John L. Smith in his Review/Journal column reviews Lee (author of LUCKY) Barne's reaction to the Horseshoe disaster. One of the quotes:

"My notion of Benny Binion is that Binion was Las Vegas," Barnes says. "Everyone pointed to the mob out on the Strip, but the true maverick gambling spirit of the state, and the kind of people who came here to reinvent themselves and leave the past behind, he personifies that. Benny personifies the whole notion that this is the city of second chances. Without him, you wouldn't have (Bob) Stupak or even somebody like (Steve) Wynn, who started downtown with the Golden Nugget."

http://www.reviewjournal.com/lvrj_home/2004/Jan-20-Tue-2004/news/22981712.html