Hoover Dam lies just a few miles south of Henderson, NV. which is the bedroom community outside Las Vegas. It is a gigantic plant that generates electrical power for millions of residents in Nevada, California and Arizona.
Just driving over the dam is a memorable experience. You can even park your car and go inside the dam. You will be impressed.
But however powerful Hoover Dam is, the electricity generated by the annual World Series of Poker is even more potent to the thousands of poker players who gather in Las Vegas for the event.
How potent is the WSOP? Just stick your finger in a live electrical circuit. It's that powerful.
Admittedly, I have not played in any of the WSOP tournaments. I have been in Las Vegas during the WSOP and met some of the main event competitors. But my bankroll fell short of what was required so I stuck to the cash games.
As most of the members of this website know, the late Bennie Binion was responsible for creating the WSOP in 1970 when he invited seven top poker players to compete for the title of world poker champion.
The earlier winners of the tournament were Johnny Moss, Amarillo Slim Preston, Puggy Pearson, Sailor Roberts, Bobby Baldwin, Stu Ungar, and Doyle Brunson.
Bennie Binion had big dreams and a bigger heart, but he never fantasized that the WSOP would grow as big as it has become.
Even the $10,000 buy-in, then the largest in the world for a poker tournament, has increased. This year there will be a $50,000 buy-in H.O.R.S.E event that will draw some of the world's best players. And there are other tournaments with big buy-ins that the average player just can't afford.
The 2017 WSOP begins June 2-4 with a $565 no-limit Hold'em tournament. It has a re-entry for anyone who gets knocked out. Last year, 21,613 paid for the privilege of competing and first place paid $1 million.
On June 10-11, the $1,500 buy-in millionaire maker will start. It's a complicated event with plenty of cash available to winners. Look it up on line for details.
Senior citizens will be able to compete in two special events -- seniors 50 and over and the Super Seniors tournament for players 65 and older. Both $1,000 entry events will be held June 16-18 at 10 a.m. with a single re-entry permitted.
On June 24-25, a Monster Stack tournament will start at 10 a.m. each day. This event attracted 6,927 players last year. Players receive 15,000 starting chips.
The $10,000 main event will be held July 8-10, starting at 11 a.m. each day.
Last year, 107,833 players entered the various tournaments that make up the WSOP. For the first time in history, 15 percent of the entrants finished in the money and 15,767 winners were paid off.
I will be in Phoenix in April and I admit I am sorely tempted to try my luck in the greatest series of poker tournaments ever created. Hopefully I will see Doyle Brunson at the event. If I do, I will wish him the best of luck. Let the games begin.
Author: Geno Lawrenzi Jr.
(Geno Lawrenzi Jr. is an international journalist, magazine author and ghostwriter and poker player who lives in Phoenx, AZ. He has published 2,000 articles in 50 magazines and 125 newspapers. If you want to share a gambling story or book idea with him, send an email to glawrenzi@gmail.com ).
