Gamblers are not only interested in the latest products presented in the casino, but also want to know who was at the origins of this profitable business. Naturally, such an industry cannot but have its own "kings" who became rich and famous thanks to the passion of ordinary people for gambling entertainment. Below are the most famous people who turned gambling into one of the most exciting sources of income.
Formation of the industry: legends of the early and mid-20th century
Among the people who made the gambling industry attractive and profitable, there are many individuals from various walks of life. They were at the origins of modern gambling. It was they who, in the early and mid-20th century, turned a backwater town in the desert into a glittering Las Vegas.
Jim McKay
This man is one of the founders of the famous Las Vegas as it is perceived today. Mackay owned the largest and most famous gambling establishments in the city, which were incredibly profitable until the early 50s of the 20th century. Afterwards, under pressure from monopoly companies, most of them were closed or "bought out" with the replacement of the former color, name, etc.
Howard Hughes
This eccentric millionaire was always considered an oddball who invested in strange projects. The public's opinion of him changed after the businessman managed to turn several Las Vegas casinos into very decent and frequently visited establishments that offered the highest level of service.
Meyer Lansky
The famous "accountant" of the American mafia, born in the Russian Empire and considered one of the most influential and intelligent representatives of the "National Crime Syndicate", headed by Charles "Lucky" Luciano. It was Lansky who became the founder of the gambling empire, owning casinos in different countries: the USA, Cuba, Great Britain, the Bahamas, etc. A biographical film of the same name was made about this mafioso, released in 2021.
Bugsy Siegel
This gangster was considered one of the most charming gangsters in Las Vegas, who worked under the patronage of Meyer Lansky and was considered his friend. Bugsy became the founder of the famous Flamingo casino, built with mafia money. However, due to ignorance of the intricacies of construction and accounting, Siegel was deceived by several suppliers of materials and equipment, who managed to sell them to him several times. As a result, instead of the planned 1.5 million dollars of the mafia, he spent more than 6 million. In 1947, Siegel was killed. The crime has not been solved to this day, but most likely, the sentence was passed by the mafia.
Nick Abelman
Another native of the Russian Empire. Like Meyer Lansky, Abelman stood at the origins of the gambling industry in Reno and Las Vegas. And although it was always believed that he ran his business honestly, it must be understood that from the 30s to the 50s of the last century, all projects in the USA related to casinos were initially underground, and only later legal. Most of them were under the control of the mafia or with its direct participation. Abelman owned famous casinos in Reno, California, Nevada. They were loved by respectable politicians, famous athletes and popular artists.
Gambling tycoons of the second half of the 20th century
The state's never-ending fight against the mafia bore fruit. Beginning in the mid-20th century, the influence of criminal syndicates on the gambling industry began to decline, and honest businessmen began to appear in it. However, many of them were still acquainted with the mafia leaders, who by that time had begun to turn into "honest" entrepreneurs.
Frank Rosenthal
This is a truly legendary person who managed several casinos in Vegas. Based on his biography, director Martin Scorsese filmed the famous blockbuster "Casino". Rosenthal came to Las Vegas in his youth. He worked in the city's gambling establishments as an ordinary croupier. By the end of his life, Rosenthal managed several of the largest casinos and was considered a true revolutionary in the gambling industry. At his instigation, betting and other innovations appeared in the establishments.
Kirk Kerkorian
The reputation of this businessman is truly impeccable. No one has ever accused him of having ties to the mafia. Kerkorian was often called the "king of the gambling industry." The businessman owned the famous Las Vegas casinos. These are the MGM Grand Hotel, the International Hotel and the Mirage. In 2007, K. Kerkorian's fortune was estimated at $18 billion.
Stanley Ho
This entrepreneur was at the origins of the gambling business in Hong Kong and Macau. Today, the famous gambling establishments of the Chinese province of Macau have already eclipsed the casinos of Las Vegas. Stanley Ho, together with his holding company SJM Holdings, has done a lot for this. In 2014, the value of the holding was estimated at 16.5 billion dollars.
Among the relatively modern gambling tycoons (late 20th and early 21st centuries) there are many other famous personalities. These include Sheldon Adelson, Steve Wynn, Lawrence Ho (Stanley Ho's son) and many others.
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