I lived close to downtown for a year in the early ‘80’s, and wagered at Leroy’s sports book on a regular basis. It was the smokiest place in Vegas. It just hit you in the face as soon as you opened the door. If I felt like I had a “sure thing”, I would go to Stoney’s pawn shop next door, pawn my jewelry and put the whole thing on a game at Leroy’s. If I won, and Stoney's was still open, I would go right back, pay the interest, and get my jewelry back. The guy in Stoney’s knew me eventually, but I’ll never forget the first time I went in there with some diamond rings to pawn. He asked me where I got them, and made me put them on to see if they fit my fingers before he would lend me money on them. I still have some of the hand written sports tickets from Leroy’s.