One of the pioneers of the casino industry in Las Vegas, Jackie Gaughan, has died at the age of 93.
Gaughan was a casino and hotel owner who helped to build the city into a world destination for gambling. It was once calculated that Gaughan owned one-quarter of the central district of the city.
He was the last of the original post-war boom operators in Las Vegas, owning or having a stake in the Flamingo, Showboat, Golden Nugget, Union Plaza and Gold Spike casinos.
Gaughan survived the gangster era of Las Vegas and had his longest spell in ownership while controlling the El Cortez casino, which was built in 1941 and was to remain in business for 71 years.
He originated from Omaha, Nebraska and served in the Army Air Corps in the war before completing university and then worked as a bookmaker at Omaha’s horse racing track, relocating to Las Vegas in the early 1950s.
Gaughan initially bought a three per cent holding in the Flamingo, but left after a fall-out with a local mobster, buying the El Cortez in 1963 from a syndicate that included the notorious Bugsy Siegel.
Gaughan was renowned for his care of his staff and his general courtesy. Until the day he retired he would tour his property and talk with staff, guests and gamblers. He sold his interests in several other casino properties in 2004 to Barrick Gaming for $84m and retired to his penthouse at the El Cortez.
