No Limit: The Rise and Fall of Bob Stupak and Las Vegas' Stratosphere Tower

by John L. Smith

Of all the modern Las Vegas casino operators, none had more flair than Bob Stupak. The self-proclaimed "Polish Maverick" rose from humble origins as the son of a Pittsburgh boss gambler to head one of the largest privately owned casinos in Las Vegas, the infamous Vegas World. Stupak parlayed a small slot joint into a $100 million-a-year gambling operation by manipulating the local and national media with outrageous stunts and promotions. His headline-grabbing handiwork is now the stuff of Las Vegas legend.

Remember Vegas World's VIP Vacation? Stupak's cleverly worded advertisements flooded millions of mailboxes around the country and appeared in dozens of prominent national periodicals, including Playboy, Parade, and USA Today, attracting hordes of tourists to his out-of-the-way casino. Though the VIP Vacation became the most successful promotional campaign in the history of Las Vegas, it was also the most controversial. It prompted sanctions and fines from casino-industry regulators, but not before generating enough seed money to fund early construction of the $550 million Stratosphere Tower, Hotel & Casino.

Of all of Stupak's big ideas, the Stratosphere Tower was the biggest. It was to be the tower to end all towers, the greatest mousetrap in a city of great mousetraps. But the tallest observation tower in the country was erected on a wobbly financial foundation of oppressive interest rates and sky-high debt, which ultimately turned the no-lose proposition into one of Las Vegas' most high-profile flops.

Genres: Biography, History

299 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1997

About the author

Librarian Note: There is more than one author by this name in the Goodreads database.

A prize-winning journalist, John L. Smiths (1960- )column in the Las Vegas Review-Journal is the most widely-read newspaper feature in Nevada. In addition, John is the author of many books.

John lives in Las Vegas with his wife, Tricia, and daughter, Amelia, and carries the distinction of being a fourth generation Nevadan."

Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name. See:

John L. (Lewis) Smith (1811-1899)
John L. Smith (1846- )
John L. Smith (1945- )
John L. Smith, Baptist preacher

Reviews

[Russell Sanders · Rating 3 out of 5]

Bob Stupak was quite a character. The officially proclaimed Mr. Las Vegas was raised by a father who ran, for fifty years, illegal crap games in Pittsburgh, attained only an eighth-grade education, and eventually wound up in Vegas with an itch to become rich in the gaming industry and a never-give-up drive. Stupak was a classic narcissist who not only was frequently in hot water for questionable business practices but also seemed to be loved by most people. And it was Stupak who had the idea to build the iconic Stratosphere Tower, now known as The Strat. John L. Smith’s No Limit, The Rise and Fall of Bob Stupak and Las Vegas’[sic] Stratosphere Tower tells Stupak’s story. It is entertaining while being a bit pedantic. We are led to admire and be amazed by Stupak, both the man and his escapades. The pedantic quality of the book: I’m neither a gambler nor a stockbroker, so I was bogged down entirely in the lengthy tales of how crap games work, how slot machines work, how stock options work—and so on. The author, who grew up in Las Vegas, may have been well-versed in these things and thought he was being thorough and explanative, but he lost me often. And these explanations could go on for pages at a time. For that, I gave three stars for a book about a person whose life story should have garnered five stars.

[George Hamblen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this story. Having been to the strat so many times, I had no idea of the backstory. It’s quite the backstory. Hard to believe one man with a vision can make so much happen. People like Bob Stupak are what made Vegas so much fun to begin with. Author did a really nice job of laying at the pros and cons of how it all came together.

[Roger · Rating 4 out of 5]

I just re-read this book and just like the first time I read it, it was fascinating. Having known Bob Stupak personally, John Smith captures his personality very accurately. He is a Las Vegas legend.

[Megan · Rating 4 out of 5]

John L. Smith treated his subject kindly when he didn't have to in the climate of 1997. I enjoyed the book.

[Ty · Rating 5 out of 5]

Having been in the wind at the top of the Stratosphere, I have experienced first hand Bob Stupak's incredible journey. His career best symbolized as the ride known as Big Shot, with the ups and downs he has gone through to where he is today. This book gave me a better understanding on how much he has gone through and the role models to influence such a legacy. Great read. Recommended for all who are intrigued by Las Vegas.

[Zach Opsitnick · Rating 4 out of 5]

A well written account of one of the more colorful figures in Las Vegas. From start to finish, Stupak's journey was one that shows that if you continue pursuing your dream, you can one day achieve it.

[Ken · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent biography of Stupak and how he built the now-iconic Stratosphere Hotel.