Bob Stupak
Encyclopedia
Robert E. "Bob" Stupak was a Las Vegas
casino
owner and entrepreneur.
He was also a poker player, winning titles at the World Series of Poker
and the Super Bowl of Poker
. He also competed on the World Poker Tour
, and various other tournaments, as well as cash games, including High Stakes Poker
on GSN.
, Pennsylvania
.
At the age of 22 Stupak moved to Las Vegas and started a coupon book business, selling 2-for-1 restaurant coupons. Stupak later moved to Australia
to pursue a similar business venture, only to be asked to leave the country for alleged questionable business practices.
While in Australia, Stupak was briefly married to Annette Suna, and they had a daughter, Nicole. From 1971 to 1985, Stupak was married to Sandra Joyce Wilkinson, and had two more children, Nevada and Summer.
South. On March 31, 1974, Bob Stupak's World Famous Historic Gambling Museum opened for business. "The name was about 10 ft (3 m) longer than the casino," Stupak recalled years later. On May 21, an air conditioner caught fire and the building burned down.
In 1979 Stupak opened Vegas World
, a casino known for its promotions and new twists on games. At its peak in the mid-1980s, Vegas World grossed $100 million per year.
In 1989, Stupak won a widely publicized million dollar wager on Super Bowl XXIII
. Later that year, he won the Deuce to Seven Lowball championship bracelet at the World Series of Poker
.
In 1995 Stupak suffered a motorcycle accident, breaking every bone in his face and going into a coma. Although the initial prognosis was that he would not survive, Stupak recovered, although with lingering health problems.
At the time of his motorcycle crash, Stupak was at work developing The Stratosphere
, a massive observation tower that would be the largest sign in Las Vegas. The tower opened in late April 1996 at a cost of $550 million but was a financial disaster. Many came to see the tower, but few stopped long enough to gamble, dine or shop. The Stratosphere went bankrupt three months after its opening.
Stupak continued to plan Vegas projects, including a purchase of the Moulin Rouge Hotel
and a huge hotel shaped like the RMS Titanic, but these endeavors never bore fruit.
Stupak appeared in the first season of the GSN
series High Stakes Poker
, in which he is remembered for not knowing what was going on at the table and disappearing. He also appeared at a final table during the first season of the World Poker Tour
.
As of 2008, his total live tournament winnings exceeded $865,000.
.
Las Vegas, Nevada
Las Vegas is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Nevada and is also the county seat of Clark County, Nevada. Las Vegas is an internationally renowned major resort city for gambling, shopping, and fine dining. The city bills itself as The Entertainment Capital of the World, and is famous...
casino
Casino
In modern English, a casino is a facility which houses and accommodates certain types of gambling activities. Casinos are most commonly built near or combined with hotels, restaurants, retail shopping, cruise ships or other tourist attractions...
owner and entrepreneur.
He was also a poker player, winning titles at the World Series of Poker
World Series of Poker
The World Series of Poker is a world-renowned series of poker tournaments held annually in Las Vegas and, since 2005, sponsored by Harrah's Entertainment...
and the Super Bowl of Poker
Super Bowl of Poker
The Super Bowl of Poker was the second most prestigious poker tournament in the world during the 1980s...
. He also competed on the World Poker Tour
World Poker Tour
The World Poker Tour is a series of international poker tournaments and associated television series broadcasting the final table of each tournament. It was started in the United States by attorney/television producer Steven Lipscomb, who served as CEO of WPT Enterprises , the firm that...
, and various other tournaments, as well as cash games, including High Stakes Poker
High Stakes Poker
High Stakes Poker is a cash game poker television program broadcast by the cable television network GSN in the United States. The poker variant played on the show is no limit Texas hold 'em. It premiered on January 16, 2006 and ended on December 17, 2007 and it returns back on March 1, 2009 and is...
on GSN.
Early Years and Family
Bob Stupak was the son of Chester and Florence Stupak. He was born in PittsburghPittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Pittsburgh is the second-largest city in the US Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the county seat of Allegheny County. Regionally, it anchors the largest urban area of Appalachia and the Ohio River Valley, and nationally, it is the 22nd-largest urban area in the United States...
, Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
.
At the age of 22 Stupak moved to Las Vegas and started a coupon book business, selling 2-for-1 restaurant coupons. Stupak later moved to Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
to pursue a similar business venture, only to be asked to leave the country for alleged questionable business practices.
While in Australia, Stupak was briefly married to Annette Suna, and they had a daughter, Nicole. From 1971 to 1985, Stupak was married to Sandra Joyce Wilkinson, and had two more children, Nevada and Summer.
In Las Vegas
Stupak returned to Las Vegas in 1971, eventually raising enough money to acquire a small, 1.5 acre (0.607029 ha) parcel north of Sahara Avenue at Las Vegas BoulevardLas Vegas Boulevard
State Route 604 is the route number designation for parts of Las Vegas Boulevard, a major north–south road in the Las Vegas metropolitan area of Nevada in the United States best known for the Las Vegas Strip and its casinos. Formerly carrying U.S...
South. On March 31, 1974, Bob Stupak's World Famous Historic Gambling Museum opened for business. "The name was about 10 ft (3 m) longer than the casino," Stupak recalled years later. On May 21, an air conditioner caught fire and the building burned down.
In 1979 Stupak opened Vegas World
Vegas World
Vegas World was a casino/hotel opened in 1979 on Las Vegas Boulevard owned and operated by Bob Stupak. It was also signed as Bob Stupak's Vegas World....
, a casino known for its promotions and new twists on games. At its peak in the mid-1980s, Vegas World grossed $100 million per year.
In 1989, Stupak won a widely publicized million dollar wager on Super Bowl XXIII
Super Bowl XXIII
Super Bowl XXIII was an American football game played on January 22, 1989 at Joe Robbie Stadium in Miami, Florida to decide the National Football League champion following the 1988 regular season. This was the first Super Bowl hosted in the Miami area in 10 years, and the first in Miami not held...
. Later that year, he won the Deuce to Seven Lowball championship bracelet at the World Series of Poker
World Series of Poker
The World Series of Poker is a world-renowned series of poker tournaments held annually in Las Vegas and, since 2005, sponsored by Harrah's Entertainment...
.
In 1995 Stupak suffered a motorcycle accident, breaking every bone in his face and going into a coma. Although the initial prognosis was that he would not survive, Stupak recovered, although with lingering health problems.
At the time of his motorcycle crash, Stupak was at work developing The Stratosphere
Stratosphere Las Vegas
Stratosphere Las Vegas is a tower, hotel, and casino located on the Las Vegas Strip in Las Vegas, Nevada, United States. Its tower is also the tallest observation tower, and the 5th-tallest structure, in the United States, as well as being the tallest structure in Las Vegas.It is owned by Whitehall...
, a massive observation tower that would be the largest sign in Las Vegas. The tower opened in late April 1996 at a cost of $550 million but was a financial disaster. Many came to see the tower, but few stopped long enough to gamble, dine or shop. The Stratosphere went bankrupt three months after its opening.
Stupak continued to plan Vegas projects, including a purchase of the Moulin Rouge Hotel
Moulin Rouge Hotel
The Moulin Rouge Hotel was a hotel and casino located in the West Las Vegas neighborhood of Las Vegas, Nevada, that is listed on the United States National Register of Historic Places...
and a huge hotel shaped like the RMS Titanic, but these endeavors never bore fruit.
Stupak appeared in the first season of the GSN
Game Show Network
The Game Show Network is an American cable television and direct broadcast satellite channel dedicated to game shows and casino game shows. The channel was launched on December 1, 1994. Its current slogan is "The World Needs More Winners"...
series High Stakes Poker
High Stakes Poker
High Stakes Poker is a cash game poker television program broadcast by the cable television network GSN in the United States. The poker variant played on the show is no limit Texas hold 'em. It premiered on January 16, 2006 and ended on December 17, 2007 and it returns back on March 1, 2009 and is...
, in which he is remembered for not knowing what was going on at the table and disappearing. He also appeared at a final table during the first season of the World Poker Tour
World Poker Tour
The World Poker Tour is a series of international poker tournaments and associated television series broadcasting the final table of each tournament. It was started in the United States by attorney/television producer Steven Lipscomb, who served as CEO of WPT Enterprises , the firm that...
.
As of 2008, his total live tournament winnings exceeded $865,000.
Campaign for Lieutenant Governor
In 2006, Stupak unsuccessfully ran as a Democrat for Lieutenant Governor of NevadaLieutenant Governor of Nevada
The Nevada Lieutenant Governor is an elected office in the U.S. state of Nevada. The Nevada Lieutenant Governor is based in Carson City, Nevada and elected for 4 year terms. The 33rd and current Lt. Governor for the 2007-2011 term is Brian Krolicki....
.
Further reading
- Smith, John L. 1997. No Limit: The Rise and Fall of Bob Stupak and Las Vegas' Stratosphere Tower. Huntington Press. ISBN 0-929712-18-8