The Horseshoe is coming back to Vegas. Bally’s Hotel and Casino on the Las Vegas Strip will be rebranded as a Horseshoe casino this year, making it a fitting home for the 2022 World Series Of Poker.
The original Horseshoe was started in downtown Las Vegas by Benny Binion in 1951 and grew to prominence by offering the biggest games in town and treating customers well. Binion started the WSOP there in 1970, and it was played there until 2004 when Caesars Entertainment bought the property, and the WSOP brand with it, and moved the tournament series to The Rio. Caesar’s quickly sold the downtown, property which has operated as Binion’s Gambling Hall ever since.
Since buying the Horseshoe name, Caesars has opened or rebranded eight other properties around the country as Horseshoe casinos, but there hasn’t been a property under the brand in Vegas in almost 20 years.
Branding under construction
The return of the Horseshoe name will be accompanied by an exterior renovation, a reimagining of the 70,000 feet of casino gaming space, a redesigned poker room, and other changes. Construction will start in the spring and be in full swing during the WSOP, though management says the 2,810 hotel rooms won’t be affected.
The building was originally opened as the MGM Grand in 1973 before being sold and rebranded with the Bally’s name in 1986. It contains two separate 26 story hotel towers and sits on 44 acres of land in the heart of the Las Vegas strip, sometimes referred to as “the 50-yard line” of Las Vegas.
“At Horseshoe, it’s all about the gambler. Since 1951, Horseshoe Casinos have been home to the best odds, highest limits, and biggest jackpots. So, it’s fitting that we bring Horseshoe back to Las Vegas, and right on the Las Vegas Strip,” said Jason Gregorec, SVP and General Manager of the property. “Holding to the Horseshoe tradition of providing impeccable service, our guests will see the property transform over time, ensuring we aren’t disrupting the excitement while we make the transition.”
What this will mean for poker players is uncertain. Players are hoping that the return of the Horseshoe name, along with a redesigned poker room at the new home of the WSOP, may mean a new commitment to poker on the Strip. Whether this will be the case, or the rebranding is just a move to bolster business for the casino operations, remains to be seen.
