Poker Resource

The World Series of Poker made its official debut in 1970. However, it was actually more than two decades earlier that the idea of the Horseshoe's annual tournament was conceived.

As the story goes, it was in the summer of 1949 that inveterate gambler Nicholas "Nick the Greek" Dandolos approached Benny Binion with an unusual request - Dandolos wanted to challenge the best in a high-stakes poker, the legendary Johnny Moss, to a poker marathon. Binion agreed to help organize the match, with the stipulation that the poker game would be played in public view.

During the course of the marathon, which lasted five months with breaks only for sleep, the two men played every form of poker imaginable. Moss ultimately won "the biggest game in town", and an estimated $2 million. When the Greek lost his last pot, he arose from his chair, bowed slightly, and uttered the now-famous words, "Mr. Moss, I have to let you go. " Dandolos then went upstairs to bed.

Though significant in its own way as a chapter in poker history, Benny Binion saw much more in the five-month marathon. He was amazed at the attention the event had attracted, noting that members of the public gathered outside the casino each day to watch the game with the fervor of dedicated sports fans.

It wasn't until 1970 that Binion decided to re-create this excitement. He staged a battle of poker giants - dubbed the "World Series Of Poker". Some of the best players in the country were assembled to determine who would be worthy of the title "World Champion." The decision was democratic in that the champion was decided by popular vote and Johnny Moss came out on top once again.

The following year, the democratic decision was dropped in favor of a freeze-out competition - players were systematically eliminated, and the winner was the one player left with all the chips. Moss was again declared the World Champion in 1971.

In 1972, Thomas "Amarillo Slim" Preston won the title. The World Series of Poker began to gain a wider following when he then went on the talk-show circuit.

It was only a year later that Binion participated in the Oral History Project at the University of Nevada-Reno and discussed the World Series with interviewer Mary Ellen Glass. "This poker game here 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 be 50, might get up to be more than that." Binion then paused, and as if gazing into the future, prophesied, "It will eventually."

The World Series of Poker made its official debut in 1970. However, it was actually more than two decades earlier that the idea of the Horseshoe's annual tournament was conceived.

As the story goes, it was in the summer of 1949 that inveterate gambler Nicholas "Nick the Greek" Dandolos approached Benny Binion with an unusual request - Dandolos wanted to challenge the best in a high-stakes poker, the legendary Johnny Moss, to a poker marathon. Binion agreed to help organize the match, with the stipulation that the poker game would be played in public view.

During the course of the marathon, which lasted five months with breaks only for sleep, the two men played every form of poker imaginable. Moss ultimately won "the biggest game in town", and an estimated $2 million. When the Greek lost his last pot, he arose from his chair, bowed slightly, and uttered the now-famous words, "Mr. Moss, I have to let you go. " Dandolos then went upstairs to bed.

Though significant in its own way as a chapter in poker history, Benny Binion saw much more in the five-month marathon. He was amazed at the attention the event had attracted, noting that members of the public gathered outside the casino each day to watch the game with the fervor of dedicated sports fans.

It wasn't until 1970 that Binion decided to re-create this excitement. He staged a battle of poker giants - dubbed the "World Series Of Poker". Some of the best players in the country were assembled to determine who would be worthy of the title "World Champion." The decision was democratic in that the champion was decided by popular vote and Johnny Moss came out on top once again.

The following year, the democratic decision was dropped in favor of a freeze-out competition - players were systematically eliminated, and the winner was the one player left with all the chips. Moss was again declared the World Champion in 1971.

In 1972, Thomas "Amarillo Slim" Preston won the title. The World Series of Poker began to gain a wider following when he then went on the talk-show circuit.

It was only a year later that Binion participated in the Oral History Project at the University of Nevada-Reno and discussed the World Series with interviewer Mary Ellen Glass. "This poker game here 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 be 50, might get up to be more than that." Binion then paused, and as if gazing into the future, prophesied, "It will eventually."