Binion's Horseshoe, A Tragic Legend
Binion's used to be my favorite place to stay and gamble. Until 2004, it was one of the last privately owned casinos in Vegas. It's downfall began when Jack Binion and his sister Becky had a falling out over the management of the casino, I think in 1997, and Jack sold his intrest in it to his sister. Becky, along with her husband quicly took the place downhill. In January 2004, the IRS and the Nevada gaming commision came in and shut the place down. Becky couldn't meet her financial obligations, so was forced to sell the casino that her father, legendary Texas gambler Benny Binion built. The buyer was Harrah's entertainment, a large gambling conglomerant.
I'm not sure what happened with the deal with Harrah's, but Binions is now owned by MTR Gaming Group. The casino is no longer called "Binion's Horsehoe", it's just "Binion's". These people have no clue about what made the horseshoe famous. Beware of their single deck black jack. It's a 6 to 5 payout, not 3 to 2, so the odds are no better than a multi deck game.
The good part is rooms are still reasonably proiced. It's still a good place to stay, it's just lost the character it used to have, and the players have no chance. The restaurants and snack bars are still good, but I think the coffee shop is not as good as it used to be.
Unique Quality: Binion's has 2 sides to the hotel, the old side, and the tower. The old side is usually cheaper, but the rooms are dark, and most don't have windows. The tower is much nicer, with all rooms having windows.
On the roof of the tower there is a very nice swimming pool.
Binions has a great steak house, coffee shop, and 2 snack bars in the casino, where you can get quick and reasonbly priced breakfast, lunches, or quick snacks. While still good, the coffee shop is not what it used to be.
Binions Horseshoe
close up of Binions Casino
BINIONS
