From family bourre games to students playing spades in the Union, cards have been an integral part of life in Southern Louisiana. But in the last thee years, competitive poker has exploded in its popularity among television viewers. From ESPN’s coverage of the World Series of Poker to Bravo’s new hit Celebrity Poker, cable stations have been racing to capitalize on the new found glory of televised gaming.Though it made its official debut in 1970, The World Series of Poker was first conceived in the summer of 1949, according to the ESPN website. Legend has it that gambler “Nick the Greek” Dandolos approached Horseshoe Casino owner Benny Binion with an idea to create an event challenging the best poker players in the world in a high-stakes poker marathon. Binion liked the idea and pitted Dandalos against legendary gambler Johnny Moss. Binion’s only request was that the event be open to the public.
After five straight months of play with breaks for sleep only, Moss triumphed, winning an estimated $2 million. During the game play, Binion noticed that spectators were lining up to see the game play each day, fervently devouring the action.
In 1970, Binion decided to recreate the event. He assembled the top card sharks in what he called “The World Series of Poker” to determine who was the best player in the world. Moss again came out on top as the title was decided by democratic vote.
The following year, the winner was determined by a freeze out competition, where the competitors play until one player has all the chips. Moss won the competition again.
The winner of the 1972 competition, Thomas “Amarillo Slim” Preston went on the talk show circuit. This served to spread the word about competitive poker and the WSOP began to gain in popularity.
In 1973, Binion participated in the Oral History Project at the University of Nevada-Reno and discussed the World Series of Poker with interviewer Mary Ellen Glass. “This poker game gets us a lot of attention,” he told Glass.” We had seven players last year, and this year we had 13. I look to have better than 20 next year. It’s even liable to get up to 50, might get up to more that that.”
The World Series of Poker has become extremely popular on college campuses. “What’s not to like about it?” Joel Valentine, culinary arts sophomore from Gonzales, said. “You have suspense, sadness, joy. It runs the gamut of human emotions and anyone can win. A game can be won or lost with the turn of one card. I even play with my buddies. We have a great time.”
“It’s interesting,” said Bill Thibodaux, culinary graduate and visiting lecturer at the John Folse Culinary Institute. “There is lots of strategy involved-lots of bluffing and a whole lot of skill.”
As of 2004, the event attracted over 8,000 entries with prize money totaling a staggering $20 million, according to the WSOP website.
Though historically a male dominated sport, women have been gaining ground. Annie Duke, a married mother of four has risen to the top of the ranks of women players. Duke prefers to keep “woman” out of it when she sits at the tables.
Duke was 26 years old when she left the doctoral program in psycholinguistics at the University of Pennsylvania to pursue poker full time. Her gamble has paid off. It is estimated that she took in over $100,000 in the year 2003 alone. In WSOP terms, she is the highest moneymaker among women taking in an estimated $500,000 in 21 finishes and 11 final tables.
In addition to her playing, Duke also serves as a coach for celebrities. Her most famous client is Ben Affleck who recently won a statewide California tournament, qualifying him for the World Series of Poker in 2005.
Today, Binion’s legacy lives on, as the World Series of Poker has become the most prestigious, media hyped gaming competition in the world. It has allowed thousands of talented players the opportunity to follow their dreams and perhaps one day achieve greatness in their unconventional chosen career.
