Anthony Cornero Stralla: the Commodore of the Gambling Fleet
Anthony Cornero Stralla: the Commodore of the Gambling Fleet
flawless flawless
Gambling tycoons

Anthony Cornero Stralla (also known as "The Admiral" and "Tony Hat") was a famous South California trader who challenged the laws. He was one of the brightest figures in the early history of Las Vegas. He built the city's first casino, created the legendary Stardust club, and laid the foundations for the culture of casino resorts on the Las Vegas Strip.

Lawrence Ho: a Nepotism Baby or Workaholic?
Lawrence Ho: a Nepotism Baby or Workaholic?
Alessandro Alessandro
Gambling tycoons

The biography of Lawrence Ho, a Hongkongese tycoon, is full of interesting events. He is the senior son of the founder and the king of the gambling industry, Stanley Ho, who has successfully joined the family business and founded his own company, Melco Crown Entertainment. Nowadays, his corporation owns several large hotel casinos in different countries.

The Story of James McKay, the Godfather of Casinos in Reno
The Story of James McKay, the Godfather of Casinos in Reno
Alessandro Alessandro
Gambling tycoons

Until Las Vegas got the status of the gambling capital of the United States, this title belonged to the small town of Reno. Casinos started their official operations there in the thirties. However, they had illegally worked even earlier. An essential role in the foundation of gambling in Reno was played by James C. McKay, an organizer of the criminal gang whose activities are discussed in the article.

Frank Rosenthal: the Most Controversial Legend in Las Vegas
Frank Rosenthal: the Most Controversial Legend in Las Vegas
Alessandro Alessandro
Gambling tycoons

His contemporaries called him "the best living handicapper." Thanks to him, Las Vegas casinos and bookmakers look in the way how we can see them today. He managed the empire composed of the four casino hotels and was one of the most influential individuals in Las Vegas. He was married to the most beautiful woman of her time. Many times he underwent trials but always was successful. He survived car bombs with insignificant burns. Who is he? Meet the most mysterious legend of Las Vegas - Frank "Le

Billy Walters: Taste for risk
Billy Walters: Taste for risk
Alessandro Alessandro
Gambling tycoons

Williams Walters is considered as a true legend in the world of gambling. He has achieved especially impressive success in the field of betting, where he succeeded in earning huge sums. He has inspired thousands of other fans of sports betting by his activities and become their role model. You may learn from this article, prepared by one of the authors of the portal Casinoz, about the life of this famous gambler.

Nick Abelman, a poor immigrant who became a gambling magnate
Nick Abelman, a poor immigrant who became a gambling magnate
Alessandro Alessandro
Gambling tycoons

Nick Abelman was born in a family of poor immigrants and became a millionaire owning various casinos in several U.S. states. He entered the history of American gambling as one of the pioneers of the industry and did a lot for its development. Casino Riverside brought him the greatest glory and for many years it remained the most prestigious casino in the city of Reno.

Bill Bennett, the pioneer of modern gambling
Bill Bennett, the pioneer of modern gambling
Alessandro Alessandro
Gambling tycoons

A farmer's son who becomes a multimillionaire begins to work in the casino service staff to make a wonderful career and becomes one of the most influential operators of gambling in Las Vegas. No it's not the plot of the chick lit. This is a real biography of Bill Bennett , the owner of several leading American casino and a gambling innovator.

Howard Hughes in the history of Las Vegas
Howard Hughes in the history of Las Vegas
Alessandro Alessandro
Gambling tycoons

Thanks to several famous movies about Howard Hughes (especially The Aviator with Leonardo DiCaprio), we know that this eccentric millionaire has raved aviation and cinema, and suffered from mental disorders. But Hughes also left a bright trace in the development of gambling in Las Vegas. He owned several casinos that have become the new standard of quality. We will talk about it here.

Stanley Ho, the legend of Macau gambling
Stanley Ho, the legend of Macau gambling
Alessandro Alessandro
Gambling tycoons

Stanley Ho, Macau gambling tycoon, was born into a noble family, but he had to build his own empire, because his father had not only ruined, but also threw a son with his mother and two sisters away. Perhaps because of this, Stanley got a firm spirit and became a successful businessman, who got everything he wanted. The most famous domain of Mr. Ho is gambling in Macau.

Kirk Kerkorian, an Untypical Gambling Tycoon
Kirk Kerkorian, an Untypical Gambling Tycoon
Alessandro Alessandro
Gambling tycoons

The owner of a good half of the most famous casinos in Las Vegas, a permanent member of the Forbes wealthiest person list, the former controlling shareholder of the MGM, an incredibly generous philanthropist, donating millions of dollars to various charities - all this is about Kirk Kerkorian, an American billionaire of Armenian origin, who, as people say, has made himself.

Benny Binion, a Man Who Changed Las Vegas
Benny Binion, a Man Who Changed Las Vegas
Denis Anipchenko Denis Anipchenko
Gambling tycoons

Benny Binion was a notorious gangster, the owner of the famous casino The Binion Horseshoe, the founder of the World Series of Poker, and the first Las Vegas high roller. He raised the bets in the casino ten times higher than his competitors, which caused their discontent but still forced them to reconsider their views on the management in the gambling industry.

Sheldon Adelson, King of the Casino World
Sheldon Adelson, King of the Casino World
Denis Anipchenko Denis Anipchenko
Gambling tycoons

If anyone can be called a man who has made himself, it is Sheldon Adelson. The casino king of the world, the richest Jew in the world, the third richest person in the U.S. - it's all about him. He was born into a family of a taxi driver and a housewife who came to the U.S. from Lithuania and Ukraine. Now, he is a huge gambling tycoon who owns several land-based casinos.

Gambling Tycoons

Casino tycoons

Who is at the origin of the gambling business? Who were the first casino owners? How have modern gambling magnates made a fortune and firmly established themselves in the industry, beating many competitors?

Gambling Industry Legends

In this section of Casinoz, we talk about the life and business of the biggest bigwigs in the industry. Read the biographies of the legendary casino owners and learn their lives' secrets. Maybe, this will inspire you to play and win.

Founders of Legendary Casino

Let's begin with the colorful personalities that shaped the appearance of the modern gambling business. Some of them were fascinating characters from a different stratum of society.

  • Howard Hughes was an eccentric millionaire, a dreamer unafraid to invest in the most different spheres: scientific inventions, cinema, aviation, and gambling. His Vegas casinos offered a high level of service and forced the competitors to improve the service.
  • Jim McKay was one of Las Vegas's founders as the USA's gambling capital. He owned the biggest and most famous casinos in the city's early history. McKay casinos were successful until the early fifties when large monopolies replaced them.
  • Bugsy Siegel was the most charming gangster in the history of Las Vegas. He ran a casino like a criminal. His life had daring robberies, beautiful women, wealth, fame, and recognition of the wealthiest and most influential people, but sadly, it ended early.
  • Benny Binion began as a typical American bandit who did not disdain theft, bootlegging, or murder. Later, he organized underground gambling and, after a while, opened legal casinos. His main brainchild was the famous Binion's Horseshoe casino, which has long been a trendsetter in Las Vegas.
  • Nick Abelman was born into a family of poor immigrants, but his modest background did not prevent him from becoming one of the gambling industry's magnates. He owned casinos in Reno, Nevada, and California. Abelman's casinos were visited by famous artists, prominent politicians, well-known athletes, and the wealthiest.

We also describe many other casino operators of the past.

Tycoons of the 2nd Half of the 20th Century

In the second half of the 20th century, the sphere of the gambling business began to develop rapidly. The history of gambling at that time included many outstanding personalities.

  • Frank Rosenthal is an iconic character. The legendary "Lefty" directly and indirectly managed several famous casinos, boldly introducing all sorts of innovations. His world fame contributed to the film Casino, directed by Martin Scorsese and based on his biography.
  • Stanley Ho was called the king of Macau and Hong Kong gambling, and this flattering title does not seem an exaggeration. He created a vast monopoly, earned billions of dollars, and set the tone for many years of regional gambling development.
  • Bill Bennett was born into a farmer's family and served in the U.S. Navy during World War II. Returning home, he started a business and proved to be a very successful manager. Later, he became the casino manager, and after a while, he became the famous Circus Circus Casino owner. He then bought the casino Sahara, which is still in operation today.
  • Kirk Kerkorian was named "Father," "Baron," "Lion," and even "King." The man's business reputation was impeccable, and his authority was unwavering. He invested in various areas, including gambling. He owned the International Hotel Casino and the MGM Grand Hotel. Later, he bought Steve Wynn's company, Mirage.
  • Sheldon Adelson entered the gambling business in the late '80s of the 20th century by buying The Sands Casino in Las Vegas. He later opened the iconic Venetian casino and expanded the scope of his activities in Macau, running the Venetian Macao Casino and the legendary Marina Bay Sands complex.
  • Steve Wynn was one of the most charismatic characters in the gambling world. He owned top-rated casinos, attracting customers with luxury and various services. However, several scandals and trials significantly shaken his reputation and financial affairs.

Read more about these and other industry leaders at Casinoz.

founders of famous casinos

Do you know what games VIP gamblers prefer? Many tycoons play baccarat. You can try this game online.


Gambling Tycoons in 2024

The gambling business in 2024 does not suffer from a lack of new top managers. Fresh blood in the face of young and ambitious casino owners pours into the industry.

Perhaps the most striking example is Lawrence Ho, son of the legendary Stanley Ho. The guy chose not to live a slacker life, seriously took up education, and delved into all the secrets of the family business. Eventually, he raised the Empire founded by his father to new heights and successfully continued developing his casinos in different countries.

Conclusion

New articles regularly update the section with biographies of the most prominent gambling tycoons of the past and present. Do not forget to open this page to learn about the founders of major casinos and leading gambling figures.

Frequently asked Questions

💰 Where can I read biographies of gambling tycoons?

On Casinoz, there is a particular category containing articles about the most famous tycoons in the history of casinos.

💵 Who were the most famous tycoons in the gambling industry?

If we talk about the past, there were several legendary owners of famous casinos, such as Benny Binion, Jim McKay, and Nick Abelman. 

🏆 Who rules the world of gambling in 2024?

Lawrence Ho is one of the most reputable businessmen in the industry. 

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