The American magazine Forbes has released its 37th annual list of billionaires from various
industries. Out of 2,640 ultra-wealthy individuals, 28 are directly or indirectly linked to the
gambling industry.
Every year, millions of gamblers worldwide lose billions of dollars in casinos and gaming halls.
At the same time, they spend even more on related entertainment, including hotels, restaurants,
bars, and excursions.
The gambling industry is a massive business. In 2022, its global turnover reached $449 billion.
Unsurprisingly, the people at the helm of the biggest gambling enterprises are far from poor.
In this article, we will talk about the top five richest people in the world who made their fortunes
in gambling. Who are they, and how did they amass such immense wealth?
5. Mark Scheinberg (No. 511 on the Forbes list; $5.2 billion)
Born in Israel, Mark Scheinberg built his career and life in Canada. His most famous and
lucrative venture was the PokerStars online poker platform, which he co-founded with his father,
Isai Scheinberg.
Since its launch in 2001, PokerStars has become a global leader in online gambling, hosting
some of the largest online poker tournaments in the world. However, in 2014, Scheinberg sold
PokerStars to Canada’s Amaya Gaming for $4.9 billion.
Now, he focuses on real estate investments and philanthropy, supporting wildlife conservation
through his charitable foundation.
4. Denise Coates (No. 352 on the Forbes list; $7 billion)
Thanks to her entrepreneurial instincts, Denise Coates became one of the wealthiest and most
influential women in the UK.
At the dawn of the 21st century, in 2000, she recognized the immense potential of the emerging
online gambling industry and purchased the domain Bet365.com. To fund the venture, she took
a £15 million loan from the Royal Bank of Scotland – a high-risk, high-reward bet that paid off
spectacularly.
Today, Bet365 is one of the world’s largest bookmakers, handling over $65 billion in bets
annually. The company’s logo also appears on the jerseys of Stoke City, an English football club
owned by her father, Peter Coates.
3. Tilman Fertitta (No. 256 on the Forbes list; $8.2 billion)
Like many billionaires, Tilman Fertitta never finished college, dropping out before graduation.
Instead, he honed his business skills by working in his father’s restaurant.
Over the years, he expanded into restaurants, hotels, cruise ships, and casinos. Today, he
owns Golden Nugget, a casino and hotel franchise with locations in five U.S. cities, including
Las Vegas and Atlantic City.
In 2017, he also purchased the Houston Rockets NBA team for $2.2 billion.
2. Lui Che Woo (No. 128 on the Forbes list; $15.6 billion)
At 94 years old, Lui Che Woo is the oldest and second-richest person in the gambling industry.
He started his business career in Hong Kong, dealing in construction materials, particularly
gravel during the post-war building boom. Later, he expanded into real estate and hospitality.
At the age of 73, he decided to shift focus to the luxurious world of casinos. Today, he owns
Galaxy Entertainment Group, operating six casinos in Macau, including the $2 billion Galaxy
Macau resort.
Macau has since earned the nickname "The Chinese Las Vegas", with Lui playing a key role in
its transformation.
1. Miriam Adelson (No. 35 on the Forbes list; $36.4 billion)
Miriam Adelson inherited her fortune from her late husband, Sheldon Adelson, a casino mogul
and founder of Las Vegas Sands.
The company owns casinos and hotels in the United States and Asia and is the third most
profitable gambling company in the world.
Although Miriam spent most of her life as a physician, she is now heavily involved in public and
political life in the U.S.. The Adelson family has funded medical research centers and supported
Donald Trump's election campaigns in 2016 and 2020.
Additionally, Miriam actively supports Israel, lobbying for Israeli interests in various sectors of
American society.
Gambling Billionaires Exist, But the Biggest Fortunes Come from Other Industries
While billionaires in the gambling industry do exist, the largest fortunes are typically made in
other sectors such as oil and gas, telecommunications, banking, and real estate.
For example, Nigeria's wealthiest individuals have built their fortunes in oil production, cement
manufacturing, telecommunications, and banking.
Despite gambling being a hugely popular pastime in Nigeria, no one has yet made billions from
the industry. However, some of the country’s most recognized betting sites in Nigeria – such as
Bet9ja, Betway, NaijaBet, Surebet247 betshop, and Sportybet – show just how deeply
embedded gambling is in Nigerian culture.
You probably won’t become a billionaire, but you can still make some extra money by joining the
Surebet247 Partners affiliate program. As the industry continues to grow, will Nigeria one day produce a gambling billionaire? Only time will tell.
