Poker Resources

The World Series of Poker made its debut in 1970. It was established by Benny Binion in an attempt to crown a "World Champion" and capitalize on the public's interest in watching no limit poker. The World Series of Poker has been held every year at Binion's Horseshoe Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas ever since. The original World Series of Poker games were invitational and 'winner takes all' as compared to today's game (which is open to anyone with the $10,000 buy-in fee and the prize pool is split amongst a number of the top finishers). The first World Series of Poker had only 7 players. In recent years that number has grown to over 7,500 entrants, with more than 800 playing in the main event - No Limit Texas Holdem. The major change to the World Series of Poker this decade has been the introduction of internet satellite tournaments, which allow poker players who have the skill, but not the $10,000, to join for the cost of a satellite buy-in. Some online poker rooms have been known to offer freeroll satellite tournaments as promotional gimmicks. In an unprecedented feat, last year's winner of the World Series of Poker garnered $2.5M after learning tournament poker on the internet and winning his seat from a $40 buy-in at poke rstars online poker site.

1989: Phil Hellmuth (Poker Chip Set)