Stallone and Hauser to Bring Infamous Texas Gambling Boss to TV

The 'Tulsa King' and 'Yellowstone' stars are teaming up to adapt the story of Benny Binion, the Dallas-Fort Worth gambling kingpin who later founded the World Series of Poker.

Published on Feb. 7, 2026

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

Sylvester Stallone and Cole Hauser, two of the biggest stars in the Taylor Sheridan universe, are partnering on a new series about Benny Binion, the notorious gambling boss who ruled over illegal gambling in the Dallas-Fort Worth area during the Great Depression. The series will be an adaptation of the 2014 book 'Blood Aces: The Wild Ride of Benny Binion, the Texas Gangster Who Created Vegas Poker.' Stallone will executive produce, while Hauser is set to star as Binion in the MGM Television production.

Why it matters

Binion was a larger-than-life figure who built a gambling and moonshine empire in North Texas before fleeing to Las Vegas, where he established the Binion's Horseshoe casino and created the World Series of Poker. His story provides a glimpse into the colorful and often violent world of illegal gambling in the early 20th century.

The details

The series will chronicle Binion's rise from a Dallas-area gambling boss to a Vegas casino mogul. Known as 'The Cowboy,' Binion was involved in a number of illegal activities, including gambling, moonshining, and even murder, before establishing himself in Las Vegas in the 1940s. There, he ran his casino with a Texas-style frontier justice and launched the World Series of Poker, which continues to this day.

  • Binion fled Dallas for Las Vegas in the 1940s.
  • Binion died of heart failure on Christmas Day in 1989 at the age of 85.
  • The book 'Blood Aces' was published in 2014.
  • The TV series adaptation was optioned in May 2025.

The players

Benny Binion

An infamous Texas gambling boss who ruled over illegal gambling in the Dallas-Fort Worth area during the Great Depression before fleeing to Las Vegas, where he established the Binion's Horseshoe casino and created the World Series of Poker.

Sylvester Stallone

An American actor, director, and producer who is executive producing the TV series adaptation of 'Blood Aces.'

Cole Hauser

An American actor who is set to star as Benny Binion in the upcoming TV series.

Doug J. Swanson

The author of the 2014 book 'Blood Aces: The Wild Ride of Benny Binion, the Texas Gangster Who Created Vegas Poker,' which is being adapted for the TV series.

Billy Bob Barnett

The founder of Billy Bob's Texas, who erected a 12-foot bronze statue of Benny Binion outside the honky-tonk's entrance in Fort Worth.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What’s next

The series is currently in development, with no details yet on when it will be released or where it will film.

The takeaway

The story of Benny Binion provides a fascinating glimpse into the gritty world of illegal gambling in early 20th century Texas, and the TV adaptation by Stallone and Hauser promises to bring this larger-than-life character to the small screen in a compelling way.