Blood Aces

A riveting biography that chronicles the life of Benny Binion, a pivotal figure in shaping modern Las Vegas. Born in a Texas backwater, Binion rose to prominence through a combination of vision, determination, and ruthless tactics, becoming a cowboy, pioneering casino owner, gangster, killer, and the founder of the immensely popular World Series of Poker. Author Doug J. Swanson, a veteran journalist, draws from once-secret government documents and extensive research to reveal how Binion eliminated his rivals and outsmarted adversaries, including J. Edgar Hoover. Binion’s formula for success involved running a good business, cultivating influential connections, eliminating enemies, and controlling law enforcement. Through a blend of cold-bloodedness, native intelligence, folksiness, and philanthropy, Binion emerged as one of the most revered figures in the history of gambling, with his showmanship, shrewdness, and violence dominating the Vegas scene.