The World Series of Poker officially started in 1970.  It took place at Binion’s Horseshoe and had seven players that year.  The winner was Johnny Moss and his prize that year was a silver cup.  After that year the winning was changed to a cash prize and has been so ever since.  Over the years several different games have been added and subtracted, but currently the three main games are Texas Hold’em, Omaha Hold’em, and Seven-card stud.  These are played in 42 separate events.  These days’ winners get the money and a gold bracelet that is just as big in the poker community as a yellow jacket is in golf.

The big winners of this event over the years have been Doyle Brunson and Johnny Chan, who have each won 10 bracelets over the years.  Running a close second is Phil Hellmuth with nine.  Todd Brunson, Doyle Brunson’s son, won a bracelet in an Omaha event in 2005, which makes them the first father/son team to win. Some celebrities who have won over the years are Patrick Bruel, Jan Sorensen, and Jennifer Tilly, with Jennifer Tilly just winning in 2005.   

Even though the WSOP started out small, it is that way no more.  In fact, a cap of 8,000 players had to be set for the 2006 poker year because it has grown so much so fast.  This is mostly due to extended coverage from channels such as ESPN and the Travel Channel.  As more people have learned about the tournament, they want to get in on the biggest events out there in the “sport”.  To get in the tournament there is a buy in, which can be as much as $10,000.  But that is not the only way in.  The players also must qualify from a lower poker event.  The total prize amount for the 2006-year will be $10 million.  The games can be played as satellite games as well as events actually held in Las Vegas. 

Past winners have also included Joseph Hachem, Greg Raymer, and Chris Moneymaker.  In 2003, the year that Chris Moneymaker won, there were only 839 entrants.  This jumped the following year to over 2500, a little more than three times the previous year.  And as the number of players expands so does the top prize.  Of course, the hosting casino takes a percentage, usually 6-10%, of the total buy-in amount.