A historic hotel with a legendary Vegas name! The WSOP at the Horseshoe begins in just over a month, and it will be played at the iconic casino which once again stands on The Strip. Caesars Entertainment recently celebrated the name change from Bally’s Las Vegas, just in time for the upcoming 54th annual poker championship. The 2,800-room property, which was once the site of the MGM Grand Hotel, has a storied history.
The Horseshoe’s renovations and new name pay homage to Binion’s Horseshoe, the downtown hotel and gambling hall where the World Series of Poker first began. The rebranding also puts the Horseshoe marquee directly across from other well-known casinos like the Bellagio, Caesars Palace, and the Flamingo Las Vegas. Former casino executive and World Series of Poker hall of fame player, Jack Binion, was on hand to present a lucky horseshoe from his family’s ranch, and “Jubilee!” costumes from Bally’s revue that ran for 35 years before closing in 2016 were also on display.
Playing the WSOP at the Horseshoe is a return to a tradition. After all, the first event was hosted by Binion’s father, Benny Binion, at his downtown Horseshoe in 1970 as an invitation-only game. The tournament was later acquired by Harrah’s Entertainment in 2004 and moved to the Rio All-Suites Hotel & Casino. Harrah’s subsequently purchased Caesars Entertainment in 2005, which was then bought by Eldorado Resorts in 2020 and renamed Caesars Entertainment Corp. as part of the deal.
The WSOP at the Horseshoe, which now runs for more than seven weeks and drew nearly 200,000 players last year, is scheduled to begin on May 30 this year. After the tournament ends in July, an 18-table poker room will offer tournament-style play year-round. The Horseshoe, which originally opened as the MGM Grand in 1973 with 2,100 rooms, is now a 26-story hotel with 2,800 rooms.