najisami
Legend
Loyaler
In this 2-part thread, we will first see how the famous Horseshoe casino came to existence, then how the wsop started.
In 1946, wanted in the state of Texas for racketeering, illegal gambling operations and several murders, the illiterate famous Benny Binion drove up to Las Vegas-Nevada in his Cadillac with one of his bodyguards and $1M in the trunk after having bribed most of Dallas authorities.
He operated a few "clubs" for a while then in 1951 bought, for $160.000, a drab and shuttered casino called "Eldorado" whose owners owed some $870.000 to the IRS. He also took over the lease on the building, including the Apache Hotel above the casino. He remodeled the whole thing and called it: The Horseshoe.
Now Binion owned the jewel of his life but could not operate it! The State Tax Commission rejected his application for a casino license as Texas officials were continuously asking for his extradition. But Binion had acquired a great experience and knew it was time to start handing out money.
His words:
"I have bribed many a man in my day"
"It takes a pretty good man to make you bribe him"
Near the end of his life, he was asked about spreading money around to influential officials:
-And that's always been your way?
--Yeah, he answered.
-District attorneys?
--Yeah.
-Sheriffs?
--Yeah.
-Governors?
--Yeah.
-Lieutenant governors?
--Well, I don't know of any Lieutenant governors.
Part 2 (WSOP) coming up in a couple of days.
In 1946, wanted in the state of Texas for racketeering, illegal gambling operations and several murders, the illiterate famous Benny Binion drove up to Las Vegas-Nevada in his Cadillac with one of his bodyguards and $1M in the trunk after having bribed most of Dallas authorities.
He operated a few "clubs" for a while then in 1951 bought, for $160.000, a drab and shuttered casino called "Eldorado" whose owners owed some $870.000 to the IRS. He also took over the lease on the building, including the Apache Hotel above the casino. He remodeled the whole thing and called it: The Horseshoe.
Now Binion owned the jewel of his life but could not operate it! The State Tax Commission rejected his application for a casino license as Texas officials were continuously asking for his extradition. But Binion had acquired a great experience and knew it was time to start handing out money.
His words:
"I have bribed many a man in my day"
"It takes a pretty good man to make you bribe him"
Near the end of his life, he was asked about spreading money around to influential officials:
-And that's always been your way?
--Yeah, he answered.
-District attorneys?
--Yeah.
-Sheriffs?
--Yeah.
-Governors?
--Yeah.
-Lieutenant governors?
--Well, I don't know of any Lieutenant governors.
Part 2 (WSOP) coming up in a couple of days.
