What is there to do in Reno besides gamble?

I agree, I would make the little extra drive and stay in Tahoe or Carson City rather than Reno. CC has a couple of cool museums and you can get to Virginia City for a couple of hours which is lots of fun (it's right up hwy 50 and then left into the mountains). South Shore Tahoe has so much to do- you can rent bikes and ride around or you can take a boat tour to Emerald Bay or go hiking- there's an easy and imformative one at the Visitor's Center. Have fun!