Yellowstone’s Cole Hauser to Bring Las Vegas Legend Benny Binion to Life in Blood Aces

The downtown Las Vegas legend who launched the World Series of Poker is heading to television — with Cole Hauser starring and Sylvester Stallone’s Balboa Productions and MGM Television behind it.

Few figures have left a larger mark on the history of Las Vegas than Benny Binion. Long before the mega resorts, celebrity chefs and billion-dollar entertainment spectacles, Binion helped shape the identity of downtown Las Vegas through bold ideas, controversial business practices and an unmatched understanding of what gamblers wanted. Now, that remarkable story is heading to television with Blood Aces, an ambitious new drama starring Cole Hauser in the lead role. Sylvester Stallone is producing the project alongside MGM Television, making it one of the most anticipated Las Vegas-centered productions currently in development.

Based on Doug J. Swanson’s acclaimed nonfiction book Blood Aces: The Wild Ride of Benny Binion, the Texas Gangster Who Created Vegas Poker, the series will chronicle Binion’s extraordinary rise from Texas gambler and bootlegger to one of the most influential casino operators in American history. His story is equal parts crime saga, business drama and Las Vegas origin story, offering audiences a look at the city during one of its most transformative eras.

Hauser, best known to audiences as Rip Wheeler in Yellowstone, won’t just star in the series—he is also serving as an executive producer through his company, American Outlaw Entertainment. The project is being developed in partnership with Balboa Productions, founded by Sylvester Stallone, and MGM Television. Executive producers also include D. Matt Geller, Randall Batinkoff and Jai Stefan. Together, the team is bringing one of Nevada’s most fascinating true stories to the screen.

Benny Binion’s real-life journey is arguably more fascinating than anything Hollywood could invent.

Why the Timing Matters

For Las Vegas, the timing couldn’t be better. Interest in productions set in Southern Nevada continues to grow as studios look for authentic stories rooted in real history rather than fictional casino dramas. Benny Binion’s legacy extends far beyond his famous Horseshoe Casino. He revolutionized casino marketing by offering better odds and treating every guest like a VIP, regardless of how much they wagered. Perhaps his greatest contribution came in 1970 when he launched the World Series of Poker, an event that transformed poker from a backroom pastime into a global phenomenon and forever cemented Las Vegas as the world’s poker capital.

A Complicated Legend

The series is expected to explore the contradictions that made Binion such a compelling figure. Before arriving in Las Vegas, he had earned a reputation in Texas as a feared gambler and organized crime figure. His move to Nevada represented both a fresh start and the beginning of a business empire that helped redefine the city. Those complexities should provide plenty of dramatic material, particularly with Hauser stepping into the role of a man known for equal parts charisma, intimidation and ambition.

Will It Film in Vegas?

One of the biggest questions surrounding Blood Aces is whether the production will actually film in Las Vegas. While MGM Television has yet to announce filming locations or a production schedule, there is certainly reason for optimism. Much of Benny Binion’s story unfolds on Fremont Street, inside Binion’s Horseshoe and throughout historic downtown Las Vegas. Filming on location would provide an authenticity that would be difficult to replicate elsewhere.

Of course, many period productions utilize tax incentive programs and purpose-built studio facilities in states such as New Mexico or Georgia. However, with Nevada continuing its efforts to attract more major film and television productions, Blood Aces could become exactly the type of prestige project many in the local industry have been hoping for. Even if only a portion of the series films in Southern Nevada, it would create opportunities for local crew members, actors, vendors and production services while showcasing the city to audiences around the world.

A Story Bigger Than Fiction

For Behind The Scenes Las Vegas, projects like Blood Aces represent more than entertainment—they reinforce that Las Vegas is filled with stories worthy of the Hollywood spotlight. The city has often served as the backdrop for fictional crime dramas, but Benny Binion’s real-life journey is arguably more fascinating than anything Hollywood could invent. His influence can still be felt today, not only in the evolution of casino gaming but in the thousands of poker players who travel to Las Vegas every year chasing World Series of Poker glory.

Beyond its Las Vegas connections, Blood Aces has all the ingredients of a prestige television series. Organized crime, high-stakes gambling, politics, family conflict, ambition and the explosive growth of Las Vegas all combine to tell the story of a man who helped shape modern Nevada. With Sylvester Stallone’s Balboa Productions and MGM Television behind the project, expectations are already high.

Cole Hauser appears to be a natural fit for the role. His performance as Rip Wheeler showcased a quiet intensity, rugged confidence and commanding screen presence that aligns well with the larger-than-life personality of Benny Binion. As both star and executive producer, Hauser has an opportunity to introduce one of Las Vegas’ most influential and controversial figures to an entirely new generation.

For now, fans will have to wait as Blood Aces continues through development. Additional casting has yet to be announced, no release date has been confirmed and filming plans remain under wraps. But if the series ultimately makes Las Vegas one of its production homes, it could become one of the most significant Nevada-centered television productions in recent years. Until then, it’s certainly one to keep firmly on the radar.