Kerry Francis Bullmore Packer was a publishing and broadcasting magnate, the richest man in Australia and a keen high-wage gambler. He managed to increase his family’s fortune and was both respected as a businessman and a player.
Some say his wagers were the biggest witnessed in the history of gambling. He played all around the world, from Las Vegas to London.
Kerry Pakcer
Kerry Pakcer was a true gambling legend. It is often said he bankrupted whole casinos with his bets and has influenced the gambling revenues of some states, losing or winning by tens of millions. For example, he lost over £13.6 million during a three day trip in Las Vegas. It is said he lost the biggest bets in both Las Vegas and London’s gambling history.
Another interesting story the media often mention is at a casino called Stratosphere, owned by Bob Stupak and Lyle Berman, some of the best high stakes gamblers in Australia. Mr. Packer had visited the casino to play with friends when a Texan got offended by Packer ignoring him.
Kerry answered cold-bloodedly to the Texan’s provocation “Do you know who I am? I have $66 million dollars!” by adding a simple “I’ll flip you for it” and then continued his game.
His Son – James Packer
It seems James Packer, Kerry’s son, had also gotten to love gambling, but in a slightly different way. Even though he does not gamble much, he has made a lot more profit from gambling than his father. He learned to like casinos from the vacations he took with Kerry to various gambling capitols around the world.
His company now has casino resorts in the United Kingdom, Australia and Macau with undergoing expansions to other jurisdictions. The only mistake he had made so far in the gambling industry is in Las Vegas, both his casinos there did not provide profits.
He now considers a third establishment in Las Vegas, hopefully a successful one. His company – Crown, plans to build the casino on the Las Vegas Strip and is planned to cost billions as the ante alone amounts to $280 million. Vegas will surely enjoy James’ company. Even though he isn’t the same gambler as his father, he still can gamble.
New Las Vegas Casino Being Built
The Las Vegas establishment is going to be on a 35-acre piece of land on the Strip and will be owned by Crown in a partnership with Oaktree Capital Management and other investors such as Andrew Pascal, ex-president of Wynn Las Vegas casino. James Packer plans to make this casino the most grandeur and well-known on the famous Las Vegas Strip.
It will cost more than $2 billion and will target high-class customers, similar to Packer’s casinos that are being built in Bangaroo in Australia. Packer says those two facilities will be the coolest ‘things’ in the world.
