24 Facts About Benny Binion

In 1931, Binion was convicted of shooting and killing a rumrunner, Frank Bolding.

Benny Binion was born and raised in Pilot Grove, Texas, north of Dallas.

Benny Binion was indicted, but the indictment was later dismissed on the grounds that Benny Binion had acted in self-defense.

Benny Binion was never indicted for this murder, and charges were dropped against his associates.

Benny Binion ran a famous casino known as the Top O' Hill Terrace in Arlington, as well as a horse track.

Benny Binion lost his Nevada gaming license in 1951 and was sentenced to a five-year term in 1953 at Leavenworth federal penitentiary for tax evasion.

In Las Vegas, Benny Binion became a partner of the Las Vegas Club casino, but left after a year due to licensing problems.

In 1951, Benny Binion purchased the Eldorado Club and the Apache Hotel, opening them as Benny Binion's Horseshoe, which immediately became popular because of the high limits on bets.

Benny Binion initially set a table limit of $500 for craps.

Benny Binion was in the vanguard of Las Vegas casino innovation.

Benny Binion was the first in the downtown Glitter Gulch to replace sawdust-covered floors with carpeting, the first to dispatch limousines to transport customers to and from the casino, and the first to offer free drinks to players.

Benny Binion shied away from the gaudy performing acts typical of other Las Vegas casinos.

Benny Binion's family regained controlling interest in the Horseshoe in 1957, but did not regain full control until 1964.

Benny Binion was never allowed to hold a gaming license afterwards.

Benny Binion's office was a booth in the downstairs restaurant, and he knew many of his customers by name.

Benny Binion didn't consider himself to be very good at poker, nor did he participate much in competition or private cash games, preferring to organize them.

Benny Binion's son, Ted Binion, was under scrutiny from the Nevada Gaming Commission from 1986 onwards for his involvement in drugs and associating with organized crime figures.

Benny Binion collected 135,000 silver dollars and stored them in an underground safe in Pahrump, Nevada.

In January 1949, Benny Binion arranged for Johnny Moss and Nick "The Greek" Dandolos to play a head-to-head poker tournament which ended up lasting five months, with Dandolos ultimately losing a reported two million dollars.

Benny Binion didn't operate a casino until 1951 in Las Vegas.

In 1970, after years of arranging heads-up matches between high-stakes players, Benny Binion invited six players to compete in a tournament.

Benny Binion never forgot his Texas roots and was a key player in getting the National Finals Rodeo to move to Las Vegas.

Benny Binion never forgot the cowboys after they arrived; he always paid the entry fees for all of the cowboys for their championship event.

Benny Binion died of heart failure at the age of 85 on December 25,1989, in Las Vegas.