World Series of Poker (WSOP)

In 1949 famous gambler Nicholas "Nick the Greek" Dandolos approached Benny Binion with an unusual request - to challenge the best in a high-stakes poker marathon. So Binion set up a match between Dandolos and Johnny Moss. The game was played in full public view. During the course of the poker marathon, which lasted five months with breaks only for sleep, the two men played every form of poker imaginable. Moss eventually won and pocketed 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.

The poker marathon gave Benny Binion the inspiration to later start the World Series of Poker because he noticed big crowds gathering outside the casino every day to watch the game. The first World Series of Poker was held in 1970 and the winner, Johnny Moss, was determined by vote. Startng the following year, the winner was determined by today's format - where everyone plays until 1 player has all the chips. Moss won again the second year. The third year, Amarillo Slim won the title and game the WSOP some added publicity by going on talk shows, like Johnny Carson.

During the early 1980s, the popularity of the World Series soared because of low-but in satellites. In 1982, the tournament drew 52 entrants. Five years later, there were 2,141 participants, and the 2002 event attracted 7,595 entries. The prize money has increased proportionately, from $7,769,000 a decade ago to a staggering $19,599,230 in 2002. Whereas only 12 events, mostly Texas hold'em and seven-card stud, were scheduled as recently as 1988, the 2004 tournament offers 33 competitions that feature a wide variety of games.

In the last couple uf years the WSOP has experienced yet another period of huge growth - this time due to the combination of Internet poker and televised poker. The broadcast of the World Series of Poker and the World Poker Tour has motivated millions of people to learn about the game while the rise of Internet poker has made it much easier for prospective players to enter satellites in an attempt to win their way into the big tournament.