Who Owns the El Cortez? | Las Vegas Advisor

Who owns the El Cortez?

The El Cortez opened in November 1941. In 1945, the builder-owners sold the property to Meyer Lansky, Bugsy Siegel, and several other partners for $600,000, thus rendering it Las Vegas' first mob-owned hotel-casino. Only a couple of years later when the mobsters moved down to the just-opened Flamingo, one of the original owners bought it back and owned it until 1963, when it was purchased by Jackie Gaughan.

Gaughan and his wife Roberta Mae lived in a penthouse apartment on the 15th floor of the El Cortez till her death at age 75 in 1996; subsequently, Jackie lived there alone.

In 2008, Jackie sold the El Cortez to long-time friend and business partner Kenny Epstein, who still owns it through IKE Gaming, with Epstein and his children in executive roles. It remains one of the few family-owned-and-operated hotel-casinos in Las Vegas. Kenny Epstein is celebrating his 85th birthday this year.

No part of this answer may be reproduced or utilized in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, without the written permission of the publisher.

Have a question that hasn't been answered? Email us with your suggestion.

Missed a Question of the Day?

Have a Question?

Tomorrow's Question

Aren't the people handing out cards on the Strip advertising illegal services?

Comments

Donzack May-05-2026

Bugsy

Is the El Cortez the casino Bugsy and Mickey Cohen visit that inspired Bugsy,while urinating in the desert,to build The Flamingo in the movie Bugsy?

John Hearn May-05-2026

Rarely go any more

The fancier this place gets,the worse value it becomes. I will still stop in for the annual boarding pass bonus, but that's about it. Losing Siegel's 1941 was a damned shame.

Michael B May-05-2026

Used to be the Best Downtown

Before the "influencers" rolled in it used to be my favorite casino in Vegas. A couple of $5 and a few $10 blackjack tables on weekdays with single and double deck available. Now the norm is $15 blackjack tables.  They used to boast in their promo mailers about how much better their slots were than the strip with percentages in the thirties if I remember correctly. The percentage slowly moved lower and lower into the twenties before not advertising that anymore. I know slots are subjective but my slot budget would last a while there. The past year or two the slots seemed as bad as everywhere else. My room, freeplay and dining credit offers used to be pretty good compared to the other downtown casinos. The last couple of years the have dwindled to what the rest are offering.  I used to be pretty loyal to El Cortez but now they are pretty much like everyone else. Sucks because I loved this place...

slickmv May-05-2026

Lost their mojo

I'll join the chorus of those who miss what the El Cortez used to be, and have no use for it in its current state. Sadly, it seems that Ellis Island has done the same.

grouch May-05-2026

no free parking

all or most casinos do not have free parking downtown and i do not go unless there is free parking as the casinos are bad enough now with all of the stuff they are doing give a person a brek

Mark Francis May-05-2026

Nice to see...

Some old school family ownership.

Question of the Day - 05 May 2026

Comments