Jackie Gaughan had an ownership stake in many casinos throughout his career, but he is best known for his ownership of the El Cortez, where he resided until his death on March 12,2014.
13 Facts About Jackie Gaughan
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At one time Gaughan reportedly owned more than 25 percent of the available real estate in Downtown Las Vegas.
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Jackie Gaughan served in World War II and earned a degree from Creighton University.
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Jackie Gaughan began his career in the gambling industry in Omaha, working as a legal bookmaker at horse racing tracks around Omaha.
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Jackie Gaughan relocated to Las Vegas in 1950 after passage of a 10 percent tax on the legal bookmaking parlors crippled the industry in Nebraska.
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Jackie Gaughan purchased the Las Vegas Club in 1961, opened The Western with business partner Mel Exber in 1970, and purchased what became the Gold Spike in 1983.
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Jackie Gaughan was a partner, alongside Sam Boyd and Howard Cannon, in the opening of the Union Plaza in 1971, which was renamed Jackie Gaughan's Plaza in the 1990s, and additionally invested in the Golden Nugget, the Royal Inn and the Showboat.
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Jackie Gaughan owned a stake in the Golden Nugget when Steve Wynn took over the downtown property in 1973.
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Jackie Gaughan mentored Steve Wynn as he learned the Vegas casino industry.
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At his peak, Jackie Gaughan had accumulated more than 25 percent of available downtown real estate, including more than 20 acres of undeveloped land.
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In 2004, Jackie Gaughan sold the Plaza, Gold Spike, Vegas Club and Western, along with substantial pieces of additional downtown real estate, to Barrick Gaming for $82 million.
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Michael Jackie Gaughan took over many of the day-to-day operations of his father's casinos over the years.
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Jackie Gaughan died on March 12,2014, in Las Vegas, Nevada, at the age of 93.