Will Binion's Million Dollar Display Ever Return?

Binion’s million-dollar photo-op display is always on my list, but has been in hiding for some time. Any plan to bring it back? Seems it was good way to get people to hang around waiting for the photo and dropping some cash — it would be more cool to do a tribute remake of the old Horseshoe display.

Sorry, but you can forget about the Horseshoe million-dollar photo ops.

Then-Binion’s owner Becky Behnen sold the original hundred $10,000 bills for some quick cash in 2000, not long before bowing out of the Nevada casino business.

The second version of the "million-dollar display," in the pyramid shape, didn't have anywhere near the cachet as the original. One of the problems was that only a few thousand dollars worth of actual money was visible. The rest could have been blank paper for all that could be seen from the sides and tops of the stacks.

Another was that the cost of labor to man the photo booth didn't translate into casino play.

And as for the promo value, too many people didn't bother to return to pick up their photos, so its worth was diminished.

Finally, considering that it's been more than a year since the pyramid promo went away, we believe we can take its demise as definite.

No part of this answer may be reproduced or utilized in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, without the written permission of the publisher.

Have a question that hasn't been answered? Email us with your suggestion.

Missed a Question of the Day?

Have a Question?

Tomorrow's Question

Are there any commercial flights out of Henderson Executive Airport?

Comments

Kevin C Jan-12-2022

Unfortunate

I had my picture taken with the cash several times over the years, two of which marked memorable occasions. Sad to see it go. The mantra of "the only constant is change" is one of the things that annoys me about Las Vegas...

[email protected] Jan-12-2022

Horseshoe Casino, Shreveport LA

This casino still has a wall of $100 bills that total to a million dollars, if I not mistaken.  Selfies are encouraged.

Randall Ward Jan-12-2022

million

free pics was a big deal back then, every casino had something.  The original million was ok but kinda blah, can see why it's gone

Jerry Patey Jan-12-2022

Bunion

Do you really think that is a million dollar pile of money??

Reno Faoro Jan-12-2022

HORSEHOE , - BINIONS

Why didn't SHE   leave  jack alone to run that once GREAT casino ???  10 crap tables going always . line up on stairs to eat in the basement cafe !!! $2 bone in ham steak from MONTANA RANCH  , $2 steak with ALL  the trimmings . WHAT GOT INTO HER HEAD ???  HALL OF SHAME as she ran to the bank !!! glad JACK is still doing fine !1

Kenneth Mytinger Jan-12-2022

Another display, if it's still there

Always liked the huge gold nuggets (at the Golden Nugget) -- thought that they were kinda neat.

Andyb Jan-12-2022

The Binnion's

My wife and I have pictures in front of the one million dollars going back to the mid 70s. I had the honor of meeting Benny, Teddy, and spent some time talking to Jack one night.  Very happy I did not meet Becky as she destroyed a piece of Las Vegas history. What a short-sighted person, and selfish too.

Llew Jan-12-2022

Hmmmmm

So Becky took her money and ran.  Sounds like the former owner of a certain casino in Atlantic City. 😏
Just another way the Becky wrecked Binions.  😝

[email protected] Jan-12-2022

To be fair Llew

Llew,

Steve Wynn was smart to leave Atlantic City when he did, as the city had no prospects for casino owners.  Sad, President Trump did not follow his lead, moving his gaming empire to Nevada!

Dave_Miller_DJTB Jan-12-2022

@ Jerry

Yes, it was a real million dollars.

Casinos are required to keep a certain amount of cash on hand, usually way more than they actually need. Locking some of it under a display case doesn’t change the fact that it’s part of the cash on hand.

Leonard Accardi Jan-12-2022

I hope you're wrong and it does return

I spend summers downtown and I've had people tell me they came downtown specifically to get a picture with the million dollars.  It's also the first place I take friends that visit me to.  Most of the time they also play some there, usually slots, and I like to show them how to play basic craps (pass line only)there since the table limits are low enough for a beginner to enjoy themselves and have fun without risking a lot while waiting for the pictures to develop.  No one seems to care if the money is real or not, and those pictures make Binions unique and memorable.

rokgpsman Jan-12-2022

$1 million stack

The original million dollar display at Binion's used very large denomination bills that are not available now and it didn't take a bunch of them. So unless some currency collector loaned the old-style bills to the Horseshoe they'd have to use 10,000 $100 bills nowadays. Or they could use the €500 (euro) bills, make it a European thing!

Llew Jan-13-2022

Not Wynn

gkbii, I wasn’t referring to Steve Wynn.

Question of the Day - 12 January 2022

Comments