Top 5 Wealthiest Land-Based and Online Casino Owners
There’s no denying the casino industry is built on dollar bills. The enormous sums of money that casinos make – and pay out – are legendary. And behind every casino has to someone sitting at the top.
While land-based casinos have been around for years, it’s only since 1994 that online casinos have been making a mint. However, this doesn’t mean that land-based casino owners are wealthier than online brands. Join us as we take a look at the top 5 richest land-based casino owners and the top 5 online casino owners. You’ll soon see that the gambling industry can be incredibly lucrative for all involved…
Top 5 Land Based Casino Owners
The interesting thing about land-based casinos is that they are inseparable from a few key personalities. A handful of names inevitably come up, generally followed by mentions of how much money these savvy entrepreneurs are rumoured to have earned. It can be argued that these key figures are an essential part of the industry, and as important to the reputation of the venue as much as the actual services offered.
These are top 5 wealthiest casino owners in the world.
1. Sheldon Adelson
This is posthumous mention, as Sheldon Adelson recently passed away at the age of 87 in January 2021.
Either way, Adelson (or now his estate) remains the wealthiest of all land-based casino owners to date, as his fortune sits at around $42.9 billion. Almost up until his death, Adelson was the CEO of the Las Vegas Sands Group, which owns the stunningly high-profile Venetian Hotel and Casino. For a bit of perspective, this single venue earns over $30 million in a single day!
2. Dr Lui Che Woo
Dr Woo is a relative newcomer to the gambling world, having appeared unexpectedly in 2011. His first order of business was to facilitate the opening of the Galaxy Macau Casino Hotel, which almost immediately saw success on an unprecedented level. He is now estimated to have a personal wealth of $21.6 billion.
3. John Paulsen
Paulsen is an interesting character in that he specialises in gambling company mergers, making him nothing short of a superhero as far as the industry is concerned. After obtaining multi-million dollar shares in MGM Mirage and Boyd Gaming Corporations, he is now the second largest MGM shareholder. Exact numbers aren’t forthcoming, but needless to say the total is a large one.
4. Kunio Busujima
Another newcomer to the list, Busujima, beat the likes of Donald Trump and Steven Wynn to secure a spot in the top 5. Busujima provided the immensely popular Pachinko machines to all corners of Japan, amassing a fortune of around $4.9 billion.
5. James Packer
What can be said about Packer that hasn’t already been? As owner of Crown Limited, the biggest gambling and entertainment chain in Australia, he certainly has money to burn. Around $4.1 billion, to be precise.
Top 5 Wealthiest Online Casino Companies
In the world of land-based casinos it’s all about individuals, but the online casino world focuses more on specific corporations. Here are the top 5 highest earning online casino companies.
1. Flutter + Stars Group
Simply put, the Flutter Stars Group is a combination of numerous successful companies. Paddy Power, PokerStars, SkyBet and many more all joined forces to create a single, massive entity, officially referred to as the Flutter Entertainment. Revenues are estimated at around £3.8 Billion.
2. GVC Holdings
United Kingdom-based GVC Holdings came about when Ladbrokes and Coral were absorbed into a single entity. Most refer to the conglomerate as Ladbrokes-Coral, but the official name is actually GVC Holdings. Revenue sits at around £3.7 billion.
3. Bet365
After embracing technology Bet365 saw exponential growth, quickly pulling it ahead of competitors. Founded in 2000, and now officially owning one of the biggest sports stadiums in the world, Bet365 sees revenue of roughly £3 billion.
4. Scientific Games
Less well known than others on the list, United States-based Scientific Games has actually been around since 1917. The gambling technology-focused company offers essential services to operators around the world, bringing in an impressive £2.75 billion for their efforts.
5. The Stars Group
Lastly, we have The Stars Group, which is another conglomerate of numerous organisations under a single umbrella. The Stars Group has been around since 2001, and has gradually expanded, merged with other entities, and broadened its offerings to become a top earner in the world. Revenue is estimated at £2.05 billion.
There you have it, the richest land-based and online casino owners!
FAQ's
Despite no longer owning any more casinos and having filed for bankruptcy, much of Trump’s $3.1 billion fortune comes from casinos.
The estimated value of the land-based and online casino industry is $227 Billion.
The Galaxy Macau
Approximately $230 million annually.