Benny Binion American casino owner Date of Birth: 20.11.1904 Country: USA

1. Biography of Benny Binion
2. Early Life and Career
3. Life in Las Vegas and 'Binion's Horseshoe'
4. Personal Life and Legacy

Biography of Benny Binion

Benny Binion, an American casino owner, gambler, and gangster, was a legendary figure in the world of gambling. He was the owner of 'Binion's Horseshoe' casino and the founder of the famous poker tournament, World Series of Poker. Binion lived a long and eventful life, filled with ups and downs, and was often described as the "noblest of bad guys or the worst of good guys." He had two sides to his personality - a ruthless and cruel gangster and a charming person who was the life of the party. His contribution to the history of poker was truly immense.

Early Life and Career

Lester Ben "Benny" Binion was born in 1904 in Grayson County, Texas, to parents who were concerned about his weak health from an early age. As a result, he was rarely sent to school. However, Binion spent his childhood around adults as his father traded horses and drove herds. This outdoor lifestyle eventually improved his health, but he still had a significant gap in his education. Binion developed a passion for cards at a young age and was already able to outplay many people in his teenage years. He also had some knowledge of bookmaking and in the late 1920s, he opened an underground lottery.

By the mid-1920s, Binion was already having trouble with the law, facing charges of illegal weapon possession, fraud, and bootlegging. However, his real notoriety came in 1931 when he quickly dealt with his business partner in the liquor trade by shooting him. The incident took place in Dallas, and the victim was Frank Bolding, Binion's African American friend. By that time, Binion was already known as "Cowboy." Fortunately for Binion, things ended favorably for him as Bolding had a bad reputation and a questionable record with the police. He received only a two-year suspended sentence for the killing. However, both Binion and his lawyers argued that it was an act of self-defense. Despite this incident, Binion remained free and continued his activities.

By that time, he had become a professional gambler, with poker being his true passion. He dedicated as much time as possible to the game. Five years later, Binion killed again, this time Ben Frieden, who managed to reach the police station and report Binion. However, Binion once again avoided punishment as the court saw his actions as self-defense. In 1938, another one of Binion's partners was killed, but his friend took responsibility for the crime.

Life in Las Vegas and 'Binion's Horseshoe'

By the early 1940s, Binion had become a prominent criminal figure in Dallas. However, he had a falling out with the new mayor and was forced to leave the city. Binion ended up in Las Vegas, where he became a co-owner of a casino called 'Las Vegas Club.' However, he was not satisfied with the betting policies of the establishment. In 1951, Binion managed to buy out the entire establishment and opened the 'Westerner Gambling House and Saloon' in its place. In the same year, he also purchased two more establishments, the 'Eldorado Club' and 'the Apache Hotel,' which he merged into one and opened as 'Binion's Horseshoe,' which became famous worldwide. The casino boasted a high level of service and offered high stakes gambling. While other casinos had betting limits of $50, 'Binion's Horseshoe' allowed bets of up to $500. The casino also offered luxurious amenities and original shows, attracting the most important and wealthy guests in Las Vegas. Binion's business flourished.

However, his success drew the attention and envy of larger mobsters, and his influence was not enough to fight against them. As a result, Binion almost lost his casino, spent some time in legal battles, lost his gaming license, and narrowly avoided prison for tax evasion. Nevertheless, the sale of a portion of his casino was enough to cover his losses. Eventually, the casino returned to the control of his family, but Binion could only act as a consultant as he was never able to regain his license.

In 1949, Binion organized a tournament between two players, which lasted several months. He repeated this competition the following year, and soon the number of participants grew to six. These tournaments, which attracted tremendous public interest, laid the foundation for the World Series of Poker, which is known today.

Personal Life and Legacy

Benny Binion, who always preferred to be called Cowboy, was married to Teddy Jane, and they had five children - two sons and three daughters. His entire family actively participated in the management of the casino.

Benny Binion passed away at the age of 85 on December 25, 1989, due to a heart attack in Las Vegas. Many people remember him as Cowboy, wearing a wide-brimmed hat, a shirt adorned with gold coins instead of buttons, and carrying a gun, despite it being strictly prohibited. When he walked through the casino, many of his customers would pat him on the shoulder and have friendly conversations with him - Binion was "one of their own" for many people. However, to outsiders, he was a fierce and untamable enemy. Occasionally, he would even sit down at a table in his own establishment - poker remained his favorite pastime.