World Series of Poker Sets Attendance Record

The World Series of Poker drew 123,865 players for the 50-day tournament event setting an attendance record for the sixth straight year. Prize pools for the events totaled more than $266 million.

The World Series of Poker set an attendance record for the sixth straight year as 123,865 players turned out for the 50-day tournament event.

The prize pool of the 78-tournament series at the Rio All-Suite Hotel and Casino was the largest in its 49-year history, amounting to more than $266 million in prize money—an increase of more than $35 million compared to last year, according to the Associated Press.

A record 18,105 participants got a cut of the prize pool with 28 earning at least $1 million. The series’ Main Event saw 7,874 entries, making it the second largest in the series’ history. Indianapolis resident John Cynn won the main event taking home $8.8 million.

Recent Articles

History Playbook

On This Day In Sports History

On November 5, 1968, Detroit Tigers starting pitcher Denny McLain became the first American League player to win both the AL Most Valuable Player and Cy Young Award in the same season, following a historic 31–6 campaign.

On This Day In Sports History

On November 4, 1928, high-stakes gambler and bootlegger Arnold Rothstein was fatally shot following a high-roller poker game in New York City. Best known for fixing the 1919 World Series, Rothstein’s legendary life and betting exploits inspired classic mob and casino lore, including characters in The Great Gatsby and Boardwalk Empire.