Benny Binion, The "Friendliest" Mobster In Vegas

You may never have heard of Benny Binion, but odds are you're familiar with some of his work. So, who was he? For starters, he was one of the pioneers in Las Vegas gaming and founder of the World Series of Poker.
While Binion was said to be one of the nicest men you'd ever meet, he was also a guy you didn't want to cross. From his start as a gambler and racketeer in Dallas, TX, to the establishment of his Horseshoe Hotel and Casino on Fremont Street in downtown Las Vegas, Binion was as ruthless as he was charismatic. Binion reshaped Las Vegas gambling, attracting high rollers and average players alike.
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[@garypike7359]

Having worked at the horseshoe for 2 years in 83 and 84 there will never be anything like I'm the luckiest person to see the last of old Vegas

[@tootz1950]

Todays corporate Vegas is a badly run Disneyland.

[@CadeCYC]

What are some of the details that stand out for you Gary?

[@richhoops2413]

I'm 40, so I barely remember this, but my father purchased the sign and all of the furniture for a motel that he opened in a small town in Texas. The name of the motel in Vegas was "The Bali Hai". Not the country club (I think that's still open in Vegas), but the motel. He also tried to open a casino in Vegas when I was a kid, I guess the motel was an attachment to that. We had a place at The Jockey Club and a house on Lone Mountain Dr. Do you remember The Bali Hai when it was open in Vegas?

[@davebaker9128]

I was driving my employer to Las Vegas, he was friends with Benny Binion, I was introduced to him, he treated me very well, very nice guy

[@jgrazzi]

In the 70’s, when I was too young to even gamble, my parents would take us all to Vegas about twice a year. Mom & Dad were gamblers. I remember how they’d pick up the phone, call Binion’s Horseshoe and ask for “Gibby” (as he was known) who was the slots manager. All they’d have to tell “Gibby” was that they’d be coming up on Friday and Saturday and needed two rooms at the top of the stairs. Gibby would say, “I’ve got you down. See you on Friday”. Everything was ready when we got there. And while I sat and watched my parents play I remember Benny Binion would come around with a big bucket of silver dollars. He would scoop his hands into the bucket and give players hands full of silver dollars to play with. The noise, the energy, the excitement were all incredible. You’d have to wait just to get a seat at the blackjack table and the place was always packed! If they wanted dinner all they needed to do was call over a slots supervisor and the comp slip was written and that was that. When I got older and began to play myself in the 80’s & 90’s it was almost as simple. But now it’s all gone! It’ll never be the same. But the memories of those good ole days will last forever.

[@Tiburon876]

Good ole boy.. texan hospitality.. you experienced.. like no other... ever again...wild wild west..in action..

[@tommyfu9271]

That sounds amazing. Now Binions is a ghost town.

[@tootz1950]

We always stayed and played at the Horseshoe. Benny would walk around the casino and talk to the players at even the low stakes tables. He was friendly and generous. He had that little bar by the 21 tables where even call drinks were $.50 24 hours a day. His diner downstairs had good food for cheap prices and the rooms were nice and not much money. I think he did a great job of pulling people into his place, didn't need shows or concerts...just cheap drinks, eats, and talking to the folks. I liked him.

[@rhettstein9388]

Lester Binion a.k.a. benny Binion was my brothers godfather he was truly a really nice gentleman when my brother’s father passed away Mr. Binion help my mother a lot he is an absolute living legend rest in peace Danny Binion

[@JustJulyo]

Miss when I was scared of mobsters rather than corporations

[@Chris-ev5ok]

Do you? While I've never dealt with any mobsters, I don't think "Amazon" will kill my wife with a car bomb...yet. You know what? Nevermind, you might be right...

[@nunyabizness9216]

I'm even more scared of crooked politicians, crooked law enforcement, and crooked attorneys. Corruption and organized crime will never go away because of greed.

[@gowankommando]

​@@nunyabizness9216 That was the reason the government went hard on the Mafia. The government don't like competition

[@nunyabizness9216]

@@gowankommando 'zackly

[@siriusgd4753]

The mob families treated their employees well. If you didn't steal from them then you had nothing to worry about. When the corporations came in the whole city went to hell.

[@jeramypickett8357]

i always loved the old feel binions still has. a dark cigarette filled nostalgic 1960s through 80s vibe. u can walk in and out no doors. gotta do a video on his son ted binion. insane how much dirt this guy was involved in over the years.

[@sammyfoldem3655]

The whole family

[@Vintage_Andrew99]

His feud with Herbert “The Cat” Noble and the multiple attempts against him, including the one attempt in which his wife died in a car bomb, must have been the source of inspiration for the mission of the first Mafia game “You Lucky bastard” in which there are multiple attempts against a mobster including the car bomb in which a woman, who was the mistress of the main target, perished

[@snex000]

The WSOP hasn't been played at Binion's Horseshoe since like 2004 or 2005. It moved to the Rio, and then last year to Bally's, which this year has rebranded itself to Horseshoe.

[@sammyfoldem3655]

One of the most important figures in gambling history

[@dave9351]

Benny had some great quotes : When all the other casinos had musical acts playing in the lounge, Benny responded by saying : "I don't particularly like to see my money floating out the end of a clarinet" Great video, wonderful story of a Vegas Icon!

[@rab52764]

Actually, the last time the WSOP was at Binion's was in 2007. Then, it was at The Rio for 14 years, and now The Paris/Horseshoe. However, this version of The Horseshoe (formerly Bally's) is owned by Caesars and has nothing to do with Binion's other than Caesars bought Harrah's, which bought Binion's.

[@acelarson1872]

Yep and this video shows Binion riding a horse in 2015 how funny they got so much wrong.

[@bearatts]

You're wrong about the 2007 wsop being held there. I believe it was the final table of the 2005 main event was the last time it was held there

[@bankofbryan7917]

When I heard him say the WSOP is played there to this day I had to pause the video to come look for this comment. When the company (now owned by/named Caesars) bought the Horseshoe, they only kept the WSOP and rights to the name "Horseshoe" and sold everything else.

[@nikitakucherov5028]

The dude aint wrong, WSOP will be played at the Horseshoe this yr, I think he got that right by accident

[@InboundEdegem]

@@nikitakucherov5028 100% accident

[@randomthoughts9564]

I am a Vegas native and as bizarre as it might sound the city was best when it was ran by the mob. Growing up in Vegas you understand the influence the mob had. That’s why we have the museum dedicated to the mob. It’s our city and culture and although controversial I wouldn’t want it any other way. Go to downtown Vegas and you will see the mob remnants. It’s not perfect but it was Las Vegas. I would prefer the old Vegas to the corporate one of today.

[@javiermori1710]

Born in vegas in 71 and still live here. I agree. My ol man worked Caesars Palace bartender for 40 years dating back to 66 when it opened. He had some great stories. Different time. Miss ol mobbed up Vegas.

[@thegreencat9947]

@@javiermori1710 the "Rat Pack".

[@OlDirtyChinesRestaurant]

I just moved here 2 yrs ago and a bunch of older ppl that have lived here fir years said the same. "Mob run vegas" was were it was at.

[@balabanasireti]

Still corrupt

[@jscatt6123]

I used to stay and gamble at Binions Horseshoe every time I went, was one of the few places with single deck blackjack, I haven’t been to Vegas in years, is Binions still around?

[@zombieparrot2606]

I live out here, and visit the mob museum regularly. I love the history of this town.

[@gjd424]

Fact check: The World Series of poker has been at the Rio in LV for the last 17 years…love the channel!

[@robgronotte1]

Actually last year it moved to the new Horseshoe, which is the old Bally's.

[@yesicanu]

Update: Last year, 2022, the WS of Poker was played at Ballys. This year, 2023, is the first year it's returned to the Horseshoe name.

[@geoff3103]

Benny's friend Amarillo Slim said it best: "He was either the gentlest bad guy or the baddest good guy you'd ever seen."

[@andrabrandon7375]

HEB is the major supermarket chain here in Texas - good placement of their children's mascot!!!!

[@hangin-in-thereawesome4245]

My husband and I stayed and gambled at the Horseshoe many but only saw Benny at the door. We were told that because of his criminal record he couldn't come inside. After his sons took over, you would often see Ted working as pit boss. In the downstairs coffee shop there was a glass case with dolls dressed to look like Benny and his wife. Yes he was a mobster!!

[@geoff3103]

Half right. His kids ran the place for him. he could be inside the casino HOWEVER he couldn't gamble though or have an official position with the casino. His office, such as it was, was that downstairs coffee shop.

[@sammyfoldem3655]

@@geoff3103 I think it was the steakhouse maybe?

[@geoff3103]

@@sammyfoldem3655 possible there too, but that was part of the Mint Casino which they didn't acquire until the late 80s, and Benny was def on his last legs by then.

[@sammyfoldem3655]

@@geoff3103 thank you

[@The7Reaper]

One of those guys that definitely lived by the "give respect, get respect" saying but when crossed you see why he rose up in the mob.

[@skittlecar1]

I love going to Binions on Fremont. Has that old school charm.

[@ryproar11]

They actually based the villain of fallout new Vegas off of this guy. I mean the guy who shot you and apologized for it was also called Benny... Benson... okay they just stole his name. 😂

[@drinfernodds]

"From where you're kneeling, this must look like an 18-karat run of bad luck. The truth is, the game was rigged from the start."

[@sodapop1311]

​@@drinfernodds I hit what I was aiming for, guess you just had brains to spare.

[@siriusgd4753]

Fallout series. Best games ever.

[@voidpuppy5145]

I was thinking the whole time "this sounds like the guy who shot me in the head that one time"

[@davidlape3325]

The fact that he was "nice" would scare me even more. Love the channel and content. Really enjoy learning about the different stories. Blessings.❤️

[@javiermori1710]

Im a vegas native and when friends or family came to town the first pic you took was going to Binions Horeshoe in front of that million dollar cash display in lobby. Everyone whos been to Vegas back in day has that pic somewhere lol.

[@christianoliver3572]

Look y'all, don't mess with H-E-B. H-E-Buddy has a mean side and if you make him upset he has ways of making you disappear.

[@vegasmarc7252]

There should be an entire Netflix, Max, or Prime Video series on this guy. Basically a cowboy-style Boardwalk Empire. A movie would be way too short.

[@geoff3103]

waaaaay to short for a movie considering he was in Vegas for 44 years. I mean how much had that town changed from 1946 to 1990??? And he was there the whole time.

[@lestermount3287]

start when he ran gambling in Dallas, Texas, was charged with murder skipped town on bail and Nevada refused to extradite him.

[@shalayajay9028]

I used to give tours at the Southpoint casino. There's a big ass statue of him on a horse in the hallway heading to the area where they have the rodeo. There's also a hall with the history of Las Vegas. Very interesting

[@GRice999]

I remember that statue when it was in the parking lot behind Binion's Horseshoe.

[@CowSaysMooMoo]

Becky Binion wrecked the place. It'll never be the same. RIP Horseshoe: 1951-2004. It was the world's greatest casino. Now it is nothing more than an air-conditioned shortcut from Fremont St to the Cal.

[@btetschner]

A+ video! Rugged and fascinating history!

[@MorticiaAttoms]

Him and my great uncle knew each other. They were from the same area around Dallas. I'm not sure how they met, but they were friends.

[@davidsigalow7349]

After Benny's passing, there was a schism, with son Jack leaving town to manage their oroperties outside of Las Vegas while Jack's sister ran the Horseshoe. It was the sister that ran the Horseshoe into the ground by squeezing the customers and the employees. At one point, the regulators forced Binions to close half of its casino on the grounds that it didn't have enough cash on hand to pay winners. It was shortly thereafter that it was seized and closed when it was determined she had paid neither employee tax withholdings nor employee insurance premiums. I don't know if she went to jail, but, given that a casino is a license to print money, what happened to all of the money?

[@geoff3103]

it was Becky's husband who screwed up the place. Sad that Ted had a drug problem, he wouldn't have let that happen.

[@davidsigalow7349]

@Geoff My friends and I visited Binion's about two weeks before the regulators shut it down. We weren't at the craps table for 5 minutes before the dealers began pestering us for tips. When we left, without tipping, my friends and I were confounded by the dealers' rudeness, as we had NEVER experienced being hit on for tips immediately. Well, when the place was shut down, it made sense - the dealers knew the axe was going to fall soon, and were trying to squeeze some extra money out of the customers before they lost their jobs.

[@geoff3103]

@@davidsigalow7349 thats horrible. Had Benny seen that he would've busted those stickmen down to spinning the Big 6 wheel on the graveyard shift for a year or two. Sad that Ted had such a bad drug problem. Him and Jack would still have that place today.

[@davidsigalow7349]

@@geoff3103 You are correct.

[@LordHeadcheez]

Becky still has her giant house in the Rancho Oakey Estates, so she's still doing quite well despite the drama.

[@PAUL-pz3rz]

A friend of mine who has authored over 2 dozen books and is considered an expert on the Kennedy assassination interviewed Binion for a book one time. Before the interview started, Binion told him, everything I tell you is absolutely true. But I absolutely won't tell you everything. I'll never forget that.

[@Rizky06]

Don't mess with cowboys in trench coats ! 7:15 🤣

[@Skyguy_steve]

Love your Vegas history videos!

[@baliyae]

I honestly never heard of this guy before until today. Thanks for sharing, Weird History!

[@toastnjam7384]

Loved the 2$ steak specials. The restaurant was downstairs which only served that special 24 hours a day and there was always a long line.

[@rodneykantorski736]

A long line that moved fast. I was in line for about 5 minutes, then was seated. Waiter came up in less than a minute to take my order. Told him I would like the steak special. Literally, in less than a minute, my dinner was served and it was excellent. Got the strip steak faster than you get a Big Mac at McDonald's. I'll always remember that.

[@MrsShocoTaco]

"Never trust a horse trader" ~ my Dad

[@jpp5039]

hahaha love the Tim Robinson insert, great sketch

[@kirkmanning6232]

My favourite bar in Vegas on the main floor by the blackjack area. Old school class!

[@Howdy76]

i shock his hand down in the old steak house in the basement. Back in 1986 . Good times , now long gone. O h well.

[@NewMessage]

With a name like that, I'd have invented a bunion balm.

[@mikeysbago-meat7967]

"Good ol' Benny Binions Bunion Balm" lmfao

[@hippiemama52]

"The no burn balm to make your bunions better."🙂🙂

[@junkiejackflash]

How many bees could Ben Binion bend if Ben Binion could bend bees?

[@NewMessage]

@@junkiejackflash As many bees as Ben Binion could bend, if Ben Binion could bend bees.

[@thegreencat9947]

It would have been a shoe in.

[@johnbrown6917]

I worked in the fresh seafood business back in the day he’d come into the store all the time.

[@brucejohnson7944]

Once again you're very entertaining

[@john-claudejpep6654]

Actor Brian Cox would definitely play the role of Benny Binion!

[@brodie6222]

Would love to hear about "Deacon Brodie" the inspiration for Dr. Jekal and Mr. Hyde. Much love, and thanks for the fun vids.

[@Dueling101able]

I really like these mini bios of obscure historic people

[@NASCARFAN93100]

The Mobster with a ❤

[@octavius8562]

Not even close.

[@AudieHolland]

Wow, he allowed people to bet more and he allowed amateurs to join the poker games. What a swell guy!

[@btetschner]

Love Texas Hold'em poker, we used to play it every week as a home game and also would play free games at local bars.

[@Dadbro]

Dana White and Shannon Sharpe sent me here

[@desmondcastro3679]

He contributed greatly to our community. R.I.P. Mr.Binions

[@seekertosecrets]

8:27 I never seen it. I never heard of it. This is funny, man!

[@TalkingGIJoe]

Of all the places to go in Vegas, old school downtown is still my favorite!

[@jimdellavecchia4594]

Education doesn't make you a success. It helps, but hard work, desire and drive will get you very far

[@jeremybarcelo6486]

Nice shoutout to HEB

[@diontaedaughtry974]

This is the first time I've ever heard of a mobster being friendly.

[@jamesd242]

there usually greedy mudderlovers

[@booognish]

Jimmy “The Gent” Burke

[@yurdp]

He was a mobster that realized he didn’t need to stay one after he found success in Vegas.

[@The105ODST]

At 6:13 It may explain the mailbox bomb in Fallout New Vegas that you find out in Outer Vegas.

[@thedankdave222]

Also the reason Benny's name was chosen I presume

[@reillyjensen2304]

I never knew the story of binion's shoe , as we called it . Working construction through 70's , 80's loved to drop in the "shoe" for new York steak and eggs after midnight. Never gambled though. Best steak and eggs in town.

[@johnmills2274]

Also best binion burgers Beef from his Montana ranch

[@Tiburon876]

That very smart...

[@tylerhackner9731]

Interesting guy

[@jessemays9427]

His steakhouse is amazing.

[@btmbino2994]

“Buddy Malone” They did it 🤣🤣

[@zach7193]

Well, he was something. Colorful. The last name did seem familiar to me because I might have heard of it from Dining with Death.

[@btetschner]

Awesome Little Tramp clip! When people get a tramp stamp, why don't they just get a tattoo of him?

[@richfrazier8756]

I used to love Binion Casino's late night NY steak dinner with salad, baked potato and roll for $3 every night after 11pm in the restaurant

[@johnreape2833]

It was $2 for a long time, before it went to $3. Yes, it was from 11 pm.

[@auntvesuvi3872]

Thanks for this! 🚨 #WeirdHistory #BennyBinion #FriendlyMobster #LastVegas

[@djpuplex]

The Mormon Mafia is equally as interesting of a story.

[@brazenatheist1676]

That sounds wild, is there somewhere I can watch or read something about it?

[@djpuplex]

@@brazenatheist1676 kzbin.info/www/bejne/gqbZqmB8r8qbi80

[@pamelamays4186]

Teddy Jane. Cool name. Perfect name for the wife of a cowboy.

[@geoff3103]

good Southern girl HAS TO HAVE two first names

[@pablopence2429]

They should make a badass movie about this

[@user-raytgrant24]

I miss him he was great for Vegas

[@jonathanlandry7368]

Casual Rebirth Brass Band for the background audio

[@dvdv8197]

I read the thumbnail as "incest mobster", and I was immediately intrigued... Guess I'll just keep watching after I realized it actually said 'nicest'. 😅😂

[@b-rextheprgoddess1872]

Same thing happened when I read the title

[@noneyayeast]

Yeah when I was kissing my sister the other day she said eww you kiss like daddy! I said thats what momma said too!🙃🙃

[@dvdv8197]

@@noneyayeast Bob's your uncle!

[@rickn8or]

That ol' lydexia kickin' up again?

[@dvdv8197]

@@rickn8or probably caused by inbreeding. 🤷‍♀️😭

[@randallross420]

Legend

[@phobowl]

Vegas legend

[@thetayz72]

I kept waiting to hear what made him "the friendliest"

[@theravagedgrapefruit8190]

Hot Springs Ark was Las Vegas before Las Vegas!! Spa City USA was Hot Springs!!! Owner Madden would be a great topic.

[@hobokoala2623]

I was gonna make the exact same HEBuddy joke.

[@caillinkelly2952]

I worked at the Horseshoe , He was a nonsense man. Great times when he was alive, Lord he must be rolling in his grave if he could see Freemont street now!!

[@rlewis3669]

You could do a whole new video on Teddy, his story is wild.

[@clifforddriver9434]

Fifty cent Heineken's, if you just wanted to go by the casino a drink beer he had the best money can buy if you we're gambling everything was free. That place when he was alive was the best house to gamble at in the entire city, the Vegas strip included. Criminals, didn't want to have any contact with him because he was going to deal with it as oppose to him involving the police, and the gambling public knew that, the Horseshoe was the best house in the entire city and it was because of the man himself. When he passed away the Horseshoe has never been the same.

[@silentbob3208]

Big error at the end of the video. The World Series of Poker moved out of Binion's Horseshoe after the 2005 final table and hosted their last full-series in 2004. They moved to the Rio and now it's hosted at Paris/Horseshoe.

[@jesusbecerra9991]

Es de los pocos emblemas de Las Vegas que sigue intacto el Horse Shoe Binions

[@JJWDavies]

We need a video on Lorenzo De Medici 👍🏼

[@banedon8087]

(blows people up repeatedly) "It turns out that he may have been difficult to work with". You don't say? 😁

[@davidpeterson5930]

A $2 steak has the same buying power of $23 today. $500 then has the same buying power of 5,833 today.

[@frankfinnsweenryan]

I've heard of his only because of his legendary coin hoard

[@Detroittruckdoctor55]

I used to work on the world series of pokers broadcast truck.

[@paahl1572]

9:10 my grandpa had his picture taken by that 😮

[@ernestoleitao8684]

I miss old Vegas, until, 1985

[@macknack101]

I worked at the Horseshoe as a craps dealer in the 80's ...The casino manager (Tom Kraus) called me egghead and kept me on the 'Bird Games' and would use me to breakup Gold games that had gotten out of hand ...my trick was to provide 'super-service' and up-sell ever bigger and bigger two-way proposition bets until the game would breakup I enjoyed Benny & Teds company (Jack ...not so much) Today Jack has bought the MGM (Bally's) Paris Casinos and holds the W.S.O.P. there I have fond memories of my career in Gaming and would recommend it to anyone Benny was a class act and I miss his company every day

[@petalson]

Who owns Bally's now? Horseshoe Las Vegas Owner Caesars Entertainment

[@tommyfu9271]

Jack doesn't own casinos.

[@elizabethwillis885]

His son Ted Binion (named after Teddy Jane) was murdered in the late 90s by his live in girlfriend and her lover for his stash of gold bars.

[@tawnieriekena7]

His name is Rick Tabish. Went to school with him in the 70's. Prosecution witness, Kurt Gratzer, was my neighbor. Sandra Murphy was the most sociopathic phony I ever met.

[@mrsbluesky8415]

Silver bars wasn’t it ?

[@tawnieriekena7]

@@mrsbluesky8415 Yes.

[@geoff3103]

@@mrsbluesky8415 Silver dollars

[@elizabethwillis885]

Ok I just looked it up. He had a stash of silver bullion, antique silver coins, paper money, and casino chips. Which was all worth a lot of money.

[@jacobycampbell8834]

Benny brought the NFR to Vegas and it’s the reason i go to vegas for 2 weeks every year😂

[@btetschner]

Ben on Ben violence, that is a serious altercation.

[@kevanhubbard9673]

Never heard of Benny so he obviously stayed in Vegas!

[@Time2Vote2012]

Please do a show on Bob Stupak.

[@alexanderhikel2350]

Ahh the good old days , when you could actively get away with killing someone by an exploding mail box lmao wtf

[@gregsummerson6524]

I was there for a $2 New York strip steak dinner, that special started at 2 AM, as I was waiting in line I noticed that I was standing next to the million dollar horse shoe !!

[@johnreape2833]

The $2 steak special started at 11 pm.

[@pauladams7344]

A tribute to the old glorious Vegas

[@Wario-The-Legend]

I wanna see a video on Ned Kelly, an outlaw from Australia.

[@nalod23]

I like how the hats keep getting bigger

[@GummyBearWA]

I've won my biggest jackpots at Binion properties.