When picturing foundational figures of Las Vegas, the likes of Howard Hughes, Kirk Kerkorian, and Steve Wynn come to mind. This list is not wrong, but it’s incomplete. There were a handful of women recognized as equally influential: Helen Stewart, Elaine Wynn, and Claudine Williams. You’ve read about Helen in the introduction, and most people are familiar with Elaine of the Wynn empire. As for Claudine Williams? She was the first woman to run a Strip casino. A highly accomplished businesswoman, Claudine paved the way for women in the gaming industry. When she was just 15 years old, she dropped out of high school to work at a casino in Dallas, Texas (although casinos were – and still are – illegal in the state of Texas, some were “tolerated” back in the day). Before she was 21 years old, she bought a Houston steakhouse and casino with a $5,000 loan that she paid back early, setting the stage for her career and establishing her reputation as a business-savvy mogul. PAVING THE WAY Harrah’s
Claudine Williams, Special Collections and Archives, University Libraries, University of Nevada, Las Vegas, OPPOSITE: Harrah’s Las Vegas
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VICI LAS VEGAS
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