A Legacy of Excellence Our Milestones

The Jacobs story spans decades and is rooted in development and expansion of property investments, people and communities.  View the interactive timeline that highlights significant milestones in our company’s history.

  1. Jeff Jacobs opens first Burger King in Euclid, Ohio.

    1977

  2. Mr. Jacobs forms JEI Management Company Launching Cleveland "Flats" riverfront redevelopment efforts.

    1985

  3. Nautica Stage developed by Jacobs on Cleveland's Cuyahoga riverfront.

    1987

  4. Black Hawk Gaming & Development Company Inc. (BHWK) founded as publicly traded Company.

    1991

  5. Company opens The Gilpin Casino in Black Hawk, Colorado.

    1992

  6. Jacobs privately invests in Nautica Queen, Cleveland's river dining cruise ship.

    1992

  7. Colonial Downs opens in New Kent, Virginia, under ownership of Jeff Jacobs.

    1997

  8. The Lodge Casino opens in Black Hawk, Colorado, as a joint venture between BHWK and Jacobs Investments.

    1998

  9. Gold Dust West Reno is acquired.

    2000

  10. Nautica Queen and Jacobs Pavilion added to the Jacobs portfolio.

    2001

  11. Jeff Jacobs forms Jacobs Entertainment Inc., combining all operations of Black Hawk Gaming & Development Company, Inc., Colonial Downs and 7 truck stops.

    2002

  12. Company purchases Pinon Plaza Casino in Carson City, Nevada and renames under Gold Dust West brand.

    2006

  13. Jacobs Entertainment Inc. builds new casino in Elko, Nevada, opening third Gold Dust West property.

    2006

  14. 25 company-owned truck stops throughout Louisiana are rebranded under Cash Magic umbrella.

    2008

  15. Cleveland-based Nautica Entertainment ventures unite under Jacobs Entertainment Inc.

    2013

  16. Greater Cleveland Aquarium added to the company portfolio.

    2014

  17. Hampton Inn opens at Gold Dust West Elko.

    2016

  18. Jeff Jacobs begins property acquisitions in Reno, Nevada, spearheading Reno's 4th Street redevelopment project.

    2016

  19. JEI acquires Canyon Casino, situated on 3 acres adjacent to Gilpin Casino for Black Hawk expansion.

    2017

  20. JEI purchases Reno's 4th Street landmark, Sands Regency Hotel & Casino in Reno, Nevada.

    2017

  21. JEI begins the development of Reno Neon Line - a $1.8 billion mixed use project, comprised of a live-work-play district, that will serve as a hub for all ages celebrating Reno’s eccentric culture through pedestrian-friendly amenities, public art, restaurants, retail, and entertainment venues.

    2019

  22. JEI begins the $150 million repositioning of the Sands Regency Hotel & Casino, into a world class resort and casino. Projected opening in mid 2023.

    2021

  23. The Glow Plaza opens for its first summer concerts series.

    2021

  24. Installation of the "J" neon sign is complete, signaling the opening of the all-new J Resort.

    2023

  25. The Glow Plaza transforms into the "J Resort's Glow Plaza," hosting large scale concerts and events for the public.

    2023

  26. Purchases Lady Caroline, a 120-foot-long, 15,000-square-foot luxury yatch and Northeast Ohio’s premier dining cruise ship.

    2023

  27. J Resort celebrates the official completion of Phase 1 remodel.

    2023

  28. J Resort's Festival Grounds Opens – A Thrilling 4.5-Acre Outdoor Venue with Capacity for 12,000 Guests

    2025

Executive Team

Behind every great team are great leaders.  We owe our strength and longevity as a company to the consistent way we manage our business, our prudent growth philosophy and to the character of our employees.

Jeff Jacobs

Jeffrey P. Jacobs

Chairman and CEO Jacobs Investments, Inc.
CEO, Secretary and Treasurer, Jacobs Entertainment, Inc.

Jacobs Investments, Inc. and its operating subsidiary Jacobs Entertainment Inc. have many decades of experience in developing mixed-use, large-scale projects. The company was originally founded in 1976 by Mr. Jacobs, who serves as the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. The company engages in a variety of real estate development and private equity transactions.

Beginning in the 1980’s, the company’s initial focus on large scale entertainment related development projects led to the creation of the Nautica Entertainment District and the Warehouse District residential neighborhood, both located in downtown Cleveland, Ohio. During the 1990’s, the company developed the Lodge and Gilpin Casinos in Blackhawk, Colorado as well as three hotel casinos in Nevada. Beginning in 2017, the company began the transformation of downtown Reno, Nevada with the J Resort and J Resort’s Reno Neon Line. The company has successfully built and operated transformative projects for many decades. Each of these projects have served as a catalyst to revitalize the areas around their development. Today, the Nautica entertainment District continues to motivate residents to live, work, and play in Cleveland’s city center. The Lodge and Gilpin casinos in Blackhawk, Colorado are part of an entertainment district located in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains that has quickly grown to be a premier entertainment location for the City of Denver. J Resort and J Resort’s Reno Neon Line include a renovated 700 room hotel and casino, a half mile of Burning Man public art display, an outdoor 15,000 patron music festival grounds, and several hundred new apartment residences that have collectively revitalized downtown Reno.

Mr. Jacobs obtained a BBA degree in business from the University of Kentucky in 1975, an MBA degree in business from the Ohio State University in 1977 and an MA degree in urban planning from Cleveland State University in 1979.

Brett Kramer

Brett Kramer

Promoted to Chief Financial Officer in December 2006, Brett Kramer has been with Jacobs Entertainment, Inc. since 1994. Prior to his current position Mr. Kramer has held several other positions as a CPA within our accounting team, first as Assistant Controller, Controller, and V.P. of Finance. While in these positions he was pivotal in implementing a number of invaluable improvements to back-end accounting processes and records management. Prior to Jacobs Entertainment he spent four years with Deloitte and Touche in the Denver office. A Colorado native, Mr. Kramer graduated Cum-Laude from the University of Colorado at Boulder.

John East

John East

John East joined Jacobs Entertainment in 2006 and was promoted to Chief Operating Officer for Jacobs Entertainment in 2016. During his tenure with the company he has served in various Senior Management positions including General Manager for the Lodge Casino, VP of Colorado Operations and Vice President of Western Division Operations, where he had oversight of all five Colorado and Nevada casino operations. John began his gaming career in 1987 at Harvey’s Casino Resorts in Lake Tahoe where he worked in Food & Beverage, Hotel and Finance. In 1994, during the gaming industry’s expansive years, John was selected to move to Colorado to open Harvey’s Wagon Wheel and was made General Manager in 2002.