LV executives in control of Millennium

Wednesday, May 3, 2000 | 10:48 a.m.

Two longtime Nevada casino executives and a former state gaming regulator are the controlling shareholders of Millennium Management Group, the winning bidder in the battle for Detroit's Greektown Casino.

One shareholder is William Paulos, who most recently served as president and director of Primadonna Resorts Inc. From this position, Paulos assisted in the development of the New York-New York hotel-casino on the Strip. Paulos also previously served as an executive with Circus Circus Enterprises Inc., now known as Mandalay Resort Group.

Paulos left Primadonna in 1996, the same year Millennium was incorporated.

The second shareholder in Millennium is William Wortman, owner of two Las Vegas-area casinos -- Renata's, located in Henderson, and Nevada Palace Hotel & Casino on the Boulder Highway.

The third partner in Millennium is Guy Hillyer, a former member of the Nevada Gaming Control Board. In addition to his time on the board, Hillyer has served as an executive with Primadonna and Circus Circus.

One of the company's key executives is Mike Mecca, former president of the Mandalay Bay hotel-casino. Mecca resigned from Mandalay Bay one year ago, and now serves as chief executive of the Greektown.

According to the Nevada Gaming Control Board, Millennium is not currently licensed to operate any Nevada casinos, though Wortman individually holds a license due to his ownership in Renata's and Nevada Palace.