E-WSOP

WSOP Growth & Stats

The original World Series of Poker began in 1969 with Tom Moore of San Antonio, Texas, the Holiday Hotel and Casino in Reno and was an invitational event. This inaugural event was won by Crandell Addington, who was on the spot in the top ten World Series of Poker Main Event eight times, a record in itself.

Soon the World Series of Poker (WSOP) evolved in the brain child of Las Vegas casino owner and poker player Benny Binion and his two sons, Jack and Ted.

The Binion family not only nurtured the WSOP, but poker as a whole. Before 1970, poker was not found in most casinos, because it is difficult to keep the jackets. By improving the technology for security and Binion tireless promotion through events like the WSOP, poker still is a very popular game.

In 1970, the first WSOP at Binion of horseshoe took a series of cash games that included five Card Stud, low ball Deuce seven groups, Razz, seven Card Stud Texas and possession of it. The format of the main event as a freeze-out Texas game came the following year. Winner in 1970 Johnny Moss was chosen by his peers as the first World Champion of Poker and he received a silver scales as a reward.
Evolution

Since 1971, all the WSOP events are tournaments with cash prizes. In 1973 a new event, the Five Card Stud was added to the main event No Limit Texas Hold ‘Em. Since then new events were added and removed in an effort to make the game popular. In 2006 there were 45 events in the WSOP, the majority of poker variants.

Currently, Texas Hold ‘Em, Omaha, the Seven Card Stud and Low ball variations exist. HORSE was played in the past and back in 2006. Shoe was also played in the past and and it returned in 2007.

Other events that have been experimented with in the recent times have been Chinese Five Card Stud Poker. Event winners received a gold bracelet in addition to their prize money which is traditionally paid in cash.

The number of participants in World Series Of Poker has grown steadily every year and in recent years the growth exploded. In 2000 there were about 4780 participants in various events and in 2005 the number rose to more than 23000 players. Now that’s a massive jump.

The main event growth was not as much as the tournament participants. It rose from 839 in 2003 to 8,773 in 2006. This can be termed as “money-spinner effect” because after unknown Rookie Chris Moneymaker won the main event everyone thought they too can.

To some extent the growth can be attributed to the WSOP airing on ESPN and the World Poker Tour can be seen on the Travel Channel along with other television series. This helped in getting publicity for the game.