When hotel-casinos first opened in Atlantic City, operators found themselves wrapped up in red tape.

Every time they filed a petition with the New Jersey Casino Control Commission, they had to deliver 17 separate copies.  This was before email, so some poor secretaries had to physically photocopy, collate and staple 17 separate packets, plus a few more for the companies’ executives and lawyers.

And hotel-casinos had to file lots of petitions.  Everything was regulated.  Restaurants had to get permission from the NJCCC if they wanted to move kitchen equipment.  Casinos all had to use the same color felt on their gaming tables.  Advertisements had to be pre-approved, and could not mention certain information, like the payout odds on slot machines.

Somebody finally asked the regulators what they did with those 17 separate copies.  The NJCCC looked into it, and admitted that they did not know where they all went.  So the 17 copies rule was dropped.