Celebrities are just like the rest of us and are often drawn to the glitz and glamour of casinos to have their chance to earn some money through high-stakes games. The allure of casinos continues to boom around the world with the rise of online casinos, but the traditional land-based casinos still hold a place. Many stars are known to frequent casinos for their entertainment purposes, but a few of them have taken this one step further. A selection of celebrities have ventured into using their celebrity status along with their wealth to venture into the ownership of casino sites. Rockstars and athletes alike have taken the plunge, so let’s have a look at which celebrities have owned casinos.
Frank Sinatra
One of the most iconic and well-known celebrity dabbles in casino ownership is Frank Sinatra’s majority stake in the Sands Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas. In the 50s and 60s, the Rat Pack, for which Sinatra headed up alongside Sammy Davis Jr and Dean Martin, often were on the premises either hanging out or performing. The band was there so much that it became their unofficial HQ, and whilst Sinatra did not have a majority ownership in the Sands during this period, his stake in the company, alongside the cultural impact of the Rat Pack, meant that Sinatra had a large influence over the operations and way things were done at the Sands.
Sinatra’s level of influence was not just good for business for the Sands; his actions molded and defined the culture of casino betting in this era, alongside the explosion of Las Vegas. The style, music, and glamour were all part of Sinatra’s influence, and whilst some of his antics were frowned upon, including his links with Mafia characters, he created a legacy for The Sands which lives on to this very day, despite its demolition in the late 90s.
Sinatra was a pivotal character in developing the allure of land-based casinos in not only Vegas but also America and worldwide. However, the popularity of land-based casinos has been waning since the introduction of the iGaming and online casino industry, which continues to boom. The likes of Evolution Gaming have become popular and provide an immersive live experience for gamblers that reflects a land-based casino. CasinoBeats KR offers an extensive list of the best Evolution Gaming platforms.
Floyd Mayweather
The famous boxing champion Floyd ‘Money’ Mayweather, who was at the top of the boxing game for many years, has been no stranger to Las Vegas or casinos in his time. He is known by many for his high-stakes wagering and his interest in the casino industry. It will therefore not come as a surprise that the champion boxer has heavily hinted at plans to launch his own casino and hotel venue under his Money Team Brand.
Whilst there is nothing official, Mayweather remains a firm favorite patron of many of the Las Vegas casinos. It remains to be seen if this famous patron will become an investor or owner of a casino in the coming years, but it would not be an unlikely outcome.
Mel Gibson
Another celebrity that has had large rumours surrounding him about his involvement in casino investments, particularly in Australia, is Hollywood blockbuster actor Mel Gibson. Similar to Mayweather, there is no concrete evidence to suggest Gibson has been actively involved in investing in the casino industry, but there are regular claims in Australian news outlets when casino markets shift ownership that Gibson is interested in entering the industry. As they say, there is no smoke without fire. His name often crops up, and whilst his recent profile has become somewhat controversial, he remains a celebrity that is very much embroiled in the casino ownership rumours.
Michael Jackson
The famous pop singer had his fair share of news coverage over his career. One of the stories that broke in the early 90s was that Jackson was involved in a proposed plan for a casino project in Detroit alongside Don King. Named ‘The Majestic Kingdom’, it was planned by Jackson and others and would create a huge entertainment complex with a casino complex integrated into it. The plan was aimed at trying to reimagine the Detroit economy with a new look. Jackson’s role was more of a promotional one than a financial one. His fame and musical popularity were aimed to be a symbolic face for the brand, and his public support of the plan was endearing to investors. Despite all the grand plans, considerable financial and legal complications meant that this idea was soon bedded, never to be looked at again.
Jay-Z
Having long been in the entertainment business and proven himself as an astute businessman as well as a hip-hop sensation, Jay-Z has crafted a huge empire of a brand that stretches into fashion, hospitality, and sports. When Jay-Z was at the peak of his success in the mid-2000s, Jay-Z, who is known to enjoy a good wager at the casino, tried to emphatically enter the casino industry. His master plan was to enter a partnership with Aqueduct Entertainment Group (AEG), which was intent on opening a casino in Queens, New York. Jay-Z also used his celebrity status to try and garner support for this initiative and managed to attract high levels of media attention due to his status. However, like others, his plans for his part in the casino industry ultimately fell through when AEG faced a backlash of concerns about qualifications, selection processes, and regulatory loopholes. Despite this, it marked another instance of a celebrity using their status to influence the industry and come close to owning a casino establishment.
Final Thoughts
It will come as no surprise to many nowadays that celebrities have been there and done that when it comes to the casino business. The industry is lucrative but also culturally reflects a high-class society of glamour, prestige, and wealth, which completely aligns with modern-day celebrity status.
However, when finalising the deal and opening up their own casino or acquiring shares in casinos, things have become a bit harder for celebrities. The high regulations, political gameplay, and controversy surrounding the opening of new casinos can be a bit of a gamble for celebrities. The legal landscape makes it much harder for celebrities to venture into their own casino industry stakes compared with brand deals for clothes or goods. Whilst many celebrities have tried, not many have successfully owned casinos, and it seems that someone is going to need to do things differently to break the mold in this day and age.
