Who Built the First Casino in Las Vegas?

In 1946, Bugsy Siegel opened the Flamingo Hotel in Las Vegas, Nevada. It was the first casino in Las Vegas. Bugsy Siegel was a Jewish-American mobster who was part of the Genovese crime family. He also ran several illegal gambling operations in New York City.

PRO TIP:The first casino in Las Vegas was the El Rancho Vegas, which opened its doors in 1941. It was owned by Thomas Hull and located on the corner of what is now the Las Vegas Strip.

The Flamingo Hotel was originally built as a luxury hotel and casino. It was financed by money from the American Mafia. The hotel and casino became very popular, and it helped to make Las Vegas a major tourist destination.