Sylvester Stallone and Cole Hauser Team Up for ‘Blood Aces’: Gritty TV Series on Vegas Legend Benny Binion
In a powerhouse collaboration blending Western grit with high-stakes drama, Sylvester Stallone’s Balboa Productions and Cole Hauser’s American Outlaw Entertainment are partnering with MGM Television to develop Blood Aces, a prestige TV series adaptation of Doug J. Swanson’s 2014 nonfiction book Blood Aces: The Wild Ride of Benny Binion, the Texas Gangster Who Created Vegas Poker. Announced in early February 2026, the project positions Yellowstone star Hauser as the lead, portraying the larger-than-life Benny Binion—a Texas hustler turned ruthless casino mogul who reshaped modern Las Vegas gambling.
Benny Binion (1904–1989) rose from humble Fort Worth, Texas roots as a horse trader and bootlegger during Prohibition. Known for his violent reputation, he allegedly ordered or committed murders to eliminate rivals, yet evaded major convictions through cunning and connections. Relocating to Las Vegas in the 1940s amid mob influence, Binion acquired the Horseshoe Casino (now Binion’s) and introduced innovations like high-limit craps tables and the famed $1 million dollar display. He founded the World Series of Poker in 1970, transforming poker from backroom games into a global spectacle. His legacy mixes ambition, vision, and controversy—flaws included bootlegging, gambling wars, and family feuds that persisted after his death.
Hauser, fresh off his iconic role as Rip Wheeler in Yellowstone, steps into a part Stallone called “made for Cole Hauser to play.” In a statement, Hauser expressed deep enthusiasm: “Benny Binion is one of the great Western American characters and success stories of the 20th century, loaded with ambition, vision, balls, and like all controversial characters, many flaws. His legacy is undeniable. How he built it is an incredible story which we can’t wait to tell. It’s a privilege to play him and an honor to produce this with Sylvester Stallone and MGM to bring this incredible story to life.”
Stallone, currently starring in Tulsa King and executive producing via Balboa Productions alongside D. Matt Geller, praised the book’s capture of Binion as a “New West icon” who connected gambling, rodeo, and mob worlds. He added: “This is a story that will captivate audiences.” Additional executive producers include Randall Batinkoff and Jai Stefan for American Outlaw Entertainment.
Described as a “gritty, character-driven prestige series,” Blood Aces will chronicle Binion’s explosive rise—from outsmarting (and violently dispatching) rivals in Texas to building a family empire in Vegas while bending laws to his will. Expect themes of ambition, power, betrayal, and the birth of modern gambling culture, with high-stakes poker games, rodeo elements, and the shadowy underbelly of mid-century Sin City. No premiere date, episode count, or full cast has been announced yet, as the project remains in development. Speculation swirls that Stallone might cameo as a casino owner or high-roller, given his history of on-screen appearances in his produced works.
The series arrives amid renewed interest in real-life crime and Western tales, following successes like Yellowstone and Tulsa King. MGM Television’s involvement signals potential for a high-production-value show, possibly on MGM+ or a partner platform. Fans of Hauser’s rugged intensity and Stallone’s storytelling flair see this as tailor-made—Hauser’s cowboy grit perfectly suits Binion’s cowboy-gangster persona.
As development progresses, Blood Aces promises to deliver an unapologetic portrait of a flawed visionary whose innovations still define Vegas today. With its blend of true-crime intrigue, historical sweep, and star power, the series could become a must-watch for drama enthusiasts and gambling history buffs alike.