Nationality
Benny Binion was American, holding United States citizenship throughout his life. He was born and lived primarily in Texas and later Nevada (Las Vegas), USA.
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Born (date and place of birth)
Benny Binion was born Lester Ben Binion on November 20, 1904, in Pilot Grove, Texas, United States. Pilot Grove is a small rural town north of Dallas in Grayson County.
Residence (current location)
Benny Binion resided in Las Vegas, Nevada during his influential years as a casino operator and poker promoter. Before that, his residence was in Texas where he was involved in gambling operations.
Education (institution, specialization)
Benny Binion had no formal education; he was too sickly as a child to attend school regularly and was largely self-taught through life experiences and informal learning.
Children (number, ages)
Benny Binion had five children: Jack Binion, Ted Binion, Barbara Binion Fechser, Brenda Binion Michaelson, and Becky Binion Behnen.
Year started playing poker
There is no verified record of Benny Binion starting as a professional poker player; his contributions were mainly as a casino operator and organizer of poker events starting in the late 1940s to 1950s.
Age when started playing
Benny Binion's involvement in poker was more behind the scenes; he was known for organizing games and tournaments rather than playing professionally. Thus, no exact start age for playing professionally is recorded.
Year turned professional
Benny Binion never transitioned into a professional poker player in the modern sense; his professional career was as a casino owner and promoter from the 1950s onward.
First major win (amount, tournament, year)
No verified record exists of Benny Binion winning a major poker tournament, as his legacy is as an organizer and casino executive rather than a player with significant tournament wins.
Who introduced to poker / first mentor
There is no public information or record of a specific poker mentor for Benny Binion; his knowledge and skill came from early gambling exposure growing up in Texas and his personal business experience.
First important tournament
There is no verifiable entry of Benny Binion playing in major poker tournaments. His first notable involvement was arranging poker events, notably a famous 1949 heads-up match and the first WSOP in 1970.
Main motivation for turning pro
Benny Binion's motivation was rooted in his business acumen and passion for gambling; he transitioned into casino ownership to legalize and regulate his gambling interests and later innovated poker promotion for commercial success.
Initial bankroll
No verified details about Benny Binion’s initial poker bankroll exist; as a casino operator, his financial backing came from his business ventures and gambling enterprises rather than a traditional poker bankroll.
Poker education (courses, coaches)
Benny Binion did not receive formal poker education or coaching but learned through practical experience in gambling environments and operating gambling businesses.
First sponsor/backing
Benny Binion was never sponsored as a poker player; his role was that of a casino proprietor and promoter, making sponsorship irrelevant in his case.
Total live tournament winnings
No verified data exists for live tournament winnings by Benny Binion; he was not known for tournament play but for his role as a casino operator and poker promoter.
Number of tournament wins
Benny Binion does not have tournament victories to his name as a player; his impact was off the felt through organizing and promoting poker.
Number of final tables
No final table appearances are recorded for Benny Binion as a poker player.
Largest tournament win (amount, tournament, year)
There is no record of a largest tournament win for Benny Binion; his legacy pertains to poker event organization not personal tournament victories.
WSOP bracelets (number)
Benny Binion did not win any World Series of Poker bracelets as a player.
WSOP cashes (number)
No WSOP cash finishes exist for Benny Binion as a player.
WSOP final tables
Benny Binion has no documentation of WSOP final table appearances as a player.
Best WSOP Main Event result
Benny Binion did not participate or place in the WSOP Main Event as a player.
Super high roller results ($100K+)
No records found for Benny Binion participating in super high roller events ($100K+ buy-ins).
High roller wins ($25K-$100K)
No high roller tournament victories in the $25K-$100K buy-in range exist for Benny Binion.
Online tournament winnings
Benny Binion’s era preceded online poker; no online winnings or digital poker achievements are attributed to him.
Major online titles
No major online poker tournament titles or virtual victories are attributed to Benny Binion.
Poker team
No affiliation with modern poker teams or sponsorship groups as a player for Benny Binion.
Main cash game limits
No information on specific cash game limits played by Benny Binion; he was not known as a professional cash game player.
Highest stakes played
No verified record of high-stakes cash game participation for Benny Binion as a player.
Notable high stakes sessions
No notable high stakes cash game sessions involving Benny Binion as a player are recorded.
"Big Game" participation
Benny Binion did not participate in the televised "Big Game" or similar high stakes cash games.
Estimated cash game profits (if known)
No public estimates or documentation of Benny Binion’s cash game profits exist.
Country ranking
No country-specific poker player ranking is available for Benny Binion.
All Time Money List position
Benny Binion is not listed on any All Time Money List for poker tournament earnings.
Tournament ROI (if known)
No calculable tournament ROI exists for Benny Binion due to absence of documented tournament play.
Average tournament win
No average tournament cash amount is available for Benny Binion.
ITM percentage
Benny Binion does not have a known in-the-money percentage as a player.
Final table percentage from cashes
No final table percentage data exists for Benny Binion as a player.
Statistics by year (best/worst year)
No yearly tournament stats recorded for Benny Binion.
Main discipline (Hold'em, Omaha, Mixed games)
Benny Binion was chiefly involved in no-limit Texas Hold'em from an organizational perspective; he was less a player and more a promoter.
Format specialization (tournaments/cash/online/live)
Benny Binion specialized in live poker event organization rather than playing; the first WSOP was a freeze-out no-limit Texas Hold'em tournament.
Preferred table size (6-max, full ring, heads-up)
The format for the first WSOP arranged by Binion was six players initially (small field); no specific personal preference as a player is documented.
Known formats (NLHE, PLO, HORSE, others)
Benny Binion’s legacy lies in no-limit Texas Hold'em as a promoter; no records of him playing specialized formats are available.
Specialization limits
As a casino operator and poker promoter, Binion’s focus was on high-stakes gambling rather than playing at specific limits.
Online rooms where plays
Benny Binion predates online poker and therefore has no affiliation with online poker rooms.
Favorite casinos/locations
Binion’s Horseshoe in Las Vegas was his own casino and his favored poker venue for organizing events like the WSOP from 1970 to 2004.
Style characterization (TAG, LAG, nitty, aggressive)
No documented playing style for Benny Binion exists; his reputation is for business acumen and promotion rather than poker table style.
Known for bluffs/traps
Benny Binion has no documented reputation for bluffing or specific poker tactical approaches as a player.
Mathematical or intuitive approach
There is no recorded information regarding Benny Binion’s strategic approach to poker hands; his legacy is as a promoter not player.
Style adaptability
No public data is available on Benny Binion’s adaptability in poker play.
Playing strengths
Benny Binion’s primary strengths were business management, promotion, and organizing high-stakes gambling events, which pioneered modern poker tournament structure.
GTO strategy usage
Game Theory Optimal (GTO) strategy was developed decades after Binion’s era; no use of modern theory is applicable.
Poker software usage
No poker software was used by Benny Binion; technology for such tools did not exist during his lifetime.
Television appearances (list of shows with specific episodes/dates)
Benny Binion passed away before the poker television boom; he made no documented television appearances as a player or personality.
High Stakes Poker participation (seasons/episodes)
No participation in the show High Stakes Poker or similar televised high stakes cash games by Benny Binion.
Poker After Dark appearances (episodes/dates)
Benny Binion did not appear on Poker After Dark or similar modern poker shows.
Documentary films featuring (titles and links)
Benny Binion has been the subject of documentaries and films about the history of Las Vegas and poker, including portrayals of his role in founding the WSOP.
Major publication interviews (publication names, article titles, links)
Benny Binion’s era precedes formal poker media interviews; no known interviews with him exist.
Podcast appearances (podcast names, episode titles, dates, links)
No records exist of Benny Binion appearing as a guest on poker podcasts.
Own podcast/channel (name, platform, subscriber count, link)
Benny Binion did not have a podcast or video channel.
Facebook (account link)
No Facebook profile or page attributed to Benny Binion.
YouTube channel (name, subscriber count, link)
No official YouTube channel exists for Benny Binion.
Twitch channel (name, follower count, link)
No Twitch streaming channel exists for Benny Binion.
TikTok presence (account link, follower count)
No TikTok presence exists for Benny Binion.
LinkedIn profile (link)
Benny Binion does not have a LinkedIn profile due to his passing prior to the platform’s existence.
Posting frequency in social media
Not applicable; Benny Binion was not active on social media platforms.
Type of content in social media
Not applicable as Binion did not share digital content.
Current sponsors (company names, deal details if public)
Benny Binion was never a sponsored poker player; his business was owning and operating casinos.
Sponsorship contract history (previous sponsors, dates)
No historical sponsorship contracts exist for Benny Binion.
Poker site ambassadorship (site names, contract details)
Benny Binion did not serve as a poker site ambassador.
Own business (business names, descriptions, websites)
Benny Binion was the owner and operator of Binion’s Horseshoe casino in Las Vegas, which he purchased in 1951. This was his main business venture.
Poker project investments (project names, involvement details)
No information on poker-specific investments; his business was casino ownership and gambling operations.
Coaching services (availability, platforms used)
Benny Binion did not provide poker coaching services.
Coaching rates (if public)
Not applicable.
Educational materials (book titles with ISBN, course names with platforms, video series titles with links)
No educational poker material created by Benny Binion.
Affiliate programs (program names, partnerships)
No known affiliate program partnerships.
Merchandise (product types, where sold, links)
No personal merchandise related to Benny Binion is known.
Written poker books (titles, publication years, ISBN, publisher)
Benny Binion did not author poker books.
Training series participation (series names, platforms, links)
No participation or creation of training series known for Benny Binion.
Masterclasses and seminars (event names, dates, locations)
No records exist of masterclass or seminar presentations by Benny Binion.
Coaching work (platforms used, student testimonials)
No coaching work documented.
Notable students (names if public, their achievements)
No coaching students attributed to Benny Binion.
YouTube educational content (video titles, view counts, links)
No educational poker videos created by Benny Binion.
Poker publication articles (publication names, article titles, publication dates, links)
Benny Binion is featured in numerous poker industry articles detailing his contributions and casino ownership though he did not author articles himself.
Magazine columns (magazine names, column titles, frequency)
No regular magazine columns authored by Benny Binion.
Conference speaking (conference names, dates, topics, video links)
No public speaking engagements recorded for Benny Binion in poker conferences.
Poker scandal involvement (scandal names, details, outcomes)
Benny Binion had a controversial past including criminal convictions and connections with organized crime, including a conviction for murder.
Accusations of unfair play (specific incidents, resolutions)
There are no records of cheating accusations against Benny Binion directly.
Casino/room conflicts (venue names, incident details)
Benny Binion’s career included disputes and conflicts related to his illegal gambling operations before legal casino ownership; he was a known figure in organized crime circles.
Legal proceedings (case details, outcomes, court documents)
Benny Binion had significant legal issues, including a murder conviction and documented criminal activities related to his gambling operations.
Public disputes with colleagues (names involved, details)
No specific public disputes with fellow poker players recorded as Binion was primarily a casino operator.
Tournament rule violations (tournament names, violations, penalties)
No formal tournament rule violations attributed to Benny Binion.
Tax issues (if public, details, resolutions)
No public tax-related issues documented specifically for Benny Binion.
Poker community criticism (specific criticisms, responses)
Benny Binion faced criticism for his criminal background and mob ties but was also praised for pioneering poker tournament culture.
Response to criticism (statements, actions taken)
Benny Binion did not publicly respond to poker community criticism; his focus was on business operations rather than media engagement.
Poker industry awards (award names, years, organizations)
Benny Binion was posthumously inducted into the Poker Hall of Fame in 1990 for his contributions to the game.
Hall of Fame inclusion (hall names, induction years)
Benny Binion was inducted into the Poker Hall of Fame in 1990 recognizing his pivotal role in creating the World Series of Poker and popularizing poker.
Peer recognition (specific recognitions, award details)
Peers recognized Benny Binion primarily for his innovation in organizing poker tournaments and making Las Vegas a poker hub.
Poker publication awards (publication names, award types, years)
His induction in the Poker Hall of Fame is the primary published award related to his poker industry impact.
Special achievements (achievement descriptions, recognition details)
Benny Binion’s chief achievement was founding the World Series of Poker in 1970 at his casino, an event that would grow into the world’s premier poker championship.
Records associated with name (record descriptions, verification)
Benny Binion holds no poker playing records but his record includes pioneering the modern poker tournament framework and high-stakes gambling environment in Las Vegas.
Contribution to poker development (specific contributions, recognition)
Benny Binion’s contributions include founding the World Series of Poker, establishing Binion’s Horseshoe casino as a poker mecca, and popularizing high stakes poker betting.
Charity tournaments (tournament names, amounts raised, beneficiaries)
There is no verified information regarding Benny Binion’s participation in charity poker tournaments.
Legacy in poker world (specific legacy aspects, community impact)
Benny Binion’s legacy is foundational in poker history, credited with inventing the World Series of Poker and shaping Las Vegas as the center of high-stakes poker.
Industry influence (specific influences, changes attributed)
His influence transformed poker from private gambling to a widely recognized competitive sport and business, creating a lasting global poker industry infrastructure.
WSOP (World Series of Poker) - all events all years
1970 | USA | World Series of Poker | Binion's Horseshoe | No-Limit Hold'em Main Event | $10,000 | 1 (Johnny Moss voted champion) | Unknown | 6 players | | |||| 1971 | USA | World Series of Poker | Binion's Horseshoe | Freezeout No-Limit Hold'em | $10,000 | 1 (Johnny Moss) | Unknown | Unknown | |
No tournament commentary work by Benny Binion exists.