The Who's Who of Gaming

Your guide to who you need to know in the gaming business

Ed Ware

Edward Ware is chief executive of 32Red, having previously cut his teeth as part of the equally successful gambling machine that is Ladbrokes. Ware is integral part of 32Red’s success, having been on board since its inception, so its success and even shortcomings lie at his door. Ware’s previous work at Ladbrokes involved some interesting tasks, such as deciding whether or not to open their stores the day after Princess Diana died, as well as flying over to Gibraltar and forming links with the government there. It was this trip, by the way, that spawned 32Red.

Roger Raatgever

Roger Raatgever is quite the cryptic fellow, but what we do know is the following; he’s the CEO of Microgaming, he was born in South Africa and returned there for his education and his software company recently turned over a “phenomenal amount”. Not bad work for a guy who won’t even provide information about his shareholders. Raatgever has featured in the UK newspaper, The Independent, and currently resides in the Isle of Man. Raatgever also served a term as one of the directors of eCogra, the online gaming industry regulator.

Mor Weizer

While Mor Weizer may not be a favourite with residents on the Isle of Man (he infamously suggested the island was “boring” in a recent press release) he is a keen favourite with his shareholders. As the CEO of Playtech, Weizer manages to keep over 50 customers happy, including PaddyPower and Party Gaming. While Weizer won’t reveal how much coin he turns in, he has submitted that at peak times, the software handles around 25,000 poker players. If this wasn’t enough to cement Weizer’s status as a “big shark” of gaming, finance specialists JP Morgan believe Playtech’s revenues will rise to $271 million by 2010.

Harry Findlay

Unlike the aforementioned big guns of gaming, Harry Findlay thinks of himself as a “punter” as opposed to a businessman. In basic terms, this is what he is, simply a man who places a few bets. However, Findlay is the bookmakers foe; a man who places huge bets and more often than not wins. Apparently, Findlay’s favourite bet is Roger Federer, who he describes as a “cash machine”. In 2005, Findlay won £300,000 at the US open by betting on Federer and at the moment, he has no plans of quitting. When discussing pensions, Findlay philosophises “you've got to live to be 65 anyway (to claim your pension), and that's only an 8-13 chance.” It is characters like Findlay that make gambling such an interesting and unique market.

Calvin Ayre

Calvin Ayre, to be blunt, is, or was, the Hugh Hefner of gambling. With his party lifestyle and his claims of sleeping with over 8,000 women, Ayre really did seem to have it all. That was until recently, when Ayre mysteriously left Bodog in 2008, the company he created and carefully cultivated up to the point of global domination. It seems that Ayre’s shock exit was almost foretold with the creation and disappearance of his earlier online persona “Cole Turner”. Cole was the fake CEO of Bodog (as Ayre was of course the real one) that he and Christopher Costigan of Gambling911.com created. In 2003, Turner attended a party that went “badly”; he was held at gunpoint by rebels and disappeared off the face of the earth. Ayre then outed himself as Turner and went on to live the party lifestyle Cole was so famous for. Perhaps in another shocking twist, Ayre will out himself as someone else? It has been reported Ayre has left the U.S.A and scrubbed himself off the map because he is a wanted man in the States, due to gambling regulations. However, in a recent interview Ayre has enigmatically suggested he “will be back”.

Jim Ryan

After much speculation regarding PartyGaming’s musical chairs approach to directors (first Richard Segal left, then Mitchell Garber) Jim Ryan has now stepped into the role of PartyGaming CEO. Ryan joined PartyGaming in June 2008, after previously managing St Minver, which is well-known for its involvement in online bingo. Ryan’s move to PartyGaming marks a new chapter in the company’s CEO history and we hope he lasts longer than Segal and Garber.

Lewis Rose

Lewis Rose is the company president and CEO of Cryptologic, arguably one of the most successful gaming software providers around. Rose prefers to be known as “Lewis N. Rose”, as typing “Lewis Rose” on Google will lead to harsh and allegedly unfounded criticism. Critics and players alike can’t argue with the fact that he has turned Cryptologic into a million dollar making money magnet. According to his “personal space”, Rose is “taking Cryptologic from strength to strength” and we at Casinoonline .co.uk agree.

Andrew Beveridge

Andrew Beveridge is the brains behind eCogra, the not for profit online gaming regulatory authority that provides players with safety, security and reassurance when gambling online. Beveridge previously managed LiveBet Online, which apparently created “the world's first integrated online and telephone sports and spread betting platform”, which means that you are in safe hands with Beveridge and his team at eCogra.

Ronald Sacco – “The Cigar”

Most of the gaming bods featured in this section have been transparent businessmen with nothing to hide. Well, every good tale needs a villain and filling that role for this feature is Ronald Sacco, or as he is otherwise known “The Cigar”. Sacco used to operate in the Dominican Republic, taking phone bets from US customers. While this doesn’t sound like a high priority for the police, Sacco’s appearance on the American TV show “60 Minutes”, where he bragged about his wealth and how the police could never catch him proved the last straw. The Dominican police deported Sacco and the FBI soon snatched him up, in the end Sacco was sentenced to just under two years in prison.

Doyle Brunson

If there’s just one name you need to know when it comes to poker, it’s Doyle “The Dolly” Brunson. Brunson is the face, the heart and the soul of poker and as a ten time World Poker Series Bracelet winner, his position is certainly well earned. Brunson is a staple of gaming articles, news and features, so if you are a newcomer to either poker or online casinos, expect to hear about him, a lot. Brunson even has his own poker room, at www.Doylesroom.com and was recently voted “the most influential poker player in history”. Like we said, expect to hear a lot from and about him.

Barney Frank

If you had to categorize American congressman into rudimentary categories, then Barney Frank would definitely fit with the term “Maverick”. In 2006, Frank spoke out about the gambling ban, noting that “prohibition didn't work for alcohol; it doesn't work for gambling” and also that “when people abuse a particular practice, the sensible thing is to try to deal with the abuse, not outlaw it.” It’s forward thinking like this that has led the gambling industry to believe that with the help of Frank and two presidential candidates that are casino advocates, the U.S.A will be taken out of the gaming dark ages and moved into the light of legalization.

Steve Wynn

Stephen Wynn’s casino career began way back in 1971, when he bought a small stake in the Golden Nugget, a casino in Las Vegas. Wynn then went on to take the main share in the casino, as well as own a Golden Nugget branded casino in New Jersey as well. Wynn soon went on to become involved with other casinos in Vegas, such as The Mirage and the Treasure Island Hotel and Casino. As of 2008, Wynn’s most recent acquisition is the Encore. Wynn also owns Wynn Las Vegas, a casino resort on the strip. In Ocean’s Eleven, Andy Garcia’s character, Terry Benedict, is based on Wynn.

Benny Binion

Just as Doyle Brunson is the man to know when it comes to poker, Benny Binion and his sons Jack and Ted are a family that Vegas folklore is built upon. Binion began his career selling moonshine, up until 1928 when he decided to venture into lotteries. In 1931 Binion was convicted of shooting someone, but after he was released he fell in with the Dallas mob and fled to Vegas. It was in Vegas that Binion forged a casino career that would span generations, by opening the Binion Horseshoe Casino in 1951. Binion was the first to offer comps to all players and is still regarded as one of the most generous casino owners around. In 1964 Benny’s sons, Jack and Ted took over the casinos and Benny died on Christmas Day, 1989.

Jack Binion

Jack Binion was the owner of the Binion Horseshoe Casino up until 1998, when he sold it to his sister, Becky Behnen. Unlike his, “unique” brother, Jack is a lot more reserved and is still alive and involved with gaming, in 2006 he became chairman of Wynn International, he has since retired but still has a consultancy role.

Ted Binion

While we don’t doubt that Jack Binion is an incredibly important figure in gaming, he is nowhere near as exciting as his father or brother, Ted. If Benny was the white knight of gambling, Ted was the dark. Instead of helping to run an honest casino, Ted spent his time “schmoozing guests”. It wasn’t long until he developed a severe addiction to heroin and marijuana, and in 1998 he was found dead of a suspected overdose. Although the death was at first treated as probable suicide, however it was revealed Binion’s girlfriend, Sandy Murphy, had been sinisterly involved in his death. Nevertheless, the Binion boys are true Vegas legends.

James Packer

When James Packer took over the family business from Australian media mogul Kerry Packer, no one suspected that James would lead the business towards gaming. However, after the acquisition of Burswood Entertainment Complex in Perth, Australia, as well as the creation of “Aspers”, a casino chain in the UK, it’s easy to see how the Packer industry has successfully expanded. If this wasn’t enough, Packer also owns half of Betfair, and Australia’s largest casino, Melbourne Crown Casino.

Stanley Ho

Stanley Ho’s childhood, like so many of self-made billionaires, is a story made up of hard work, perseverance and luck. As a child, Ho was laughed at by those around him for being poor, so he told his mother, “Let those relatives who only talk about money know, I will earn a lot of money in ten years.” And what did Ho do to live up to this promise? Why, he opened up casinos across Macau and became one of the richest men in Asia. In 1961, Ho, with a few other businessmen, created Sociedade de Turismo e Diversões de Macau, or (S.A.R.L) which was the only gambling licenser in Macau for 35 years. Even though the government began to offer their own licenses, 14 of the 17 casinos in operation in Macau are owned by Stanley Ho.

Sheldon Adelson

Sheldon Adelson, much like other big Vegas players like Steve Wynn, is a man who has released a niche in the market and gone from one idea to catastrophic success. In 1988, Adelson purchased the Sands & Hotel Casino in Las Vegas and then in 1991 he turned Sands into The Venetian, a resort based around Venice. Adelson’s new Venice venture turned out to be a phenomenal success and it completely revolutionised the Las Vegas hotel industry. Adelson has since expanded his industry beyond Vegas and has casinos across Asia.