King of the Slots: William "Si" Redd

by Jack Harpster

Overview

This book offers the first full-length biography of the man often described as one of the most influential and innovative people in the gaming industry over the past 50 years.

King of the Slots: William "Si" Redd relates the fascinating, only-in-America success story of one man's improbable rise from the depths of poverty to the heights of international commerce and dazzling wealth. William Silas "Si" Redd is recognized as one of the most important and influential persons in the gaming industry over the past half century. The company he founded, International Game Technology (IGT), is the world leader in the manufacture of gaming equipment and gaming software features. His video poker is the most popular slot machine since the original debuted in 1899.

King of the Slots covers the life (1911-2003) and rags-to-riches story of the man who changed the face of the casino gaming industry. Both a business book and a biography, it introduces readers to the nation's leading gaming centers, Apollo-era technology and how it changed gambling, and the race to perfect the first video poker game. It also gives them a chance to meet the characters with whom Redd rubbed shoulders, including Howard Hughes, Mafia capo Raymond Patriarca, Arizona cowboy and pig farmer Jimmie Hughes, gaming legend Bill Harrah, and casino visionary Jay Sarno.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780313382086
Publisher:	Bloomsbury Academic
Publication date:	05/05/2010
Pages:	273
Sales rank:	859,513
Product dimensions:	6.20(w) x 9.30(h) x 1.20(d)

About the Author

Jack Harpster worked in business management in the newspaper industry for 43 years.

Table of Contents

Illustrations and Tables
Acknowledgments
1. The Neshoba County Fair
2. A Goofy Beginning
3. Music to His Ears
4. The Music Goes Round and Round
5. The Luckiest Man Alive
6. The Biggest Little City
7. New Beginnings
8. A Quiet Revolution
9. An Ace in the Hole
10. King of the Slots
11. A Kaleidoscopic Life
12. Cruises to Nowhere
13. An Oasis in the Desert
14. Aces and Eights
Notes
Bibliography
Index

What People are Saying About This

Marshall Fey

"As a longtime pinball machine and jukebox distributor, Si Redd's insight and drive had a profound effect on the evolution of modern-day casino slot machines. Through his development of video poker slots, the first million dollar jackpot, and the founding of International Game Technology -- today the world's largest manufacturer of coin-operated gaming machines -- Redd's innovations have had an unparalleled affect on gaming worldwide.

Jack Harpster's biography portrays the remarkable story of this colorful individual who was a predominant figure in the development of today's casino gaming industry."

— Marshall Fey, grandson of Charles Fey, the inventor of the three-reel slot machine, and author of Slot Machines: America's Favorite Gaming Devices

William S. Boyd

"Si Redd is truly one of the founding fathers of the gaming industry. It's hard to imagine what our industry would be like today without him. Si's vision led to the birth of video poker and wide-area progressive jackpots -- two games that helped revolutionize and enrich the gaming experience, and have become favorites of millions of casino players across the country. But the visionary businessman was just one side of Si. Those of us who knew him saw another side as well: a philanthropist dedicated to creating a better community for all. The man you're about to read about led a truly inspiring life, and this book will help ensure that his legacy to our industry and our community will not be forgotten."
— William S. Boyd, Executive Chairman of the Board, Boyd Gaming Corporation

Marshall Fey

"As a longtime pinball machine and jukebox distributor, Si Redd's insight and drive had a profound effect on the evolution of modern-day casino slot machines. Through his development of video poker slots, the first million dollar jackpot, and the founding of International Game Technology -- today the world's largest manufacturer of coin-operated gaming machines -- Redd's innovations have had an unparalleled affect on gaming worldwide.

Jack Harpster's biography portrays the remarkable story of this colorful individual who was a predominant figure in the development of today's casino gaming industry."

—

Marshall Fey, grandson of Charles Fey, the inventor of the three-reel slot machine, and author of Slot Machines: America's Favorite Gaming Devices

William S. Boyd

"Si Redd is truly one of the founding fathers of the gaming industry. It's hard to imagine what our industry would be like today without him. Si's vision led to the birth of video poker and wide-area progressive jackpots -- two games that helped revolutionize and enrich the gaming experience, and have become favorites of millions of casino players across the country. But the visionary businessman was just one side of Si. Those of us who knew him saw another side as well: a philanthropist dedicated to creating a better community for all. The man you're about to read about led a truly inspiring life, and this book will help ensure that his legacy to our industry and our community will not be forgotten."

—

William S. Boyd, Executive Chairman of the Board, Boyd Gaming Corporation

Editorial Reviews

Harpster packs an incredible amount of detail–based on exhaustive research–into this biography, giving the reader a surprisingly vivid portrait of Redd. He is to be commended for drawing on a range of sources and melding them into a readable story. . . . Even Las Vegas and casino history buffs will learn quite a bit from King of the Slots. It's a well-researched look into the life of an important, but undeservedly lesser-known, gaming pioneer. It deserves a place in everyone's Nevada/gambling library.” —dieiscast.com

From the Publisher