[3] The casino's interior had a frontier flavor, like an old-style riverboat, with low ceilings and velvet wallpaper.

It was the first casino in downtown Las Vegas (also called Glitter Gulch) to replace sawdust-covered floors with carpeting,[4] and was the first to offer comps to all gamblers, not just those who bet big money.

He sold a majority share of the casino to fellow gambler and New Orleans oilman Joe W. Brown to cover back taxes and legal costs.

[11] As a convicted felon, Benny was no longer allowed to hold a gaming license, so his sons took over day-to-day control when the family bought out Brown.

Ted was under constant scrutiny from the Nevada Gaming Commission from 1986 onward for drug problems and associating with known mob figure "Fat Herbie" Blitzstein.

[citation needed] In 1998, Becky Behnen acquired a controlling interest in the casino following a protracted legal battle with her older brother Jack.

Among the most notable was the removal of the Horseshoe exhibit that held $1 million, having been sold to collector Jay Parrino,[3] that had served as a backdrop for free pictures of visitors.

[citation needed] Behnen also attracted the attention of the state regulators by failing to keep sufficient funds available to pay winners in the casino cage.

The parties reached a settlement in March 2003 in which the Horseshoe signed the collective bargaining agreement and agreed to pay the owed money.

[16] After holding off numerous times, on December 5 the Culinary Union obtained a court order authorizing the seizure of up to $1.9 million from the Horseshoe casino cage.

[17] The seizure took place on January 9; ultimately federal marshals and IRS agents seized $1 million in order to satisfy debts owed to the Southern Nevada Culinary and Bartenders Pension Trust Fund and to the Hotel Employees and Restaurant Employees International Union Welfare Fund.

A day later, the hotel was shut down as well, and Behnen reached an agreement with the Nevada Gaming Commission to keep the casino closed until its bankroll was replenished.

[19] Days after the purchase by Harrah's was finalized, the company sold the physical property and the Binion's brand on March 11, 2004, to MTR Gaming Group.

Harrah's operated the casino under a temporary contract until March 11, 2005, when MTR took over and renamed the property Binion's Gambling Hall and Hotel.

[20] On March 7, 2008, MTR sold the hotel-casino to TLC Casino Enterprises, owner of the Four Queens, for $32 million.

[21] The $1 million casino floor display, once a free tourist photo attraction, returned in August 2008.

The music video for U2's 1987 song, "I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For", was filmed on Fremont Street and features several views of Binion's.