Part V: Regional & Cultural · Casino Slang & Historical Terms

7.6 Steve Wynn

Historical — Industry Figure

Steve Wynn (born 1942) is an American casino developer widely credited with transforming Las Vegas from a gambling destination into a luxury resort destination. Wynn built The Mirage (1989), Treasure Island (1993), Bellagio (1998), and Wynn Las Vegas (2005) in Las Vegas, each property setting new standards for luxury and design. He then expanded to Macau with Wynn Macau (2006) and Wynn Palace (2016). Wynn’s emphasis on non-gaming amenities, fine art, architectural design, and premium service revolutionized the casino industry globally. He resigned from Wynn Resorts in 2018 following sexual misconduct allegations.

In practice

Wynn’s competitive rivalry with Sheldon Adelson was one of the defining business conflicts in modern casino history, playing out across both Las Vegas and Macau. Wynn called Adelson “Mr. Magoo, with an edge”; Adelson called Wynn “a guy who yakity yaks about design.”

One entry from the Casino Industry Glossary — 1,157 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.