Casino Industry Titan Don Laughlin Passes Away at 92, Leaving Legacy of Nevada Town

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The legendary entrepreneur, Don Laughlin, famed for his contributions to the casino industry and the founding of his eponymous town in Nevada, passed away peacefully on Sunday at the age of 92. His death was confirmed through an announcement on his business’ Facebook page, providing few details except that he left the world in the comforting presence of family members.

A biographical montage, created by his family, captures his life’s journey from his early days in the 1960s, to his later years. The announcement highlighted his profound influence on the local community and beyond, particularly noting how dearly his departure will affect the family at Riverside Resort, also his celebrated investment. Grief aside, they fondly remembered Don Laughlin as a remarkable mentor and an inspiring figure to work with.


Born on May 4, 1931, in Owatonna, Minn., Laughlin’s foray into the world of gaming started unpredictably, with a $500 per week grey-market slot machine venture. Pressed to choose between schooling and his illegal operation by his high school principal, he opted for the latter.

In 1952, Laughlin ventured into Las Vegas, acquiring his first casino, the 101 Club, two years later. His stint in Las Vegas was unfortunately short-lived due to a fateful private flight that sparked an investment idea in a less exploited region, 100 miles south of Vegas.

By 1964, Laughlin steered away from Las Vegas and purchased the southern tip of Nevada, known as South Pointe since the 1940s. This marked the onset of Laughlin’s vision of a new Vegas. Starting with the redevelopment of an abandoned motel and bar, seated on 6.5 acres beside the river in 1966, Laughlin founded what would later transform into the acclaimed Riverside Resort. South Pointe soon took on a rebranding to become the town of Laughlin.

Cheerfully, he denied claims of his involvement in naming the town, stating a preference for Riverside or even Casino, Nev. However, the post office had decided to address it as the “Laughlin substation,” and the name was adopted.

The succeeding years saw the town develop rapidly and by 1967, a second casino, the Bobcat Club had sprouted. Come 1968, the Monte Carlo followed, ushering boats teeming with visitors from across the Colorado River , solidifying Laughlin’s Vegas 2.0 vision.

Today, the town of Laughlin, Nev. is home to eight casino resorts and the Laughlin/Bullhead City International Airport. The Nevada Governor, Joe Lombardo, hailed Don Laughlin as “an outstanding Nevadan” known for his pioneering spirit, creativity, and resounding impact.

Don Laughlin’s wife of almost seven decades, Betty Laughlin, preceded him in death in January 2022. Arrival details of a planned memorial service will be released soon.

As we remember and celebrate Don Laughlin’s lasting legacy, it serves as a reminder of the thrilling and rewarding experience that casinos offer, not just in physical spaces like Laughlin’s Riverside Resort, but also online. As enthusiasts, we have an expansive review of the top online casinos this month, in case you feel inclined to explore. At West Island Blog, we understand that the excitement of the gaming table isn’t restricted to the casino floor.

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Melinda Cochrane is a poet, teacher and fiction author. She is also the editor and publisher of The Inspired Heart, a collection of international writers. Melinda also runs a publishing company, Melinda Cochrane International books for aspiring writers, based out Montreal, Quebec. Her publication credits include: The art of poetic inquiry, (Backalong Books), a novella, Desperate Freedom, (Brian Wrixon Books Canada), and 2 collections of poetry; The Man Who Stole Father’s Boat, (Backalong Books), and She’s an Island Poet, Desperate Freedom was on the bestseller's list for one week, and The Man Who Stole Father’s Boat is one of hope and encouragement for all those living in the social welfare system. She’s been published in online magazines such as, (regular writer for) ‘Life as a Human’, and Shannon Grissom’s magazine.