Binion's Gambling Hall and Hotel
Encyclopedia
Binion's Gambling Hall & Hotel is a hotel and casino located in downtown Las Vegas
, Nevada
on the Fremont Street Experience
. The casino is named for its founder, Benny Binion
and has 366 rooms, two restaurants and a rooftop pool
. It is still frequently referred to by its former name, Binion's Horseshoe
, though the rights to the "Horseshoe" name are now owned by Caesars Entertainment Corporation. TLC Enterprises, owner of the Four Queens Hotel and Casino, purchased Binions for $32 million in March 2008.
From Jan-March 2004 Binion's Horseshoe
was closed. It was purchased by Harrah's Entertainment
who retained the brand names World Series of Poker
and Horseshoe
. They sold the physical property on March 11, 2004 to MTR Gaming Group, which operated the hotel. Harrah's continued to operate the casino under a temporary contract until March 11, 2005. MTR renamed the property Binion's Gambling Hall and Hotel. On March 7, 2008 MTR sold the hotel-casino to TLC Casino Enterprises, Inc.
In July 2005 Binion's hosted the World Series of Poker
(WSOP) main event for the last time. The famous poker
tournament, which originated at the property, had simply outgrown the space at Binion's; additionally, Harrah's now owned the tournament and wanted to host it at one of its properties. In 2005, all events, except the final three tables of the main event, were played at the Rio All Suite Hotel and Casino
. The casino still retains a large poker area and features displays on the Poker Hall of Fame as well as previous WSOP Champions.
The $1 million casino floor display, once a free tourist photo attraction, was returned the week of August 11, 2008. The original had featured $10,000 bills, common in the 1950s when it had been assembled. The new display contains 2,700 $100 bills, 34,400 $20 bills and 42,000 $1 bills.
When TLC Casino Enterprises, finalized the purchase of Binion's on March 11, 2008 they announced that they intended to expand the hotel with a new tower. On November 27, 2009, Inc. TLC announced the closure of the Binion's hotel and coffee shop effective December 14 due to the Late-2000s recession, though the profitable casino will remain open. TLC will continue to operate the hotel at the Four Queens
casino across the street which has almost twice as many rooms. Currently, Binions advertises the hotel as closed for renovations.
In 2005, the outside of the hotel (along with its famous former "Horseshoe" logo) is featured prominently in the video Snoop Dogg
's 2005 single, "Signs" featuring Justin Timberlake
.
The hotel was seen in the 2007 film Lucky You
. Its history was also mentioned in "Chum Goes AWOL", a second season episode of the History Channel reality television
series Pawn Stars
, which aired in 2010.
Las Vegas, Nevada
Las Vegas is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Nevada and is also the county seat of Clark County, Nevada. Las Vegas is an internationally renowned major resort city for gambling, shopping, and fine dining. The city bills itself as The Entertainment Capital of the World, and is famous...
, Nevada
Nevada
Nevada is a state in the western, mountain west, and southwestern regions of the United States. With an area of and a population of about 2.7 million, it is the 7th-largest and 35th-most populous state. Over two-thirds of Nevada's people live in the Las Vegas metropolitan area, which contains its...
on the Fremont Street Experience
Fremont Street Experience
The Fremont Street Experience is a pedestrian mall and attraction in downtown Las Vegas, Nevada. The FSE occupies the westernmost 5 blocks of Fremont Street, including the area known for years as "Glitter Gulch," and portions of some other adjacent streets.The attraction is a barrel vault canopy,...
. The casino is named for its founder, Benny Binion
Benny Binion
Lester Ben "Benny" Binion was a well-known American casino owner, mobster, poker enthusiast, and convicted felon.-Early history:...
and has 366 rooms, two restaurants and a rooftop pool
Swimming pool
A swimming pool, swimming bath, wading pool, or simply a pool, is a container filled with water intended for swimming or water-based recreation. There are many standard sizes; the largest is the Olympic-size swimming pool...
. It is still frequently referred to by its former name, Binion's Horseshoe
Binion's Horseshoe
Binion's Horseshoe, also known as the Horseshoe Casino or simply The Horseshoe, was a hotel and casino located in downtown Las Vegas, Nevada on what is now the Fremont Street Experience. The casino was named for its founder, Benny Binion and had 366 rooms, three restaurants and a rooftop pool.The...
, though the rights to the "Horseshoe" name are now owned by Caesars Entertainment Corporation. TLC Enterprises, owner of the Four Queens Hotel and Casino, purchased Binions for $32 million in March 2008.
History
- Note: For the history of this property prior to 2004, see Binion's HorseshoeBinion's HorseshoeBinion's Horseshoe, also known as the Horseshoe Casino or simply The Horseshoe, was a hotel and casino located in downtown Las Vegas, Nevada on what is now the Fremont Street Experience. The casino was named for its founder, Benny Binion and had 366 rooms, three restaurants and a rooftop pool.The...
.
Binion's Horseshoe
Binion's Horseshoe, also known as the Horseshoe Casino or simply The Horseshoe, was a hotel and casino located in downtown Las Vegas, Nevada on what is now the Fremont Street Experience. The casino was named for its founder, Benny Binion and had 366 rooms, three restaurants and a rooftop pool.The...
was closed. It was purchased by Harrah's Entertainment
Harrah's Entertainment
Caesars Entertainment Corporation is a private gaming corporation that owns and operates over 50 casinos, hotels, and seven golf courses under several brands. The company, based in Paradise, Nevada, is the largest gaming company in the world, with yearly revenues $8.9 billion...
who retained the brand names World Series of Poker
World Series of Poker
The World Series of Poker is a world-renowned series of poker tournaments held annually in Las Vegas and, since 2005, sponsored by Harrah's Entertainment...
and Horseshoe
Horseshoe
A horseshoe, is a fabricated product, normally made of metal, although sometimes made partially or wholly of modern synthetic materials, designed to protect a horse's hoof from wear and tear. Shoes are attached on the palmar surface of the hooves, usually nailed through the insensitive hoof wall...
. They sold the physical property on March 11, 2004 to MTR Gaming Group, which operated the hotel. Harrah's continued to operate the casino under a temporary contract until March 11, 2005. MTR renamed the property Binion's Gambling Hall and Hotel. On March 7, 2008 MTR sold the hotel-casino to TLC Casino Enterprises, Inc.
In July 2005 Binion's hosted the World Series of Poker
World Series of Poker
The World Series of Poker is a world-renowned series of poker tournaments held annually in Las Vegas and, since 2005, sponsored by Harrah's Entertainment...
(WSOP) main event for the last time. The famous poker
Poker
Poker is a family of card games that share betting rules and usually hand rankings. Poker games differ in how the cards are dealt, how hands may be formed, whether the high or low hand wins the pot in a showdown , limits on bet sizes, and how many rounds of betting are allowed.In most modern poker...
tournament, which originated at the property, had simply outgrown the space at Binion's; additionally, Harrah's now owned the tournament and wanted to host it at one of its properties. In 2005, all events, except the final three tables of the main event, were played at the Rio All Suite Hotel and Casino
Rio All Suite Hotel and Casino
The Rio All Suite Hotel and Casino is located off the Las Vegas Strip in the unincorporated area of Paradise, Nevada, USA. It is better known as The Rio and is owned and operated by Caesars Entertainment Inc. The Rio was the first all suite resort in the Las Vegas area...
. The casino still retains a large poker area and features displays on the Poker Hall of Fame as well as previous WSOP Champions.
The $1 million casino floor display, once a free tourist photo attraction, was returned the week of August 11, 2008. The original had featured $10,000 bills, common in the 1950s when it had been assembled. The new display contains 2,700 $100 bills, 34,400 $20 bills and 42,000 $1 bills.
When TLC Casino Enterprises, finalized the purchase of Binion's on March 11, 2008 they announced that they intended to expand the hotel with a new tower. On November 27, 2009, Inc. TLC announced the closure of the Binion's hotel and coffee shop effective December 14 due to the Late-2000s recession, though the profitable casino will remain open. TLC will continue to operate the hotel at the Four Queens
Four Queens
The Four Queens Hotel and Casino is located in downtown Las Vegas on the Fremont Street Experience. Home to the Queen's Machine, the world's largest slot machine, the 690 room hotel and casino is owned and operated by TLC Enterprises, which acquired the property from the Elsinore Corporation in...
casino across the street which has almost twice as many rooms. Currently, Binions advertises the hotel as closed for renovations.
In media
Snoop Dogg
Calvin Cordozar Broadus, Jr. , better known by his stage name Snoop Dogg, is an American rapper, record producer, and actor. Snoop is best known as a rapper in the West Coast hip hop scene, and for being one of Dr. Dre's most notable protégés. Snoop Dogg was a Crip gang member while in high school...
's 2005 single, "Signs" featuring Justin Timberlake
Justin Timberlake
Justin Randall Timberlake is an American pop musician and actor. He achieved early fame when he appeared as a contestant on Star Search, and went on to star in the Disney Channel television series The New Mickey Mouse Club, where he met future bandmate JC Chasez...
.
The hotel was seen in the 2007 film Lucky You
Lucky You (film)
Lucky You is a 2007 drama directed by Curtis Hanson and starring Eric Bana, Drew Barrymore, and Robert Duvall. The film was shot on location in Las Vegas...
. Its history was also mentioned in "Chum Goes AWOL", a second season episode of the History Channel reality television
Reality television
Reality television is a genre of television programming that presents purportedly unscripted dramatic or humorous situations, documents actual events, and usually features ordinary people instead of professional actors, sometimes in a contest or other situation where a prize is awarded...
series Pawn Stars
Pawn Stars
Pawn Stars is an American reality television series on the History Channel, produced in Manhattan by Leftfield Pictures. The series is filmed in Las Vegas, Nevada, where it chronicles the daily activities at the Gold & Silver Pawn Shop, a 24-hour family business operated by patriarch Richard...
, which aired in 2010.