Casino Steakhouse Markups That Should Be Criminal
Horseshoe Casino · Baltimore · Steakhouse
Updated October 2026
Reviewed March 23, 2026 · How we review
RagingWine reviewed Jack Binion's Steakhouse’s wine list and gave it The Lazy List — RagingWine’s Vibe-Check rating. How RagingWine reviews wine lists →
Wingman Metrics
The wine list at Jack Binion's arrives looking confident — 150+ labels, a Dom Pérignon at the top, plenty of Napa heavyweights to anchor the steakhouse fantasy. But flip past the trophy bottles and you start noticing something: this list is built to extract money, not deliver value.
California dominates here, which is fine for a steakhouse — but the selection leans hard on recognizable brand names rather than any actual curation. Caymus, Silver Oak, The Prisoner, Rombauer: these are wines people order because they've heard of them, not because they're the best bottles at the price point. There's a gesture toward France and Italy, and some token representation from New Zealand, Germany, and Chile, but nothing that suggests anyone thought hard about it. The 150-label count sounds impressive until you realize it's mostly safe commercial producers with a celebrity bottle or two sprinkled in to justify the room.
Twelve pours by the glass at $12–$16 is a reasonable range on paper, but we'd want to know what's actually in those glasses before getting excited. Given the retail markups on the bottle list, expect the pours to follow the same logic: familiar names at prices that quietly hurt you. Nothing here suggests the BTG program gets rotated with any intention.
Caymus Conundrum White Blend, Napa Valley — $45
At 80% over retail it's the least offensive markup on the list — which is a low bar, but here we take what we can get. It's an easy-drinking white that can handle a rich menu without drama.
Frei Brothers Reserve Zinfandel, Dry Creek Valley
At $45 with a 125% markup it's not a steal, but Dry Creek Zinfandel alongside braised short ribs is a genuinely good move that most tables ordering Caymus will miss entirely.
Mark West Pinot Noir
A $12 retail bottle priced at $85 — that's a 608% markup on a mass-market Pinot that belongs at a grocery store checkout, not a steakhouse wine list. This is the list's most embarrassing moment.
Silver Oak, Alexander Valley + Braised Short Ribs
Silver Oak's Alexander Valley Cab has the fruit and structure to match the richness of braised short ribs without bulldozing them — it's the one bottle on this list that earns its keep on the table.
The Bottom Line
Jack Binion's is a casino steakhouse that wines by the numbers: recognizable labels, brutal markups, and a list that nobody passionate about wine put together. Order a cocktail, or spring for the Silver Oak and make peace with the markup.
· Baltimore · Brazilian Steakhouse
Fogo de Chão Baltimore isn't trying to be a wine destination and doesn't pretend otherwise — the list exists to serve the meat program, and it does that job adequately. If you're here for the churrasco experience, the Catena Vista Flores or the Garzón Albariño will see you through. Just don't expect discovery.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Locust Point · Baltimore · Italian
An Italian list that leads with Campania, then works region by region through the rest of Italy. Start with the La Passera Greco di Tufo at 50 for white or the Terredora Aglianico at 48 for red, and if you want Chianti, the Banfi Riserva is 45. Prices come from the wine list linked as "Wine List 24" and post no unit, so confirm what is available. This unrated guide covers the posted wine list, not service, storage or markups.
Harbor East · Baltimore · Italian
Cinghiale's glass list is built for exploring Italy, with 23 pours, each offered in three or six ounces. Try a three-ounce Donelli Lambrusco at $4.50 or Gini Soave Classico 2024 at $6 before committing to a larger pour, then ask about the regional bottle list. Confirm the current list before ordering.
Bel Air · Baltimore · Wine Bistro / Light Bites
A glass list built for tasting around: 25 wines, each at 3 oz and 6 oz, with a much deeper bottle list behind it. Start with the $5 (3 oz) Alta Vista Vive Malbec, then switch to the Maison L'Envoyé Gamay Noir for a lighter red, and confirm current prices before you go. This unrated guide covers the posted drinks list, not service, storage or markups.
Baltimore · Baltimore · Contemporary Bistro
A long list with a steep price ladder: 56 at the bottom and 1875 at the top. Start with the Carl Graff Riesling at 62 or the Monteleone Etna Rosso at 90, and compare the libations sheet before you commit, since many of the same wines carry much lower numbers there. Prices print without units and the pages carry no date, so confirm both with your server. This unrated guide covers the posted wine lists, not service, storage or markups.
Canton · Baltimore · American, Irish, Pub
A short pub list that stays simple and tells you what each wine tastes like. Start with the Kung Fu Girl Riesling at 12 | 36 or the Simi Chardonnay at 13 | 40 next to the crab cake; the page is undated, so confirm what is pouring and ask which number is the glass. This unrated guide covers the posted wine list, not service, storage or markups.
· Hoschton · Steakhouse
Jacks is a genuinely fun neighborhood hang with solid food, but the wine program doesn't match the ambition of the kitchen. If wine is your thing, call ahead or bring your own if corkage is an option — otherwise, lean into the cocktails and enjoy the patio. We'd love to revisit this rating if they ever put some real thought into the list.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
East Point · Atlanta · Steakhouse
Malone's earns its loyal following on the strength of its pork chops and tenderloin, not its wine list. If wine matters to your meal, you may want to call ahead and ask what's available — or just lean into a cocktail and let the steak do the heavy lifting. This one's a food-first destination.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Acworth · Steakhouse
AG Steakhouse earns its reputation as a go-to for celebrations and big nights out on Lake Acworth — but the wine program appears to be in service of the experience rather than a destination in itself. If you're splurging on the filet or the Oscar-style halibut, budget accordingly for the bottle too, and don't expect the list to surprise you. A solid place to drink wine; not a reason to come specifically for wine.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
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