Who Owns Casinos? A Complete Guide to America’s Major Mines Games Tips Casino Owners
The corporations and individuals who own casinos in the US have hit the jackpot in recent years. Gambling is more popular than ever, thanks in large part to easing gambling restrictions.
Brands like Caesars, MGM, and Hard Rock are recognizable to many in the United States. But have you ever wondered who owns the top land-based casinos in the US? Given the size of the country, it should come as no surprise that there are many successful casino franchises out there.
Keep reading to see a complete breakdown of the biggest casino owners in America. Also, I will tell you how to play your favorite games today using the top online casinos of 2023.
Who Are the Biggest Casino Owners in the US?
Las Vegas is home to many popular casino brands, including major resorts. Here are the biggest casino brands in Sin City and beyond.
Caesars Entertainment
The first company on my list of major casino owners in the US is Caesars Entertainment. Formerly known as Eldorado Resorts, this company owns many popular casino brands, including:
- Caesars Palace
- Eldorado
- William Hill
- Tropicana
- Horseshoe
- Harrah’s
Caesars Entertainment casinos are not just limited to the state of Nevada, either. It operates casinos in more than a dozen US states, including:
- Ohio
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Maryland
- Colorado
- Louisana
- Iowa
- Florida
- Missouri
- Mississippi
- North Carolina
- Arizona
- Pennsylvania
- California
- New Jersey
In total, Caesar’s Entertainment owns more than 50 casinos in the US. The company is owned by the Carano family, which includes MMA-fighter-turned-actress Gina Carano. Caesars Entertainment also owns the World Series of Poker.
MGM Resorts International
Another major casino owner in the US is MGM Resorts International. The MGM Lion is one of the most-recognizable casino logos in the US.
MGM casinos are not as widespread as Caesar Entertainment. But there are plenty of well-known brands under the MGM umbrella, such as:
- MGM Grand
- Park MGM
- Mandalay Bay
- Bellagio
MGM Resorts International has undergone multiple name changes over the years. Some of the recent names include MGM Grand Inc. and MGM Mirage. Regardless of what it is called, the company operates dozens of casinos in the US.
There are casinos under these brands in many states across the US, including:
- Nevada
- New Jersey
- Ohio
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- Mississippi
- Michigan
MGM owns several casinos on the world-famous Las Vegas Strip, including The Cosmopolitan, New York-New York, and the MGM Grand Las Vegas. The company was originally founded by Kirk Kerkorian and, according to the MGM website, currently employs over 80,000 people.
Boyd Gaming
Boyd Gaming is one of the oldest casino operators in the US. The company was originally started in the mid-1970s by Sam Boyd and his son, Bill.
Originally known as Boyd Gaming, the company opened its first casino, the California Hotel and Casino, in downtown Las Vegas. In the nearly five decades since, the company has opened up dozens of other properties. Currently, Boyd Gaming owns over two dozen casinos.
Nearly half of the company’s casino properties are in Nevada, including the Fremont Hotel and Casino and the Jokers Wild Casino. Boyd Gaming also owns over a dozen casinos in other states including popular brands such as:
- Ameristar Casino
- Diamond Jo Casino
- Sam’s Town Hotel and Gambling Hall
Bill Boyd still serves as the Co-Executive Chair of the Board for Boyd Gaming. He took over as the CEO after his father passed away in 1993. Bill served as the CEO until he stepped down in 2008 and is still very active in the company.
Wynn Resorts
The next company on my list is Wynn Resorts, which was founded in 2002. Despite being one of the newest companies on this list, it owns three of the most prominent casinos in the US.
- Wynn Las Vegas
- Encore Las Vegas
- Encore Boston Harbor
Wynn Resorts also owns three casinos in China. The company was co-founded by Steve Wynn and his wife Elaine Wynn. Japanese billionaire Kazuo Okada also invested heavily during the early days of the company.
While not as large as the other companies on this list, Wynn Resorts is still a prominent player in the US casino industry. Co-founder Elaine Wynne is currently Wynn Resorts’ largest stakeholder. Steven Wynn left the company and sold his stock in 2018 following sexual misconduct allegations.
Station Casinos
The final retail land-based casino company on my list is Station Casinos. This popular brand of casinos is well-known to gamblers in Nevada.
Station Casinos was started by the Fertitta family in the mid-1970s. It currently operates more than a dozen casinos in Nevada, including:
- Palace Station
- Santa Fe Station
- Wildfire Rancho
- Wildfire Boulder
- Red Rock Casino, Resort, & Spa
The company also briefly owned the Palms Casino Resort from 2016 to 2021. Station Casinos is still primarily owned by the Fertitta family. Brothers Frank Fertitta III and Lorenzo Fertitta both own 29% of the company’s stock.
Frank is the CEO and president of the company, while Lorenzo is the chairman of the board. The brothers have also had success outside of the casino business. They were founders of Zuffa, which owned the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) from 2001 until 2016.
Which Tribes Own the Biggest Indian Casinos?
There are hundreds of retail casinos in the US. But there are even more tribal casinos spread across the country. Indian Casinos are able to operate on tribal land under the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act.
Who Owns Hard Rock Casino
Hard Rock is arguably the most recognizable tribal casino brand. This is due in large part to the Hard Rock Cafe restaurant chain. Both companies are owned and operated by the Seminole Tribe of Florida.
There are six casinos in Florida owned by the Seminole Tribe, including:
- Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Hollywood
- Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Tampa
- Seminole Casino Coconut Creek
- Seminole Classic Casino Hollywood
- Seminole Casino Hotel Immokalee
- Seminole Casino Brighton
The Seminole Tribe of Florida purchased Hard Rock International in 2006. Since then, the tribe has been an important player in gambling legalization efforts in the Sunshine State.
Tribal leaders recently agreed to a new gaming compact that would bring sports betting to Florida. However, the compact was challenged in court and lost. Despite the setback, the Seminole Tribe will likely be a major influence in the future of tribal gaming.
Which Tribe Operates the WinStar World Casino?
The largest land-based casino in the world is the WinStar World Casino. It is a tribal casino in Oklahoma that is owned by the Chickasaw Nation. The tribe owns a total of 23 casinos in the state and has even partnered with smaller tribes to help themes tart casinos.
Oklahoma is a hotbed for tribal gaming. According to the American Gaming Association, there are 140 tribal casinos in the Sooner State. The AGA also reports that the tribal casinos in Oklahoma have an economic impact of over $9.5 billion, and support nearly 75,000 jobs.
The Chickasaw Tribe only has 23 of the state’s 140 tribal casinos. Other tribes with casinos in Oklahoma include the Cherokee Nation, Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes, and Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma.
Who Owns California’s Tribal Casinos?
California is another state that relies on tribal casinos for its land-based casino needs. The AGA reports that there are 85 tribal casinos in the Golden State.
More than five dozen Native American tribes in California operate a casino. Some of the most prominent tribal casino operators are:
- Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians
- San Manuel Band of Mission Indians
- Pechanga Band of Indians
The San Manuel Band of Mission Indians owns the Yaamava’ Resort Casino, which is currently the largest casino in the Golden State. They are also the tribe that owns the Palms Casino, which they purchased from Station Casinos in 2021.
Alternatives to Land-Based Casinos
Many of the land-based casinos above offer great gambling experiences. Some of the casinos even have online gambling options. However, none of the casinos above are available in all 50 states.
There are plenty of great online casino options available for bettors across the country, though. DuckyLuck Casino, for example, is available in every state. It has hundreds of online slots and table games to choose from.
Members of DuckyLuck can even claim awesome casino bonuses, such as the 5% daily cashback bonus. The casino also has a live dealer section which can help recreate the experience of any of the land-based casinos above.
You can learn more about this gambling site by reading our DuckyLuck Casino review.
Who Owns Your Favorite Casinos?
Knowing who owns casinos will not make you a better gambler. But having more knowledge of the industry can help you pick the right casino to gamble at. It can also help you find similar casinos to your favorite gambling establishments when you are traveling to new areas.