Former casino owner sues Horseshoe over chip dispute

Tuesday, Nov. 10, 1998 | 12:03 p.m.

Stupak, the former Stratosphere and Vegas World hotel-casino operator, made the accusations in a lawsuit filed against the downtown casino late Monday seeking unspecified damages.

The suit claims the dispute between Stupak and the casino lasted for weeks and eventually deteriorated into a confrontation that led to his ejection from the Horseshoe on Oct. 24.

Stupak contends the matter is particularly upsetting because he saw the Horseshoe's founder, Benny Binion, as a mentor.

"I think Benny would roll over in his grave if he knew how shabbily the Horseshoe had treated Mr. Stupak," Stupak's attorney, Jim Jimmerson, said after the lawsuit was filed.

After Binion's death, his children fought over control of the property until July when Becky Behnen bought the downtown landmark from her older brother, Jack, and her sister, Brenda Binion Michael, and brother, Lonnie "Ted" Binion, who died in September.

Jack Binion appears to come down firmly on the side of Stupak. A November letter attached to the lawsuit and addressed "to whom it may concern" notes that "Bob Stupak has been a friend of the Binion family for many years" and is "a valued customer" who "has won and lost large sums of money."

"I believe that any Horseshoe chips held by Mr. Stupak are his and that he is entitled to have them," Jack Binion wrote.

According to the lawsuit, the trouble began in early September when Stupak tried to redeem his chips several times and was rebuffed. Finally, on Oct. 19, Stupak handed a casino cashier a letter explaining his annoyance and a single $5,000 chip. He was told the exchange had to be cleared through casino sports director Larry Perkins, the lawsuit says.

Though initially cordial, the meeting between Perkins and Stupak ended with Perkins exploding "into a volatile tirade," Stupak claims in the lawsuit.

He returned on the morning of Oct. 24 and was told that he was barred from the premises, the lawsuit says.

The lawsuit alleges that because of the confrontations, he has had to continue medical care.

Stupak also alleges breach of trust, slander, fraud and assault.