have lights, sirens on # NORM: Dion's husband OK after heart work # CAESARS PALACE DEATH: Man held in slaying of waiter Lawmakers are desperate to avoid the former, but time is rapidly running out, and any delay at this point could lead to a battle too ugly to contemplate.