Winner Takes All: How Casino Mogul Steve Wynn Won and Lost the High Stakes Gamble to Own Las Vegas

by Christina Binkley

From Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist and culture critic Christina Binkley comes an updated edition of her New York Times bestselling account of sex, drugs, and the rise of Las Vegas. With a new prologue on the rise and fall of Steve Wynn.The Strip. Home to some of the world's grandest, flashiest, and most lucrative casino resorts, Las Vegas, with its multitude of attractions, draws millions of tourists from around the world every year. But Sin City hasn't always been modern Vegas exists largely thanks to the extraordinary vision, and remarkable hubris, of three competing business Kirk Kerkorian, Dr. Gary Loveman, and Steve Wynn. And in the wake of #MeToo revelations, not all empires survive.Having had personal access to all three tycoons, Binkley explains how their audacious efforts to reach the top-and to top one another-shaped the city as it stands. She takes us inside their grandest schemes, their riskiest deals, and the personalities that drove them to their greatest successes, and their most painful defeats. In this updated edition, she reveals the inside story of how Steve Wynn, the winner who took all, ultimately lost everything-twice. Sharp, insightful, and revealing, Winner Takes All is the gripping story of how billions of dollars and the unparalleled drive for power turned dreams into larger-than-life reality."It's a great drama on the greatest stage. . . Wynn, Kerkorian, and Loveman represent three opposing business personalities, three styles of achieving success. On the Vegas Strip, they're pitted against one another like gladiators, and we've got front-row seats. Kapow!" - bestselling author Po Bronson

Genres: Nonfiction

377 pages, Kindle Edition

Published November 6, 2018

Reviews

[Writemoves · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book was a lifestyles of the rich and somewhat famous – – Las Vegas version. It's focused on three casino moguls, Steve Wynn, Kirk Kekorian and Gary Loverman. Binkley described the wheeling and dealing among Las Vegas casino owners. For this reader, Steve Wynn was the most interesting character. Despite being basically blind, he tries to live a normal life though at a very rich lifestyle. Wynn skies, he buys art and woos women. He also is not a fan of Donald Trump.

Just about all casinos are gaudy, extravagant and pretentious. They are run differently than a regular business. No wonder that so many fail. There was a story in the book where women employees were told that they had to be within 5 pounds of their weight when they were hired. Plus the women who were on the floor had to be dressed provocatively.

Not the author's fault, but I labored through the book. It was not exactly a page turner. For those who have a gambling interest or enjoy casinos, they may find this book more interesting. This book did indicate extensive research and knowledge of the casino industry and the executives.

[Pedro Rampolla · Rating 5 out of 5]

Vegas - one hell of a beast.

A fascinating and detailed look at the foundations of modern Vegas. An excellent read that I struggled to put down. The dive into the use of data sciences by Harrah’s under Loveman has fundamentally changed my perception of Vegas operations.