Jack Binion
Encyclopedia
Jack Binion is an American casino
operator. Jack is the son of casino magnate Benny Binion
and worked for his father at Binion's Horseshoe
, a casino and hotel
in Las Vegas
, Nevada
.
Jack's fame grew following his 1970 hosting of the first World Series of Poker
at the Horseshoe which became the largest set of poker tournament
s in the world. Privately held, Binion's Horseshoe became renowned as one of Nevada's most successful casino operations.
In 1998, following a protracted legal battle for control of the Horseshoe among Benny Binion's heirs, Jack sold his interest in Binion's Horseshoe to his sister, Becky Behnen, while retaining a token 1% interest in the operation so that he could lawfully retain his Nevada Gaming License. He also acquired the rights to the Horseshoe brand outside of Nevada.
Jack went on to form Horseshoe Gaming Holding Corporation
which developed and operated several riverboat casino
s under the Horseshoe name. Jack continued to promote the casinos for Harrah's Entertainment
following his sale of the company in 2004 to Harrah's. As of 2008, Binion's name appears on the "Jack Binion's Steakhouse" at Horseshoe Tunica and Horseshoe Hammond and several of the Horseshoe-branded casinos still carry slot machines bearing Binion's likeness called "Who Wants To Be A Binionaire?" that originated before the Harrah's acquisition.
While running Horseshoe Gaming, Jack started the World Poker Open
which has become one of the major feeder tournaments for the World Series of Poker.
Jack was inducted into the American Gaming Association's Gaming Hall of Fame on June 11, 2004. The following year on July 6, 2005 the World Series of Poker, inducted him into the Poker Hall of Fame
.
In July 2006, Jack became chairman of Wynn International
. His responsibilities included opening the Wynn Macau
. He has since resigned the position but has remained with Wynn Resorts in a consulting role.
Casino
In modern English, a casino is a facility which houses and accommodates certain types of gambling activities. Casinos are most commonly built near or combined with hotels, restaurants, retail shopping, cruise ships or other tourist attractions...
operator. Jack is the son of casino magnate Benny Binion
Benny Binion
Lester Ben "Benny" Binion was a well-known American casino owner, mobster, poker enthusiast, and convicted felon.-Early history:...
and worked for his father at 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...
, a casino and hotel
Hotel
A hotel is an establishment that provides paid lodging on a short-term basis. The provision of basic accommodation, in times past, consisting only of a room with a bed, a cupboard, a small table and a washstand has largely been replaced by rooms with modern facilities, including en-suite bathrooms...
in Las Vegas
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...
.
Biography
Jack became president of the Horseshoe in 1963 at the age of 26.Jack's fame grew following his 1970 hosting of the first 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...
at the Horseshoe which became the largest set of poker tournament
Poker tournament
A poker tournament is a tournament where players compete by playing poker. It can feature as few as two players playing on a single table , and as many as tens of thousands of players playing on thousands of tables...
s in the world. Privately held, Binion's Horseshoe became renowned as one of Nevada's most successful casino operations.
In 1998, following a protracted legal battle for control of the Horseshoe among Benny Binion's heirs, Jack sold his interest in Binion's Horseshoe to his sister, Becky Behnen, while retaining a token 1% interest in the operation so that he could lawfully retain his Nevada Gaming License. He also acquired the rights to the Horseshoe brand outside of Nevada.
Jack went on to form Horseshoe Gaming Holding Corporation
Horseshoe Gaming Holding Corporation
Horseshoe Gaming Holding Corporation was established in 1993 with its only asset being the rights to use the Horseshoe name on casinos. The corporation was a private holding company mostly owned by Jack Binion.-History:...
which developed and operated several riverboat casino
Riverboat casino
A riverboat casino is a type of casino found in several areas of the United States which use a riverboat as a casino. Several states authorized this type of casino to limit the areas where casinos could be constructed under a type of legal fiction.-History:...
s under the Horseshoe name. Jack continued to promote the casinos for 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...
following his sale of the company in 2004 to Harrah's. As of 2008, Binion's name appears on the "Jack Binion's Steakhouse" at Horseshoe Tunica and Horseshoe Hammond and several of the Horseshoe-branded casinos still carry slot machines bearing Binion's likeness called "Who Wants To Be A Binionaire?" that originated before the Harrah's acquisition.
While running Horseshoe Gaming, Jack started the World Poker Open
World Poker Open
The World Poker Open was one of the annual events on the World Poker Tour....
which has become one of the major feeder tournaments for the World Series of Poker.
Jack was inducted into the American Gaming Association's Gaming Hall of Fame on June 11, 2004. The following year on July 6, 2005 the World Series of Poker, inducted him into the Poker Hall of Fame
Poker Hall of Fame
The Poker Hall of Fame is the hall of fame of professional poker playing in the United States. Founded and located in Las Vegas, Nevada, it was created in 1979 by Benny Binion, the owner of the Horseshoe Casino, to preserve the names and legacies of the world's greatest poker players and to serve...
.
In July 2006, Jack became chairman of Wynn International
Wynn Resorts
Wynn Resorts Limited is a publicly traded corporation based in Paradise, Nevada that is a developer and operator of high end hotels and casinos. It was formed on October 25, 2002 by former Mirage Resorts Chairman and CEO Stephen A...
. His responsibilities included opening the Wynn Macau
Wynn Macau
Wynn Macau , owned by Wynn Resorts, is a luxury integrated resort in Macau Peninsula, Macau, People's Republic of China, offering gaming combined with a deluxe hotel, restaurants, designer shops, spa, and a "Performance Lake". It is the first Las Vegas-style integrated resort in Asia. It opened on...
. He has since resigned the position but has remained with Wynn Resorts in a consulting role.
Sources
- Las Vegas SunLas Vegas SunThe Las Vegas Sun is a Pulitzer Prize-winning newspaper. It is one of Las Vegas, Nevada's two daily newspapers. It is owned by the Greenspun family and is affiliated with Greenspun Media Group....