Secret Gambling Hideaway of Vegas Gangster Up For Sale at $12 million

One of the most notorious gambling gangsters of the mid-20th century has hit the market for the first time since 1968. The secret betting hideaway of Benny Binnion is available to buy but you’ll need deep pockets as the asking price is a cool $12 million.

Located in East Texas, the Fincastle Estate has legendary status and provided sanctuary to some of the most feared mobsters and interstate gamblers in the US. With vaulted ceilings and spectacular architecture, the real estate is stunning but for some it’s the historical value which is the most appealing.

Built for bootleggers 

The beautiful Fincastle Estate was originally built by Ivy Miller, a well-known gangster from Texas, as a gambling den for himself and his crime lord boss, Benny Binnion. Stretching over 1369 acres, the site is set in rural Henderson County and lies approximately 90 minutes away from Texas.

The remote location was deliberate as Miller intended it to be the base for illegal gambling activity in the region, providing punters with a secret location to bet. However, by 1946 Binnion had set his sights on Las Vegas and quickly moved to Sin City, leaving Miller behind in his Texas bolthole.

Binnion went on to form an empire in Vegas including setting up the infamous Horseshoe Casino on the strip, in addition to being the founder of the prestigious card tournament which is now called the World Series of Poker.

Miller remained as one of Binnion’s top lieutenants but didn’t follow him to the bright lights, instead preferring to remain at Fincastle where he fought a bloody turf war.

Historic decor 

Binnion died in 1989 but the former illegal betting den shows no signs of the violence it once knew. Today it’s the very essence of a stunning outdoor ranch with its own stocked lakes and forested region.

With herd of white-tailed deer roaming the acres, there’s a lodge atmosphere to the impressive accommodation but any new owners will have a momentous decision to make. The gambling den is the most striking of the whole property, and it remains an iconic part of gambling history. Anyone who purchases the real estate for a whisker under $12 million will need to decide whether to preserve the historic decor or wipe the slate clean and undertake a wide-scale renovation.