There has been a lot of talk in recent years over the introduction of online casinos and sports betting in the United States. Many of the online gambling brands to emerge are backed by some of the biggest casino tycoons in US, with MGM being a good example. MGM has gotten involved with mobile wagering in the US with the popular BetMGM mobile app. This is one of the leading online gambling apps available in the United States and you will find a vast number of casino games, ranging from slots to table classics, such as Blackjack and Baccarat.
MGM Resorts International is one of the biggest entertainment and hospitality companies in the world and was founded by Kirk Kerkorian in 1986. Kerkorian passed away in 2015 but his net worth in 2008 was recorded as $16.0 billion by Forbes magazine. He was the richest person in California and the 41st richest person in the world and much of his estate was left to charity.
In terms of the richest casino owner in the US, the title was awarded to Sheldon Adelson until his passing in 2021. At the time of his death, Adelson’s fortune was estimated to be $29.8 billion, and he was best known as the owner of Sands Hotel & Casino. Adelson was not born into wealth and as a child, he was sleeping on the streets of Boston before making his mark in the gambling industry.
His success in the casino world came late in life and he did not begin his career in the gambling business until he was 55 years old. The Venetian Las Vegas and the Sands Expo and Convention Center are two of the US-based businesses previously owned by Adelson, both of which can be found in Las Vegas. It is believed Adelson and his wife, Miriam Adelson, were Donald Trump’s largest donors during his 2016 presidential campaign and he created the Adelson Foundation in 2007, a charity based on healthcare and Jewish people.
In terms of those who are still running a casino business, the biggest casino tycoon in the US has to be Phil Ruffin. He owns half of the shares of Trump International Las Vegas Hotel and has interests in Las Vegas casinos. Ruffin is the boss of Circus Circus Hotel & Casino and Treasure Island Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas.
His wealth is believed to have grown to $3.5 billion in recent years and he has made some shrewd investments in his time. A good example is the Treasure Island Hotel & Casino, which was funded with $775 million and has grown to become worth more than double that amount.
For those who have any interest in the casino scene in America, the name Wynn will be familiar, and Steve Wynn is one of the richest casino Tycoons in US. Having started selling ice cream as a 15-year-old, Wynn is now worth over $3 billion having inherited his father’s bingo business and developed it into a hugely successful casino empire. Wynn Resorts is one of the leading names in gambling today Wynn Las Vegas opened in 2005 and the Encore Boston Harbor followed in 2019.
We have seen many people come and go in the casino business and it will be interesting to see if we have any newcomers in 2022 and beyond.
