Despite the clubs success, it was difficult for the three owners to run, and even more difficult when there were only two. A significant problem was that Harold Smith ran up huge gambling bills that drained the club's profitability. They sold the club to Howard Hughes in 1970, and Jessie Beck who owned the Keno and Poker in the Club sold her lease to Hughes at the same time. Jessie Beck took her $3 million from this sale and bought the Riverside operation in 1971, giving it a new life until sold to Pick Hobson in 1978.

For about $11 million, Howard Hughes had bought the world's largest and the first fully themed casino. While the casino manager at the time continued in his post, changes in personnel, policies and procedures took place. For the first time, table games were arranged into pits, and supervisors wives were fired to prevent collusion. Dealer's tips were now pooled rather than keep- your-own. The children's theater, a popular operation since the 1950's was turned into an amusement arcade in addition to the theater operation. Patrons' of Harolds were encouraged to leave their children there free of charge while it was theater only. The Fun Room was closed and re-opened as a prime-rib house.