A new television series is in the works that will chronicle the life of Benny Binion
Sylvester Stallone’s Balboa Productions is partnering with MGM Television to adapt the 2014 book Blood Aces: The Wild Ride of Benny Binion, the Texas Gangster Who Created Vegas Poker by Dallas Morning News journalist Doug J. Swanson.
The story traces Binion’s rise from running underground casinos in Dallas and surviving multiple murder charges to relocating to Las Vegas in 1949, where he and his son Jack founded the Horseshoe Casino. The pair would later launch the first WSOP in 1970, cementing Binion’s place in poker history.
“Douglas J. Swanson’s book captures the incredible life of Benny Binion, a New West icon who connected glamorous, dangerous, and often shady worlds while helping to lay the foundation for both Las Vegas and the global popularity of poker,” Stallone told Deadline.
Cole Hauser Cast as Binion
Cole Hauser, known for his role as Rip Wheeler on Yellowstone, has been tapped to portray Binion. His production company, American Outlaw Entertainment, is also joining the project.
Stallone praised Hauser as the ideal fit for the role:
“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,” he said.
No official release date has been announced. Binion, who passed away in 1989 from a heart attack, was posthumously inducted into the Poker Hall of Fame the same year.
Part of a Growing Trend
The Binion series joins a slate of gambling-themed television projects currently in development. Last December, Starz announced a series about the sports betting saga of Los Angeles Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani’s interpreter, Ippei Mizuhara. Meanwhile, the creators of the film Rounders are collaborating with Martin Scorsese on a new Netflix casino drama.
With Stallone and Hauser leading the project, poker and gambling fans have another highly anticipated series to look forward to, shining a spotlight on the colorful and controversial history of one of the game’s most iconic figures.
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