Merv Griffin died on Sunday August 5th. Usually the passing of a celebrity would hardly be news that deserves a mention on the casino gambling site but Merv does. Many remember him as a television host and game show pioneer but he was also a savvy casino executive who paved the way for the development of Atlantic City gambling as we know it today.

Merv purchased Atlantic City's Resorts International in 1988 and helped transform the city into the tourist destination it is today. He went beyond just being a casino owner and was a driving force behind helping the redevelopment of Atlantic City. He did as much to promote Atlantic City as he did his own casino. Along the way he tried to make all of the patrons of his casino feel special. Some of my earliest trips to the casino were made to Resorts when Merv was the owner and I have many fond memories from that time. Those trips helped introduce me to the excitement and joys of casino gambling. Thanks Merv!