Bob Stupak, who brought Las Vegas the Vegas World and Stratosphere Casinos, died this week after a lifetime of helping shape the gambling town.

In a Las Vegas world increasingly more dominated by corporations instead of the colourful personalities of the past, the death of Bob Stupak Friday leaves rather less pizzazz at the Strip. Stupak is noted for founding both Vegas World and t5he Stratosphere, the needle-like structure that reaches higher into the sky than some other Vegas casino resort.

Stupak were diagnosed with leukemia a while ago, and the disease finally took him this week after a protracted fight. The legendary casino operator was 67.

Stupak was a master of promotion, either one of himself and his garish gambling venues. In 1996, Stupak was named "Mr. Las Vegas" by town Council.

Stupak understood the way to keep his name within the papers, and the way to make use of that to the benefit of his casinos. He famously bet 1,000,000 dollars at the Super Bowl in 1989, and won his bet. Stupak is credited with being the primary to supply a million-dollar jackpot on a spin of a slot machine.

Stupak was also as much a gambler as an operator, being an ordinary player on the World Series of Poker. He built the Stratosphere's tower as high because the FAA would allow, noting that he could look down on any other casino and gambling joint in town.

In a city made great by men like Benny Binion and Bugsy Segal, Bob Stupak was another of the larger-than-life figures which might be passing from the penthouses of Las Vegas into lore. Town is smaller without him.

Published on September 26, 2009 by MattMiller

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