Sylvester Stallone, Cole Hauser Team Up for TV Drama on Vegas Legend Benny Binion

^{Sly is set to produce a show based on the life of Benny Binion. (Photo:  Imaginechina Limited / Alamy)}

LAS VEGAS – Sylvester Stallone will be the executive producer of a new TV drama about Las Vegas legend and gambling pioneer Benny Binion in a collaboration with Amazon MGM Studios. Cole Hauser, known for Yellowstone, will star as Binion and also serve as an executive producer. No other cast members have been announced.

The series is based on the 2014 book by Doug J. Swanson, Blood Aces: The Wild Ride of Benny Binion, the Texas Gangster Who Created Vegas Poker. 

Texas Connection to Vegas

Binion’s story is classic old-school Vegas. 

He started as a hustler in Fort Worth, Texas, and worked his way into the gambling world and organized crime, and became one of Sin City’s most influential casino operators. 

He founded the World Series of Poker, which was originally held at his downtown casino, Binion’s Horseshoe. The tournament is now on the Strip at Caesars-owned Horseshoe, but the casino remains open downtown.

He’s also responsible for bringing the NFR (National Finals Rodeo) to Las Vegas. In fact, there’s a statue of Binion at South Point on the way to the Equestrian Center.

Binion was a complicated figure. He was charismatic, ruthless, and endlessly creative. He had a talent for attracting gamblers and players from all walks of life and was willing to bend the rules to make Las Vegas the gambling capital it is today. 

His story involves the mob, high-stakes poker, and the rise of Las Vegas from a desert town to a global entertainment hub. His story makes for a perfect throwback drama. Stallone told Deadline what viewers can expect from the series:

“Douglas J. Swanson’s book captures the incredible life of Benny Binion, a New West icon who connected many worlds, some glamorous, some dangerous, some shady but all intriguing, while helping build the foundation of Las Vegas and the explosive worldwide popularity of poker,” Stallone said.

Hauser added, “Benny Binion is one of the great Western American characters and success stories of the 20th century. His legacy is undeniable. How he built it is an incredible story which we cannot wait to tell. It is a privilege to play him and an honor to produce this with Sylvester Stallone and MGM.”

Enter Hollywood

The project is a natural fit for the duo. Stallone’s Balboa Productions is filming the fourth season of Tulsa King, in which he stars. He is also working on an untitled Vietnam-set action thriller about U.S. Navy SEAL Mike Thornton. 

Hauser brings his Yellowstone experience as a tough-guy fixer to the role of Binion, a man who thrived on risk, strategy and charisma.

There is no timeline yet for Blood Aces. Casting and filming still need to happen, and with Stallone juggling multiple projects, it could be some time before viewers see the series. 

The show sounds perfect for fans of Las Vegas history, gambling, and drama.