A Complete Historical Narrative of Ownership, Construction, Mob Influence, and Legacy Few casinos in Las Vegas carry the weight of history quite like the El Cortez Hotel & Casino. Opened in 1941 and still operating today, it is the longest‑running casino in continuous operation* in Las Vegas, a living artifact from the city’s pre‑Strip era. … Read more
Jay Sarno, the visionary behind Caesars Palace and Circus Circus, transformed Las Vegas with bold themes, immersive design, and Teamsters‑backed financing that reshaped the modern resort era. His groundbreaking ideas set the foundation for the mega‑resorts that define the Strip today.
Kirk Kerkorian, a significant figure in Las Vegas, shifted its landscape through innovative mega-resort development, transforming the city from a simplistic gambling hub into a mass-tourism destination. Born in 1917, he leveraged his aviation success to invest in unexploited hospitality opportunities, culminating in the creation of iconic establishments like the International Hotel and MGM Grand. Kerkorian’s strategic focus on scale, branding, and corporate legitimacy redefined the casino industry, paving the way for large-scale operations and solidifying Las Vegas’s global hospitality reputation.
Few figures have shaped modern Las Vegas as profoundly as Steve Wynn. A developer with a showman’s instinct and an eye for luxury, Wynn transformed the casino from a gambling hall into a fully immersive resort experience. His properties redefined the Strip, set new standards for design and service, and ushered in an era of … Read more
How Howard Hughes quietly bought the Desert Inn, Sands, Frontier, and more—launching a corporate takeover that ended the mob era and transformed modern Las Vegas. The Billionaire Who Bought the Strip When Howard Hughes arrived in Las Vegas in 1966, he didn’t come to headline a showroom or host a grand opening. He came to … Read more
If anything is certain in life besides Death and Taxes, it’s that the Mob kept plenty of muscle in Las Vegas to protect its interests. In this case, the New York Mob started first, with a friendly visit from Meyer Lansky to the first club along what would become the Las Vegas Strip a dozen … Read more
Benny Binion, born Lester Ben Binion on November 20, 1904, in Plot Grove, Texas, was an American gangster and casino owner. He founded the World Series of Poker and Binion’s Horseshoe, a casino resort in Las Vegas. Benny Binion was known for his extensive criminal activities and contributions to the development of the Nevada gambling … Read more
Carl Cohen was born in Cleveland, Ohio, on February 15, 1913, and spent his adult years working in the gaming industry, beginning at the Thomas Club as a dealer. Cohen saw the Cleveland Syndicate’s casinos as a fine job and was both a dice dealer and, later, a pit boss. He also worked as a … Read more
Above: Moe Sedway enjoys a cigar with friend and casino partner Gus Greenbaum (Right) Moe Sedway was an American gangster and a close associate of the infamous mobster Benjamin “Bugsy” Siegel. Born in 1894 in Ukraine, Sedway immigrated to the United States as a child and grew up in New York City’s Lower East Side. … Read more
Today, Cleveland is best known as the home of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and the Cleveland Clinic. Plus, their pro sports teams are the Indians, Cavaliers, and Browns. The town and its weather are harsh, face-first against the cold winter winds that constantly blow from Lake Erie. Not the most inviting atmosphere, … Read more