The Tyrant Billionaire

The prize amount for this draw was displayed on the betting table: $52,366.

Some mafia bosses also quickly purchased a few lottery tickets to get in on the action. After placing his bet, the head of the Marcello family from New Orleans asked the casino manager beside him, "Is there always this much prize money for each draw?"

"It used to be less, but now it's increasing. The betting company's wagered amounts have exceeded those within the casino," the manager replied.

Marcello glanced at the people in yellow vests and silently calculated. If each draw offered $50,000 and the casino took a 15% commission, with ten draws a day, that would be more than $27 million a year.

This figure shocked Marcello.

And that was just the income from the lottery game. The casino itself was also profitable, meaning Hardy Casino could easily make $30–40 million a year.

No wonder Hardy dared to talk about investing $100 million. The business was so lucrative that it could pay for itself in a few years, leaving pure profit afterward.

The lottery draw began, and after two rounds, a lucky gambler was chosen. This time, the winner was a woman in her thirties.

When the woman realized she had won, she screamed excitedly and hugged her husband. When she finally collected her prize, she could barely hold all the bundles of cash.

The casino took photos, and the TV station conducted interviews, broadcasting this scene to viewers across the United States.

Marcello thought to himself, seeing someone win a big prize on TV every two hours must make viewers eager to try their luck. The betting company would accumulate more funds over time, and just the ability to pool such amounts would bring them considerable profits, especially since this money was interest free and could be used at will as long as it kept coming in.

He mused further.

If a new casino investment could be as profitable as Hardy's Hotel, earning $30–40 million a year would equate to a return on investment of 30–40% annually. In three years, the investment would be recouped, and the rest would be pure profit, not to mention the valuable equity.

Most importantly, this money was legitimate income.

Thinking about it now, $100 million didn't seem like much. If Hardy made this business   opportunity public, countless investors would be eager to invest.

If Marcello could think of this, other Mafia family bosses could see it too. After spending over two hours in the casino and witnessing two lottery draws, some couldn't wait any longer and expressed their desire to talk to Mr. Hardy.

The accompanying staff smiled and said, "Mr. Hardy invites everyone to the hotel conference room."

The Mafia families bosses flocked to the hotel conference room, where a huge design plan was displayed on the wall upon entering.

The plan featured several tall hotels and various other buildings and facilities, connected by corridors and waterways. Each building was labeled with its intended use.

Some thought to themselves, "This must be the new casino Hardy plans to build. The scale is enormous, with dozens of buildings, an artificial lake, and rivers. This isn't just a casino; it's like a small city."

Just then, Hardy walked in and greeted the Mafia bosses with a smile, "I didn't accompany you earlier because I wanted you to experience it firsthand. What do you think of the place?"

"The Hardy Casino is indeed impressive, the most luxurious casino I've ever seen, and likely the most profitable too," one boss said.

Hardy smiled, "Unfortunately, it's too small and underestimates the enthusiasm of the gamblers. The rooms are always fully booked, and the casino is packed. I believe gamblers deserve a better experience.

"So, I decided to build a larger, more comprehensive casino," he said, pointing to the wall. "Take a look at this design plan. I commissioned the best design company in the United States to design this new casino. I call it 'The Venetian Grand Hotel.'"

One boss suddenly exclaimed, "Ah, I knew the architectural style looked familiar. It's Venetian!"

They were all Italians, and whether they had been to Venice or not, they still felt a bit of nostalgia for their homeland. Hardy's decision to use a Venetian style instantly made the Mafia bosses fall in love with the design.

Hardy stood before the design plan and began introducing it.

"This place is called 'The Venetian Grand Hotel.'"

"The main building will be 49 stories high, with the casino hall below, accommodating 1,000 slot machines and 300 gambling tables for 3,000 people to play simultaneously. Upstairs, there will be VIP lounges for high stakes gambling, and even private gambling rooms for those who don't want to play in public, like you distinguished gentlemen.

"Above the main building will be guest rooms. When gamblers are tired, they can go upstairs to rest. There will be over 700 rooms in the main building, as well as various performance halls for shows and competitions."

"I will direct a river into the property, creating a lake covering several acres. The open water will enhance the ambiance."

"There will also be two separate hotels, giving the casino over 2,000 rooms in total. Additionally, there will be a villa area with more than 100 villas, allowing families to stay together while visiting."

"A long shopping street will offer a collection of international brands, including clothes, shoes, bags, jewelry, and watches, satisfying people's shopping desires."

"There will be many gourmet restaurants serving cuisines from around the world. A river will run through the shopping street, allowing people to tour the casino by boat, just like in Venice."

"A conference, exhibition, and banquet center will host various large events. I have planned events like the 'Miss World Beauty Pageant' and the 'Victoria's Secret Fashion Show,' which can be held here."

"This will be a large integrated resort that combines gambling, dining, shopping, accommodation, leisure, entertainment, and business. I expect it will employ around 5,000 people."

"You must have seen the 'lottery game' at Hardy's Hotel," Hardy continued. "To be honest, that event is very profitable. I will ensure the new casino also holds such events. You know, I own the Las Vegas TV station."