Chapter 192: The Venetian Hotel

The Mafia family patriarchs arrived at Hardy Casino, where the opulence exceeded their expectations. The casino was abuzz with activity: rows of slot machines clattered with winnings, while the gaming tables were crowded with gamblers, each win eliciting cheers from those around.

Music filled the air, signaling the start of the two-hour lottery event. The crowd gathered around the lottery area, watched over by staff in yellow vests from "Lucky Angel Betting Company." The prize amount was prominently displayed—$52,366.

Marcelo, patriarch of the New Orleans Marcelo family, was taken aback. Calculating the potential returns, he noted that if each lottery bet was $50,000 and the casino took a 15% cut, multiplied by ten draws a day, it could generate over $27 million annually—just from the lottery. This was on top of the casino's other profits. It was clear why Hardy was confident about investing $100 million; the returns were impressive.

As the lottery drew to a close, a woman in her thirties won the jackpot. Her ecstatic reaction, captured by the media, underscored the allure of such high-stake games. Marcelo realized how these lottery events could continually attract substantial investments.

The patriarchs were then escorted to a large conference room, where a detailed design drawing of the new casino, "The Venetian Hotel," was displayed. The design, inspired by Venetian architecture, featured multiple high-rise hotels, luxury facilities, and a sprawling layout with artificial lakes and rivers. The scale of the project was grand.

Hardy addressed the group, outlining his vision for "The Venetian Hotel." The main building would rise 49 floors, with a casino lobby accommodating 1,000 slot machines and 300 gaming tables. The upper floors would house VIP gambling rooms, and the main building would feature over 700 guest rooms, performance halls, a shopping street with global brands, gourmet restaurants, and a river for boat tours. Additionally, a hospital and a university would be included, enhancing both infrastructure and relationships with the local government.

The patriarchs were visibly impressed. Hardy's detailed presentation highlighted the lucrative potential of the new casino and its capacity to attract global tourism.

When Hardy announced the investment terms—$5 million for 5% of the shares—the room buzzed with a mix of enthusiasm and hesitation. The high entry price posed a challenge for some families. Hardy's requirement to sign a voting rights binding agreement to ensure management stability added another layer of complexity. This agreement would secure Hardy's control and prevent internal conflicts among shareholders.

Tom Hagen, representing the Corleone family, stepped forward to indicate their willingness to invest and sign the agreement, showing the Corleone family's serious commitment.

The atmosphere in the room was tense as the patriarchs weighed their options, balancing the potential profits against Hardy's terms.