Poker Writer
Sylvester Stallone will be the executive producer for a television series portraying Benny Binion, the renowned Las Vegas Casino and poker legend. Yellowstone star Cole Hauser will play Binion. The show is reportedly based on the book Blood Aces: The Wild Ride of Benny Binion, the Texas Gangster Who Created Vegas Poker
The show will follow Binion’s rise in the gambling world from his start in Dallas to his move to Vegas in the late 1940s, where he would eventually shape the modern-day World Series of Poker.
The tone will be character-driven, with the series showcasing the many facets of Binion’s layered life. Described as gritty, it will not sanitize the rougher elements of Binion’s character. The illegal gambling kingpin was involved in the shooting and killing of rumrunner Frank Bolding in 1931. As well as other murders with which he was suspected of involvement.
Speaking to Deadline, Stallone summed up the aim of the show:
Douglas J. Swanson’s book captures the incredible life of Benny Binion, a New West icon who was a conduit connecting many worlds, some glamorous, some dangerous, some shady, but all intriguing, while helping to build the foundation for both Las Vegas as we know it and the explosive worldwide popularity of poker. This is a story that will captivate audiences, and it’s a role made for Cole Hauser to play. I am proud and excited to partner with Cole to bring this story to life.
The exact timeframe and the breadth of Binion’s life that the show will focus on are not yet known. There is also no indication yet of which platform the series will air on.
Binion’s Impact on the WSOP
The original World Series of Poker was held in Binion’s own casino, Binion’s Horseshoe, in 1970. Binion himself conceived the idea of a series of poker tournaments featuring the best players. Originally, the WSOP consisted of a small group of well-known gamblers and poker legends who voted for a winner.
Binion’s name remained directly associated with the WSOP for three decades before Harrah’s bought the WSOP’s rights in 2004. The WSOP remains Binion’s most lasting impact and arguably what he continues to be most known for.
Stallone does mention “the explosive worldwide popularity of poker” when discussing his plans for the series. That makes it safe to assume the WSOP and poker will be featured to some degree.
Image Credit: Wikimedia Commons (license)
