Casinos Explored – The Stardust
Las Vegas remains the world’s most recognizable gambling destination for poker players and casino enthusiasts. Macau may generate more revenue, but “Sin City” dominates popular culture. Countless songs, movies, and other media have showcased the city’s legendary poker rooms and casino floors.
Despite its relatively short history, Vegas has evolved considerably. Many of its first casinos and poker venues have been demolished to make way for new projects, leaving behind rich histories of legendary cash games and high-stakes tournaments. The Stardust Hotel and Casino stands as one of those classic Vegas establishments.
Casino Overview
The Stardust Hotel and Casino was one of Vegas’ most iconic gambling resorts. One of the largest hotels in Las Vegas when it opened, it was the brainchild of bootlegger and entrepreneur Tony Cornero. The casino featured extensive gaming options, from table games to poker rooms that attracted players from across the country.
The Stardust became famous for its mob connections. For years, casino ownership bounced between racketeers and bootleggers. It became the mob’s gem, generating enormous cash until authorities cracked down in the early 1980s.
The resort’s other claim to fame was its gigantic neon sign. At 216 feet long and 37 feet high, the sign was the largest on the Las Vegas Strip. With 11,000 bulbs and 7,000 feet of tubing, it was visible from over three miles away. After the resort’s demolition, the sign ended up in the boneyard of the Las Vegas Neon Museum.
1954-1958: The Birth of the Stardust
By the 1950s, gambling and poker were well-established industries. Places like the El Cortez, the Mint, and the Golden Nugget drew visitors from across the country with their casino games and poker tables. Vegas saw 8 million annual visitors, with $200 million spent at casinos on everything from poker tournaments to table games.
Ex-bootlegger Tony Cornero saw the potential. Having operated offshore casinos in California, he wanted to appeal beyond high-rollers playing high-stakes poker. He targeted the large middle-class population after the war who wanted to enjoy casino games and betting without risking huge sums.
Construction began in 1954, but Cornero died from a heart attack a year later. In 1958, the Stardust opened with backing from multiple investors, including influential Las Vegas figure Moe Dalitz.
1958: The Early Years
The Stardust succeeded immediately, setting numerous records. With a 16,500-square-foot casino floor and 105-foot-long swimming pool, it became one of the Strip’s most impressive properties. The casino games and poker rooms quickly attracted gambling enthusiasts.
The opening ceremony drew celebrities, politicians, and city officials. The star attraction was the French revue production Lido de Paris. Organized by Donn Arden, the show featured costumed showgirls and a complex, lift-powered stage. While the entertainment dazzled, serious poker players and casino enthusiasts were equally impressed by the gaming facilities.
The Stardust lived up to Cornero’s dream of being affordable for the middle class. Charging rates as low as $6 a night, the hotel provided countless amenities that made it a steal for players looking to enjoy casino games without breaking the bank.
Guests accessed world-class entertainment, a 140-foot bar, a championship golf course, and extensive gaming options across the casino floor. Players could play poker and other games late into the night. The Lido de Paris became a regular show, quickly gaining fame as one of the must-see attractions on the Las Vegas Strip.
1962-1983: The Stardust’s Golden Era
The Stardust became a hotbed for celebrity activity and serious poker players. Ed Sullivan once broadcast his CBS variety show from the hotel grounds. Muhammad Ali trained there for his fight against Floyd Patterson. Siegfried & Roy, the German-American magician duo, got their start as performers at the Stardust.
The poker room stayed busy with players competing in cash games and tournaments. Each round of betting brought new action to the tables. Experienced players knew the odds of every hand, whether trying to win the pot with a strong hand or deciding when to fold. The game never stopped.
At the same time, enormous criminal activity took place. In 1969, the Stardust was sold to the Parvin-Dohrmann Corporation. Five years later, it was sold again to Allen Glick’s Argent Corporation.
Under the Argent corporation, former bookmaker Frank “Lefty” Rosenthal ran the casino. With his authoritative and obsessive management style, the casino became more popular than ever. Rosenthal understood poker strategy and casino operations, implementing systems that maximized profits while keeping players engaged at the tables. He knew how to play the game, both literally and figuratively, keeping poker players coming back round after round.
Rosenthal brought the sportsbook into the casino, which quickly became one of the Stardust’s trademark elements. This innovation in sports betting transformed casino operations, creating new revenue streams and attracting bettors who wanted to wager on games and calculate the odds.
Rosenthal was also an associate of organized crime. By skimming casino profits, he funneled millions of dollars to the Mob. Several Stardust employees were caught stealing from the Stardust and Fremont casinos on behalf of several Mob bosses, diverting cash from poker tables and other games.
1983: The Mob is Ousted
In 1983, a federal grand jury indicted 15 people across multiple cities in a casino-skimming conspiracy. That same year, Nevada gaming authorities suspended the casino’s license, and Boyd Gaming eventually took control of the property in 1985.
Under Boyd Gaming’s management, the casino continued to thrive with poker tournaments and table games attracting players from around the world. The poker room saw countless hands dealt, with players calculating odds and making strategic plays each round. In 1999, the Stardust signed Wayne Newton to a landmark 10-year deal worth $25 million per year, one of the biggest entertainment contracts in Vegas history.
21st Century: The Stardust’s Sunset
The Stardust couldn’t keep up with changing trends in casino gaming and poker. Vegas shifted away from the middle class, emphasizing billion-dollar mega-resorts with expansive poker rooms and tournament facilities where players could play in bigger games with higher stakes.
The Stardust’s final day was November 1, 2006. Hawaiian tourist Jimmy Kumihiro threw the last dice. Poker players and customers exited the building in a celebratory conga line, marking the end of an era for Vegas casino gaming and poker history.
On March 13, 2007, the Stardust was imploded in a grand ceremony to make way for Boyd Gaming’s new project, Echelon Palace. Echelon Palace was never completed due to the Recession. It was eventually bought and turned into Resorts World Vegas, which opened in 2021 with modern poker rooms and expansive casino gaming floors.
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