His folksy television commercials, which often showed him driving through the Casablanca casino in golf cart, carried the tagline, “it’s Mesquite.” The spots advertised the community as being different from casinos on the Strip or the Las Vegas locals market.Ī real estate developer in Las Vegas, Black built the Virgin River in 1990.

Mesquite, located off Interstate 15 and roughly 90 miles from Las Vegas, grew beyond its days as a truck stop surrounded by farms and dairies into a retirement community with affordable single-family homes lining a half-dozen golf courses with a burgeoning gaming market.īlack, whose voice remains on the telephone hold message for the casinos, reflected the laid-back atmosphere of Mesquite as a weekend getaway for residents of Nevada, Utah and Arizona. It is unclear what will happen with Black’s ownership stake. Toti, who unavailable for comment, said in the memo that Black had “been an invaluable part of the company for 23 years.”īlack couldn’t be reached for comment.

Toti said in the three-paragraph statement that Black was “looking forward to putting his considerable energies in new directions and spending more quality time with his family.” Mesquite Gaming also owns the shuttered Oasis Casino, which was demolished over the summer.

Mesquite Gaming Chief Executive Officer Anthony Toti owns 25 percent of the company and South Point Casino owner Michael Gaughan owns 25 percent and operates the two casinos’ race and sports books. Mesquite Gaming is 40 percent owned by Newport Global Advisors LP, a Woodlands, Texas-based investment company. Randy Black remained on as COO and retained a 10 percent ownership stake in the company. Mesquite Gaming was created in 2011 following the bankruptcy reorganization of Black Gaming. Randy Black, the face of Mesquite’s casino industry since the 1990s, is no longer associated with the casino company that he founded.īlack, who appeared in numerous local television commercials touting the small-town atmosphere of Mesquite, has retired as chief operating officer of Mesquite Gaming, according to a memo sent to employees of the Casablanca and Virgin River casinos late Monday. Black's company owns and operates the Casablanca and the Virgin River Casino. Mesquite Gaming co-owner Randy Black smiles during an interview in his office at the Casablanca hotel-casino on Monday, Jan.

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