World Series of Poker

For true poker lovers there is one event that they wait all year for – and it is the World Series of Poker.

Players can thank Benny Binion, owner of the Horseshoe Casino, for having started the tradition. He moved to Las Vegas in 1946 and opened the casino in 1951. He was one of the first ones trying to give Vegas a name, when all it was was a desert. His casino was panned for the décor; people said it looked like a whorehouse. He was the first to put in carpet, and offered free alcohol and cheap food.

In what seems outrageous, especially for the times, there were no betting limits on any of the Horseshoe’s Games, and there were those that tested him. Benny once agreed to let a man make a million dollar bet, and the player lost.

He would arrange big stakes gambling, and people would call on him for his connections. He set up a poker marathon between Nick “The Greek” Dandalos and Johnny Moss and five months later Dandalos walked away from the game $2 million into Moss.

It was so exciting to watch people play that Binion decided to host another poker marathon, and started the first World Series of Poker. It had five games and five players, and Johnny Moss won every event. He won it again in 1971, and then again in 1974.

The WSOP is run by Harrah’s these days, and is considered to be the major draw for any poker player worth his or her snuff. The game is also global now, although it was started in the U.S. Many argue who is considered the best poker player in the world, but most agree that it is probably Phi Hellmuth, Jr. Phil is number one for the “Most WSOP Cashes” and has 37 Final Table Appearances. He also is tied with two others for “Most WSOP Gold Bracelets Won.”

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