His father, known as “Honest Jack”, worked for the London and Provincial Sporting News Agency, which relayed information between off-course bookmakers and racecourses.
An Orthodox Jew, he was never seen at a racetrack on a Saturday, the Jewish Sabbath, and was frequently seen in public wearing a knitted kippah.
[citation needed] He used his money and influence to try to keep the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, in Israeli hands.
[citation needed] Appointed chairman of Ladbrokes in 1966 and some 12 months before the company was successfully floated on the London Stock Exchange with an initial market capitalization of £1-million.
Cyril Stein remained chairman until stepping down at the end of 1993 (aged 65) by which time the company was valued in excess of £2-billion.