Part V: Regional & Cultural · Casino Slang & Historical Terms
Sheldon Adelson
Historical — Industry FigureREPORTED
Sheldon Adelson (1933-2021) was an American casino magnate and political donor who founded Las Vegas Sands Corp. and was the driving force behind the integrated resort model’s expansion in Asia. Adelson built The Venetian in Las Vegas (1999) and then revolutionized Macau by opening Sands Macao (2004) and The Venetian Macao (2007), introducing the mass-market integrated resort concept to Asia. He also developed Marina Bay Sands in Singapore (2010). Adelson was one of the wealthiest individuals in the world and a major political donor to conservative causes. His vision of Cotai as an Asian version of the Las Vegas Strip reshaped the region’s gaming geography.
In practice
Adelson’s expansion in Asia rested on Macau’s proximity to mainland China’s large and growing tourist market, which gave it far greater growth potential than Las Vegas.
Related terms
More in Historical — Industry Figure
One entry from the Casino Industry Glossary, 1,090 terms written for surveillance, compliance and operations professionals rather than for players. Definitions describe industry usage; where a term carries a regulatory meaning, verify against the instrument that governs your jurisdiction.