World Series of Poker

1. A series of poker tournaments held each summer, presently at the Rio Hotel and Casino.

A Brief History of the World Series of Poker

The World Series of Poker (WSOP) was conceived by Benny Binion in 1969 as a reunion for his Texan gambling buddies and began to take shape the following year as a six-person invitational tournament at Binion's Horeshoe Casino.

The WSOP began to experience growth in the 1980s with the advent of satellites that allowed people to "qualify" for cheaper than the $10,000 fee required to play the main event.

The popularity of the WSOP increased further in the 1990s and more preliminary events were added to lead into the $10K main event.

In 2004, Harrah's Entertainment gained the rights to the WSOP after the Horeshoe went bankrupt, and since 2005 the WSOP has been held at the Rio, a Harrah's property.

What Makes This Tournament Different from All the Rest?

The WSOP is known for attracting players from all over the world, many of whom spend five weeks in the grueling Las Vegas summer to play tournaments every day.

It is also known for the variety of poker tournaments offered, with many games other than Texas Hold 'Em represented. In recent years, the WSOP has hosted two tournaments per day, usually one hold 'em-related and an evening tournament that showcases a different form of poker such as Omaha or Lowball.