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Description
Three competing business titans strive to control the city of Las Vegas in this jaw-dropping historical tale. Sin City. Bright lights, high stakes, and no sleep. Home to some of the world's grandest, flashiest, and most lucrative casino resorts, Las Vegas, with its multitude of attractions, draws some forty million tourists from around the world every year. But Vegas hasn't always been booming at the level it is today. This newest influx is largely a result of three competing business moguls. Meet Kirk Kerkorian, Steve Wynn, and Dr. Gary Loveman, men who couldn't be more different from one another, yet share the same tunnel-vision determination to conquer the city that feeds the world's fantasies. No longer just a go-to city for gambling, as a result of Kerkorian, Wynn, and Loveman working to reach the top—and to top one another—Las Vegas is now home to restaurants run by some of the world's top chefs, some of Hollywood's biggest stars headlining their own venues, galleries featuring some of the world's most valuable art, and meta-resorts boasting the largest and most expansive casinos, spas, and more. Having had personal access to these men, Wall Street Journal reporter Christina Binkley gives us a never-before-seen, up-close look at the trio of tycoons whose high- stakes gambles have made Sin City soar. Sharp, insightful, and revealing, this is the gripping story of how billions of dollars and the unparalleled drive for power made the personal visions of three moguls evolve from dreams to larger-than-life reality. Read more
Publisher : Grand Central Publishing
Publication date : November 6, 2018
Edition : New
Language : English
Print length : 336 pages
ISBN-10 : 0316487929
ISBN-13 : 24
Item Weight : 10.2 ounces
Reading age : 13 years and up
Dimensions : 5.5 x 0.85 x 8.25 inches
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Top Amazon Reviews
I began reading the hardback version of Wall Street Journal writer Christina Binkley's brilliant Winner Takes All: Steve Wynn, Kirk Kerkorian, Gary Loveman, and the Race to Own Las Vegas just before going on a long drive. So, I decided to buy the CD's to listen to the rest of the book in my car. The audio version is GREAT comedy. The excellent research and superb interviews that Ms. Brinkley assembled in a very readable novel-esque narrative is totally subverted by the reading from some half-wit actress who did not bother to learn to properly pronounce even the most well-known Vegas names...never mind the myriad of artists, chefs, and lesser-known Vegas characters. If I could write in Mark Twain phonetics, I would try to spell the way this reader pronounced some of this names (I especially loved her version of Tony Spilotro, Henri Matisse, Sirio Maccioni). And I cannot even imagine how to put "breathing marks" into text to show you how she inappropriately broke paragraphs and sentences in her reading. Seriously, the audio version is SO bad that it was distracting to the point that it became comedy. I began calling people on my cell phone and playing portions of the book to them so they could share in the humor. Fortunately, when I returned home I turned back to print version of the book...which, again, is EXCELLENT. As a supposed Las Vegas "insider" myself -with decades in the gaming industry -I found the book accurate about Wynn (who she portrays a just a little Mel Books like nuts) and Loveman (who she characterizes as somewhat of a well-paid clod). The author seems to like the Kerkorian style better than either of the other two (as one might expect from a WSJ writer) and given that she may have been a little unfair to Steve Wynn. Nonetheless, not only did I find nothing "wrong" with the book, but I found it to be an outstanding follow-up of contemporary history to what everyone knows about "old Vegas" and even mid-era "family attraction" Vegas. Ms. Binkley has indeed written an important historical account of the latest incarnation of the ever-redefined Las Vegas.
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Reviewed in the United States on April 16, 2008 by THEGaryGreen
Format: Hardcover
Christina Binkley's Winner Takes All book starts her tale of Vegas about ten years ago with the city transcending its role as the place for gamblers to become a travel destination for the world. It's understandable to start there. Binkley started reporting on Vegas for the Wall Street Journal, and a rush of consolidation begins. For the knowledgeable Vegas fan, it is disorienting. Telling the story of the Rio as being the place identified with gourmet food and wine overlooks that Jean-Louise Palladin (Napa restaurant) and the Rio's expensive wine cellar were part of the Masquerade Village expansion. The Rio did not drop onto the desert in 1997 with Jean-Louis holding bottles of Chateau Petrus. The book talks about Harrah's as not having a decent property in Vegas into the 1990's, only the old Holiday Casino, but Harrah's renamed and renovated the Holiday casino about a decade before the start of the book. Anything and everything that happens before 1997 is treated as a single cotemporaneous event. It seems to me this book is a good description of four recent events: The loss of the Mirage properties by Steve Wynn (the most compelling and best covered story of the four) The acquisition of Mirage and Mandalay Bay by MGM Harrah's growth based on analytics and the acquisition of Caesars The building of Wynn (the casino) Things I like: Being a former writer for the Wall Street Journal, the business aspects should be well covered, and they are. Beyond the three featured corporate players, the book also features many other chief officers of the Mirage, MGM, Harrahs and other corporations. There is also a good account of the transformation of Harrah's using customer based competing analytics. I liked the book's focus on recent (last decade) history of Vegas. I liked the well documented account of Kerkorian's buyout of Wynn's Mirage Corporation and of Steven Wynn's failures that led to the buyout. This is where the story is most compelling. When Wynn's vision becomes the only vision for the Mirage and there is no questioning or vetting of that vision, the Mirage Corporation flounders. People who disagree are fired (for example, the financial officer). The sycophants are given free range (for example, in Mississippi where a project spins wildly out of control). Wynn's arrogance, extravagance, and misplaced focus (worrying more about creating a new American musical than the over spending of hundreds of millions) drags the business down. Contrast that to Kerkorian who relies upon the skills of the people he hires, and the team beats the individual. Things I didn't like: What is it about Vegas that make journalists go gonzo? At times this book reads like a combination of Hunter Thompson and John Madden doing his color commentary. I do enjoy an informal, conversational, breezy style, but this is, at times, more like a hurricane. Do smart, educated people really need to be referred to as "propeller heads"? It's always easy to trace a linear trail back from the point of success to recreate the obvious outcome. I would have preferred to see successes juxtaposed with the many failed attempts in Vegas (other than just Wynn's loss of Mirage). In contradiction to the subtitle of the book, this is a story of the Strip, not Vegas (well, except for the above mentioned Rio). The Maloofs (Palms) and Fretittas (Stations) are barely mentioned. As story of the Strip, it's still not thorough. Sheldon Adelson is described, it seems, more as a disabled Macao casino owner than as a significant Strip casino owner. Donald Trump is more prominent than all the above named combined. The book is uneven. Some events, many dates and many details are missing, leaving a superficial feeling. Other times, the details are thick. We are told of the attire of individuals at some meetings. We get plenty of details on Steve Wynn's obsession with entertainment and his extravagant failures. Yet, we only get passing mentions of what Steve did with restaurants. The problems that Harrah's had in taking over the Rio are left to just a couple of vague sentences with no conclusion. Overall: A very good addition to the history of Vegas covering the most recent developments. I enjoy reading about Vegas, including the business of Vegas, so I enjoyed the book, and it was worth the purchase. If I'm looking for an even and thorough treatment of Sin City with single consistent point of view, I'm a little disappointed.
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Reviewed in the United States on May 24, 2008 by Tennis Bum
Format: Hardcover
Las Vegas changed so much, so quickly over the past fifteen years, that it makes sense to take a step back and see how it all got started and played out so far. Binkley does just that in this well-researched and well-written chronicle of a frenzied period in Las Vegas' history filled with big buildings and even bigger personalities. You'll learn a lot reading this book, but it's also a truly fun read. Starting the book, I worried when Binkley mentioned the "greed" of the major casino owners in Las Vegas. Books about business that view the desire to improve profits as "greed" tend to not offer much insight, because they can't understand the diverse forces that drive the people running the companies. This book avoids that fate beautifully, really digging into the differences in character and personality amongst the different people who run the different companies that dominate the Vegas landscape. The most interesting thing about this book is getting behind the scenes with Steve Wynn, who comes across as the person who looks down the road five or ten years to what Las Vegas will need to become next in order to continue building on its own success and popularity. When everyone else copies his latest idea, he moves onto the next one, constantly pushing everyone, and the city, ahead with him. As the visionary of the bunch, he is the most fascinating character to follow, both for his successes, and for the troubles he has with people who minds are a little too stuck in the here-and-now for his taste. Highly recommended for anyone who likes business, Las Vegas, big personalities, or would just like to know a little more about how Las Vegas became the place it is today.
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Reviewed in the United States on May 20, 2008 by M. Strong
I enjoyed the getting a history of the major casino bosses. I felt that they romanticized Wynn too much. They spoke more of Wynn's lifestyle than his finances.
Reviewed in the United States on April 2, 2014 by Wrat9000
Format: Hardcover
This well written story of recent developments in Las Vegas is a captivating read. Author Christina Binkley has written a serious business book in the style of an engaging novel. Much to like about this book! Las Vegas is a great "stage" for an interesting book. Wynn, Kerkorian and Loveman are such great characters, each so different. And, the race to be the biggest and the best is fascinating. The real kudos need to go to the author. In every dimension, this book is well crafted. Well organized with a great many facts woven into the compelling story line. Well detailed with every scene painted as if the reader was present. And, well written with business terminology correctly used and judiciously sprinkled so as to not detract from the powerful story. In an age where so many books are so poorly written, the quality of the writing here really is noteworthy. What I respect most about the author is amidst the captivating story she devotes time to asking the $64 million dollar question, i.e. how should one feel about a business whose purpose is to turn its customers into gambling addicts? A very thoughtful question that the author appropriately serves up for each reader to answer for themselves. Christina Binkley...for your first book, you did great!
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Reviewed in the United States on March 26, 2008 by Dave Carpenter
This is an excellent review of the inside story of some of the movers and shakers of Las Vegas, with a lot of specific even personal information about them, their associates and families, and just how they were able to accomplish so much. It's a very readable book and anyone really interested in the back story of Las Vegas is sure to enjoy it. Highly recommended.
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Reviewed in the United States on December 10, 2014 by Photo Bug
Format: Hardcover
A great summation of the last 15 years of Las Vegas, the influences that made it what it is, and the big personalities that rule the land. One negative comment I have is the movie is really two stories in one, Wynn/Kerkorian their deal and influence, and how Loveman/Harrahs elbowed its way from a smalltime operator to major player. The majority of the book is about Wynn and his influence in Las Vegas and how it developed from the Mirage to the Bellagio to the Wynn. And of course the big occurrence is the buyout of Wynn's operation by Kerkorian when he senses the stock weakness caused by Wynn's lack of management skills. A very fascinating story! After completing the acquisition the book slows down somewhat as it tells the tale of middle market Harrah's and how it busts into the big time by acquiring Ceasar's. This book explores the mathematical focus at Harrah's and how it increases profitablity. While it's interesting reading how a glorified math professor rises to casino president while retaining his old lifestyle, this section is the least interesting at least for me. In summary this is a fascinating read of a fascinating city. Just a walk down the strip let's anyone see every part of American culture good and bad as Las Vegas is the mecca of most Americans at some point in their lives.
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Reviewed in the United States on June 8, 2008 by Rick Spell
Great story! Interesting for Vegas lovers! Steve Wynn is the center piece. Kirk Kerkorian, Gary Loveman and a few others are discussed with less depth. I'm not sure I agree with the title or approach to the book as the best way to portray the story and research the author did but I wouldn't call this a truly grand academic review either. This story is definitely worth enjoying and most parts are very enjoyable, interesting, and easy to follow. I simply think that with all the research that she obviously did to write the book, she could have titled it some variation of an unauthorized biography of Steve Wynn. She is obviously partial to him and/or had greater access to him during her research than Kerkorian or Loveman. Furthermore, I think that any writer that tries to remain impartial does his or her book an injustice. The book should be a portrayal of not only the subject but how the author felt about the subject and surrounding events. It seems like she unsuccessfully tries to be impartial. She admires and loves Steve Wynn and I'm okay with that. Ms. Binkley must come to terms with her feelings and let them flow into her book. After all this is not a newspaper story. Despite my criticism, I love the story and find it immensely interesting and I am very pleased with the depth of research that she did.
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Reviewed in the United States on December 9, 2013 by Mike Williams