Gambling pioneer Steve Norton, who ran first US casino outside Nevada, dies at age 89
Steve Norton, who ran the first U.S. gambling facility outside Nevada — Atlantic City's Resorts casino — has died
ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. — Steve Norton, who ran the first U.S. gambling facility outside Nevada — Resorts casino in Atlantic City — and gave advice around the world on how to set up and operate casinos, has died. He was 89.
His son, Rob, president of Cordish Gaming, said Norton died on Sunday following an accident in his Oceanside, California, home.
Norton spent more than half a century in the casino industry, running companies and advising state governments on the expansion of gambling, including on riverboats. He helped create the industry's national trade association and worked to address gambling addiction.
“Steve was an early and influential gaming executive in Atlantic City and at Resorts,” said the casino's current president, Mark Giannantonio. “He was an important leader in the Atlantic City market dating back to the 1970s. He was always a pleasure to speak with over the years, and a true gentleman in our business.”
Norton was executive vice president of Resorts when the New Jersey casino opened on May 26, 1978. The Boardwalk casino was inundated by thousands of people trying to get inside, and authorities considered diverting traffic trying to enter Atlantic City to ease crowd control.
People bought tickets for buffets they had no intention of eating just so they could sneak inside the casino before anyone else. Men relieved themselves into plastic coin cups to avoid losing their spots at the tables. And cash — more than anyone had ever seen and more than management could imagine — flooded into the counting room, taking an entire day to count.
“It was incredible, it was a madhouse,” Norton told The
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