Phil Satre, Wynn chairman, recalls his years with Harrah's

Few executives in the history of American gaming can boast of a resume like Phil Satre's.

Satre, a star linebacker for Stanford's 1971 Rose Bowl football team, is currently the non-executive chairman of the board for Wynn Resorts, Ltd., a position he has held since 2018. He is credited with helping stabilize the international gaming giant and repairing the reputational damage that followed the departure of Steve Wynn.

He has also served as chairman of the board for Nordstrom, NV Energy, the Guinn Center for Policy Priorities and as non-executive chairman for International Game Technology.

However, one of Satre's greatest achievements in gaming came during his long service at Harrah's and Harrah's Entertainment.

Satre rose from Harrah's general counsel in 1980 to positions of president, CEO and chairman of the board over the next 25 years. He was inducted into the American Gaming Association Hall of Fame in 2003 before retiring from Harrah's in 2004.

While with Harrah's, Satre created the innovative and highly successful, "Total Rewards" slot club loyalty program, where customers could earn points toward gifts, discounts and special treatment while staying at a Harrah's property. Points could be earned and redeemed at any Harrah's property. By the turn of the 21st century, it had created an army of loyal customers, boosted business and allowed Harrah's to compile a huge customer data base.

By 2002, Harrah’s customers could earn points at 26 casinos in the U.S., with a combined total of more 42,500 slot machines, 14,400 hotel rooms, and 108 restaurants, according to Harrah's SEC filings.

“Total Rewards,” was an innovation few gaming executives fully understood when it was launched, Satre said during a recent interview on Nevada Newsmakers.

https://www.nnbw.com/news/2026/jul/31/phil-satre-wynn-chairman-recalls-his-years-with-harrahs/