On June 28, gaming industry icon John Ascuaga died at age 96. Almost at once, tributes began to pour in for the entrepreneur who created the concept of Reno-Sparks as a single entertainment destination.
It was 1960 when Ascuaga, then general manager of the Nugget Casino Resort in Sparks, decided to buy the property from Dick Graves. Over the next few decades, he turned it into a leading resort.
“To me, he was larger than life,” said former Sparks Mayor Geno Martini. “He was well-respected and knew how to grow and grow.”
Sparks City Councilman Donald Abbott said Ascuaga was pivotal in the development of Sparks and a community favorite who often could be found “wandering the casino floors … He would engage with you and have a conversation with you.”
Truckee Gaming CEO Ferenc Szony told the Reno Gazette-Journal that Ascuaga “really did believe in the idea of Reno and Sparks being together and helped make that happen. That was such a plus.” He considered the Nugget a family business, and his children assumed key roles there until the property was acquired by Marnell Gaming in 2016.
“That’s just the way they ran it—it was a very family-oriented operation,” Szony said. “He was one of those guys like Don Carano and Barron Hilton who were class acts who figured out how to make gaming a quality business that you can invest in and feel good about. He was a hell of a guy.”
Christine Johnson, executive director of the Sparks Heritage Museum, said the Ascuaga family as a whole “has been a huge contributor to the feeling of family and belonging that Sparks is known for, and John Ascuaga was at the heart of that.”
Nevada Resort Association President Virginia Valentine said his name “is synonymous with Sparks and Northern Nevada, as he was a driving force in the gaming resort-hotel industry’s evolution and expansion. Mr. Ascuaga will always be remembered as one of Nevada’s visionary industry leaders and will be greatly missed.”
And Gary Carano, executive chairman of the board of directors for Caesars Entertainment, called Ascuaga an “unwavering friend.”
“Nevada has lost a true pioneer, and the entire Carano family is deeply saddened by the loss of John Ascuaga,” Carano said. “And while the community has lost one of its pillars and the gaming industry has lost a trailblazer, those of us whose paths crossed John’s have lost a mentor, a leader, and a great friend.”
Reno-based gaming analyst Ken Adams told the Nevada Independent, “Nothing in Northern Nevada gaming happened without John being involved. John was always supportive of the community and the driving force for anything that happened east of Reno, but also anything in Reno as well.”
“We are truly saddened to hear of John Ascuaga’s passing and our heartfelt sympathy goes out to his family and all the members of the community who knew him and benefitted from his impact,” Marnell Gaming CEO Anthony Marnell III said in a statement. “John was not only an icon in Northern Nevada and throughout the region, he was also one of the true pioneers in Nevada gaming and helped shape the direction of the entire state.”
Marnell called Ascuaga “a tireless community philanthropist who gave generously to graduates throughout Northern Nevada through the Nugget Scholarship Program.”
In a statement, Nevada Governor Steve Sisolak said Ascuaga turned the Nugget into “a family-run gaming juggernaut for more than 50 years.”
“John walked the casino floor daily and popped into the restaurants to visit with tourists and employees alike,” Sisolak said. “From scholarships to countless fundraisers to special events, they made sure John Ascuaga’s Nugget was there to help.”
Washoe County Commission Chairman Bob Lucey said Ascuaga was “an iconic figure in our community” who was dedicated to public service.
“He was one of the pioneers of the resort and hospitality industry in Northern Nevada, turning a small coffee shop into one of the largest resort properties in Reno-Sparks,” Lucey said. “His vision helped shape the Truckee Meadows into the dynamic destination we call home.”
Sparks Mayor Ed Lawson announced Ascuaga’s passing before Monday’s city council meeting. “To say that Mr. Ascuaga was an integral part of Sparks is an understatement,” Lawson said in a statement. “He was, without a doubt, one of Nevada’s most prominent and successful businessmen who truly helped shape our city.”
In an interview with Nevada Magazine, Ascuaga was once asked what the state’s “Battle Born” motto meant to him.
“You’ve got to have some true grit,” he replied. “Never take no for starters. If you have a goal, think positive and you’ll fulfill it.”
Ascuaga was inducted into the American Gaming Association’s Gaming Hall of Fame in 1992. He is survived by his children Camille, John, Michonne and Stephen.
