"El Cortez Hotel and Casino is the longest continuously running hotel and casino in Las Vegas. Opened in 1941, it was so successful that it attracted the attention of Bugsy Siegel, Meyer Lansky, Gus Greenbaum, and Moe Sedway, all whom purchased it in 1945.

In 1963 El Cortez was purchased by Jackie Gaughan, and it has been run as a family business ever since, even through its sale to Ike Gaming in 2008.