World Series of Poker Now Under Way And It Is Big

The Rio Hotel & Casino has been transformed into poker's Mecca as rounders from all over the globe have descended upon Las Vegas to participate in the 37th annual World Series of Poker.

Benny Binion's original vision of hosting a tournament in his downtown Las Vegas casino to determine the world's best poker player has morphed into a zoo-like carnival consisting of 45 separate events with daily prize pools worth several million dollars.

The Rio resembles a dense traffic jam on a Los Angeles freeway as thousands of players, dealers, media reps, vendors and tourists are lumped together like a clogged artery. The surging crowds and record-breaking participants are larger than ever.

Walking down the corridors of the convention center or navigating the spectator area in the Amazon ballroom takes deft skill. The media room has been packed with writers, journalists, and photographers from hundreds of different outlets from all over the world.

Fervent fans and gawking tourists constantly stop their favorite pros for pictures and autographs. Players of all ages and different sexes from all walks of life are competing with some of the world's best poker players. Plumbers from New Jersey and college kids from Ann Arbor wearing sunglasses are flinging around chips with the likes of Barry Greenstein and Chris "Jesus" Ferguson.

There's no other competitive event that allows amateurs and pros to sit down right next to each other at the same table. That's one of the contributing factors to the recent poker boom. It doesn't matter who you are or where you come from, as long as you have the cash, you have a seat.

July 29, 2006
Posted By Terry Goodwin
Staff Editor, CasinoGamblingWeb.com    Previous Page | Internet Gambling | Top Online Casinos | Submit News!

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