Vegas casino owner Bob Stupak dead at 67

LAS VEGAS, Sept. 26 (UPI) -- Las Vegas casino pioneer Bob Stupak has died of leukemia at the age of 67, his family announced late Friday.

Stupak, who was known as "Mr. Las Vegas" by an official mayoral proclamation, built the landmark Stratosphere tower on The Strip and is credited with bringing the million-dollar slot machine to the casino floor.

A family spokesman said Stupak died Friday at Desert Springs Hospital with family members at his side.

The Las Vegas Review-Journal said Saturday that tributes were pouring in from Nevada's elite, including Mayor Oscar Goodman and Senate Majority leader Harry Reid.

The Las Vegas Sun recounted that Stupak was born with gambling in his blood. He grew up in Pittsburgh where his father ran a famous floating crap game. He was a regular competitor in the World Series of Poker and reveled in his maverick image.

Former United Press International reporter Myram Borders, who covered Stupak in his heyday, told the Sun Stupak "was always playing it right to the edge -- good, bad or indifferent."