Gambling magnates are among the top echelons of society, with a selected few making it onto the exclusive list of the richest casino owners globally.
Casino owners are often at the top of our list when we think of people who make serious money. Few individuals globally make as much money as top casino moguls, with some cashing in millions of dollars daily.
Here’s a list of some of the richest casino owners globally, with a brief insight into how they made their money:
Mark Scheinberg
Mark Scheinberg is a former CEO of the internet poker cardroom, PokerStars. Scheinberg is also an avid investor, with holdings in luxury hotels and real estate, among other areas.
In 2001, Scheinberg and his programmer father, Isac Scheinberg, launched PokerStars. Throughout Mark’s time as CEO, the company grew to become the largest online poker provider in the world, as well as the home of the world’s most lucrative online gambling tournament series.
PokerStars was eventually sold to Amaya Gaming in 2014 for US$4.9 billion. Scheinberg reaped approximately US$3 billion from the sale while holding 75 percent of it. Now, he is redirecting his efforts on real estate investments. Scheinberg holds a net worth of US$5.3 billion from his endeavours.
Denise Coates
Like Scheinberg, Denise Coates does not have a physical casino because her business is online. She is the creator and main shareholder of the online gambling company Bet365, making her one of the richest women in the UK.
Coates hails from humble beginnings, working originally as an accountant. In 1995, she was named the managing director of a modest chain of retail stores. The aspiring businesswoman purchased the domain Bet365.com after witnessing the tremendous growth of internet gambling in 2000.
In 2016, Bet365 was recognised as one of the largest online betting platforms globally. Coates has been one of the top-earning chief executives in Britain for years since she owns about half of her company. Bet365 turnover is over US$65 billion every year, giving Coates a US$5.3 billion fortune.
Tilman Fertitta
Fertitta originally made his money through the property development and construction sector. In the 1980s, he launched his first major project, the Key Largo Hotel in Galveston, Texas. In Landry’s, he started out as one of the partners for their restaurant chain.
He ended up taking Landry’s public in 1993, and the firm immediately grew, introducing innovation after innovation. The enterprise further invested in hotels, entertainment, sports, and casinos. Fertitta bought Golden Nugget Casinos in 2005, and is now worth US$5.8 billion.
Lui Che Woo
World’s richest casino owner is 93-year-old Lui Che Woo, a relative newcomer to the gambling industry. Born in Jiangmen, China, Woo has a net worth of US$12,5 billion. Originally, Woo built his vast fortune through multinational conglomerates, with entertainment, leisure, hotels, construction materials, and properties part of his diversified portfolio.
It wasn’t until 2011 that Woo entered the gambling industry in Macao by opening the Galaxy Macau Casino and Hotel. Worth US$2 billion, his casino boasts over 50 restaurants, 2,200 bedrooms, 450 game tables, a wave pool, and an artificial beach! Nonetheless, Woo isn’t all about money, as one of the wealthiest casino owners globally – he has donated much of his fortune to philanthropic causes, including those that help educational development and medical care.
