Abstract
The Binion's Horseshoe Casino Records on Poker (1960-2006) are composed of materials related to the World Series of Poker (WSOP) held at Binion's Horseshoe Casino. Publicity and promotional materials include press releases and press kits, newspaper and advertising clippings, photographs, advertising campaigns, and advertising copy. These records were mainly generated by the Binion press agent, Henri Bollinger. Other topics covered in the collection include the establishment of the Poker Hall of Fame, and promotional and publicity efforts by Binion's Horseshoe in the 1970s and 1980s.
Finding Aid PDF
Date
Extent
Related People/Corporations
Scope and Contents Note
The Binion's Horseshoe Casino Records on Poker (1960-2006) are composed of materials related to the World Series of Poker (WSOP) held at Binion's Horseshoe Casino. Publicity and promotional materials include press releases and press kits, newspaper and advertising clippings, photographs, advertising campaigns, and advertising copy. These records were mainly generated by the Binion press agent, Henri Bollinger. Other topics covered in the collection include the establishment of the Poker Hall of Fame, and promotional and publicity efforts by Binion's Horseshoe in the 1970s and 1980s. A significant amount of printed and photographic publicity material within the WSOP series focuses on women poker players and gender-related issues in the industry and covers the late 1970s to early 1980s.
Access Note
Collection is open for research. Where use copies do not exist, production of use copies is required before access will be granted; this may delay research requests. Arrangements must be made in advance to access digital files; please contact UNLV Special Collections and Archives for additional information.
Publication Rights
This material is made available to facilitate private study, scholarship, or research. The donor, Jack Binion, transferred all right, title and interest they had in the Binion's Horseshoe Casino Records on Poker (MS-00325) to UNLV. However, some material may be protected by copyright, trademark, privacy, publicity rights, or other interests not owned by UNLV. Users are responsible for determining whether permissions are necessary from rights owners for any intended use and for obtaining all required permissions. Acknowledgement of the UNLV University Libraries is requested. For more information, please see the UNLV Special Collections policies on reproductions and use or contact us at special.collections@unlv.edu.
Arrangement
The collection is arranged in nine series:
Series 1. World Series of Poker Records, 1977-1989;
Series 2. The Poker Hall of Fame Materials, 1976-1989;
Series 3. Advertising and Promotional Materials, 1966-1989;
Series 4. Clippings, 1975-1990;
Series 5. Miscellaneous, 1982-1989;
Series 6. Photographs, 1960s-1980s;
Series 7. Artwork and Oversized Materials, 1970s-1980s;
Series 8 Audiovisual Materials, 1979-1990;
Series 9. 2004 and 2006 Additions, 1997-2006.
Biographical / Historical Note
Lester Benjamin "Benny" Binion was born on November 20, 1904 near Dallas-Fort Worth, in Texas. In 1951, Binion purchased the Eldorado Club on Fremont Street in downtown Las Vegas, Nevada and renamed it the Horseshoe Club. He established a reputation as a casino operator for providing customers with hospitality and amenities. After his conviction for tax evasion in 1953, Binion sold the majority interest in the Horseshoe to Joe W. Brown, but later regained full ownership. By 1964, the Horseshoe Hotel and Casino had changed its name to Binion's Horseshoe. Benny Binion's oldest son, Jack, became the president of the Horseshoe, and his younger son, Lonnie "Ted" Binion, acted as casino manager. Although Benny no longer possessed a gaming license, he remained listed on the payroll for decades as a consultant.
Binion first introduced tournament poker in 1949 when he arranged an extended match between poker players Nicholas Andreas "Nick the Greek" Dandolos and Johnny Moss. In 1970, Binion bought the rights to host the World Series of Poker (WSOP) from a casino owner in Reno, Nevada and began hosting the annual tournament at the Horseshoe Casino in Las Vegas. The contest was open to professional poker players and amateurs alike, as long as they could pay the $10,000 buy-in fee. Beginning in 1977, a separate women's event was established within the tournament. The increasing popularity of the WSOP attracted more players and the potential winnings increased to over a million dollars.
Benny Binion died on December 25, 1989, at the age of 85.
Source:
Hopkins, A. D. "Benny Binion." Las Vegas Review-Journal. February 7, 1999. Accessed March 5, 2020. https://www.reviewjournal.com/news/benny-binion/
Preferred Citation
Binion's Horseshoe Casino Records on Poker, 1960-2006. MS-00325. Special Collections and Archives, University Libraries, University of Nevada, Las Vegas. Las Vegas, Nevada.
Permalink
Acquisition Note
Materials were donated in 1991 by Jack Binion; accession number 91-30. There was a second addition donated in 2004. In 2022, Robert Jen donated 4 VHS tapes that were added into the collection; accession number 2022-038. In 2025, Greg Bock donated 6 binders of WSOP material; accession number 2025-044.
Processing Note
Collection was processed by Dana Miller in 2006. In 2017, Joyce Moore revised and enhanced the collection description to bring it up to current professional standards. In 2021 and 2022 Sarah Jones updated the finding aid to reflect audiovisual material that was digitized by an outside vendor. In 2022, Sarah Jones added 4 VHS tapes donated by Robert Jen. In 2025, Landon Paljusaj rehoused the materials donated by Greg Bock and updated the finding aid.
Subjects
Administrative Information
Resource Type
Collection Type
EAD ID
Appraisal Note
Materials were acquired periodically by Susan Jarvis and Peter Michel, former directors of Special Collections and Archives. The 2025 addition was acquired by Sarah Quigley, Director of Special Collections and Archives, as part of UNLV Special Collections and Archives holdings on gaming and the history of Las Vegas.
Separated Materials
Some of photographs in this acquisition have been removed form the collection and placed in the Benny Binion Photograph Collection, 1920-2003. PH-0318. Special Collections and Archives, University Libraries, University of Nevada, Las Vegas. Las Vegas, Nevada.