Consumer >> CEO Interviews >> December 6, 2010
Lyle Berman is the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Lakes Entertainment, Inc. In 1990 Mr. Berman participated in the founding of Grand Casinos, Inc., which became a leader in the emerging gaming segment of the casino industry. The company opened eight casino resorts in four states within five years, and in 1995 it was named the fastest-growing company in America by Fortune magazine. Grand Casinos' Mississippi assets were merged with the gaming division of Hilton Hotels Corp. in 1998 to form Park Place Entertainment Corp., now known as Harrah's Entertainment, and in 1999 the Grand Casinos' Indian Casino Management business was turned into Lakes Entertainment, Inc. Mr. Berman is also the Chairman of PokerTek, Inc., and was Chairman of World Poker Tour Enterprises until 2009. He was instrumental in creating the World Poker Tour, which revolutionized the game of poker throughout the world. Mr. Berman has been honored with the B'nai B'rith "Great American Traditions Award" and the Gaming Executive of the Year Award, and he was inducted into the Poker Hall of Fame. In 1964 he graduated with a degree in business administration from the University of Minnesota. Profile
TWST: Please start with a history of Lakes Entertainment and an overview of your current operations.
Mr. Berman: I started a company called Grand Casinos, which was a public company, in the early
