Still, the state has a strong connection with gambling.
It’s the birthplace of Texas Hold ‘Em. And there’s a long history of gambling and underground casino operations in Texas, along with high-profile gamblers.
Like Benny Binion.
He was a notorious gangster who ran rackets in the Dallas-Fort Worth area during the Depression era.
Benny Binion, former Dallas gambler, leaves a Las Vegas federal courtroom after pleading with the judge during an extradition hearing not to send him back to Texas on Nov. 14, 1952. Binion faces income tax evasion charges in Texas. (AP Photo) “There were casinos operated by people like Benny Binion in downtown Dallas that were an open secret. They operated with the cooperation of law enforcement.”
Guest: Doug J. Swanson is a veteran reporter and editor, he spent much of his carrier at the Dallas Morning News. Currently he is a research assistant professor of English at the University of Pittsburgh. He is the author of several books including
Blood Aces: The Wild Ride of Benny Binion, The Texas Gangster who Created Vegas Poker. His new book is
Cult Of Glory: The Bold And Brutal History Of The Texas Rangers.