The World Series of Poker kicked off officially in 1970, marking it as the ultimate championship in the poker universe. where to play poker in Las Vegas for most poker enthusiasts.
For me, this journey began in 1988 when I was tasked with writing an article for GQ about a shady rare book dealer named John 'Austin Squatty' Jenkins.
Not long after our interview, his warehouse was set ablaze in an act of arson, and his lifeless body was later discovered floating in the Colorado River near Austin, Texas.
Ironically, my article was deemed unusable before his body was even recovered.
Binion’s, Stuey Unger and the WSOP
More significantly, my investigation into Squatty opened up a captivating realm that would inspire numerous stories in the following years. At the time, the tournament was held at Binion's Horseshoe, a charming family-run casino with a gritty, Wild West vibe.
It was the first occasion I witnessed the larger-than-life presence of Stu Unger taking command at a poker table, although I had no idea who he was at the time. In my notes, I referred to him as 'the Mick Jagger of poker.'
Stuey 'The Kid' Unger would go on to set a record by clinching three World Series Main Event titles, making him the first champion who did not defend his title the following year.
I had traveled to Las Vegas in 1998 to cover him, but he was holed up in his hotel room at Binion’s Horseshoe, having transformed into the reclusive Howard Hughes of the poker world, avoiding all visitors. He was grappling with cocaine addiction and was financially indebted to his backer, Billy Baxter.
Baxter had invested $10,000 for Unger to participate in the tournament, but Unger had already squandered his previous year's million-dollar prize money on drugs and gambling. Strip poker By Ungar's standards, those games seemed incredibly tame!
Unger politely declined my requests for an interview.
Nevertheless, through persistence, I managed to track him down shortly thereafter. We had a casual conversation over a buffet lunch at Arizona Charlie's, a rather rundown casino far from the glitz of the Strip. Tragically, just months later, he was discovered dead in the shabby Oasis Motel, having overdosed on a cocktail of drugs, his pockets nearly empty.
As the late Mike Sexton poignantly remarked to me, 'Stuey’s little heart just gave out on him.'
However, Ungar's saga pales in comparison to some of the unbelievable tales from the World Series of Poker.
Contract Killings and the Drug-Dealing Gambler
One year, the WSOP became the backdrop for the orchestration of a murder in Texas (and Austin Squatty was not involved in this one). Becky Binion Behnen, the daughter of the casino's founder Benny Binion, recounted this chilling story to me.
The marijuana dealer Jimmy Chagra was awaiting sentencing from a judge known as 'Maximum' John Wood, and coincidentally, he was also competing in the World Series of Poker.
Chagra was definitely not someone to mess with; his character strongly inspired the psychotic villain portrayed by Javier Bardem in 'No Country for Old Men.' During the 1979 WSOP, Chagra found himself seated next to a tough guy named Charles Harrelson, who happened to be the father of actor Woody Harrelson.
Charlie Harrelson turned to Chagra and said, 'What would you pay to see that guy six feet under?'” As Becky tells it, referring to Maximum John. “Chagra replied, 'I’d pay a million bucks to see that guy gone.'
Charlie went to Texas – no Texas Hold’em cheat sheet The job was done, and the hitman returned to inform Chagra that he needed his payment.
Was it ever received? 'Of course,' Becky replied. 'The guy had just murdered a federal judge. What do you think he would do to Chagra? Jimmy handed him the money in a Pampers box.'
On another occasion, a corpse was discovered in a room at the Horseshoe during the WSOP. The tale somehow vanished without a trace...
Fisty-Cuffs in the Middle of Play!
There were also rumors of a brawl that erupted amid gameplay at Binion’s Horseshoe. Erik Seidel, who had a heartbreaking second-place finish against Johnny Chan in ’88 while I was at the WSOP with Squatty, shared this story.
But no need to feel sorry for Seidel. He eventually became one of the most successful and formidable tournament players in the industry!
Seidel recalled, 'The World Series was like the Wild West,' remembering an incident with a Texas player and his stunning girlfriend. 'While the Texan was in the midst of a game, another spectator started flirting with her. The Texan instantly jumped up, knocked the guy out, and simply resumed playing.'
It was as though nothing had even happened. Appreciating the old-school cowboy justice, Seidel added, 'I'm sure the guy who got decked was never let back in the Horseshoe. Anything went in there, and poker players felt a sense of security.'
Down and Dirty Deal for the TITLE!
While winning the Series is a revered achievement today, it hasn't always had such prestige. Back in 1972, Doyle Brunson, later celebrated as the Godfather of Poker, along with another player, intentionally threw the World Series Main Event.
Long before the tournament captured widespread attention, it came down to just three players—
- Doyle Brunson
- Walter Clyde “Puggy” Pearson
- Thomas “Amarillo Slim” Preston
In the middle of the game, they paused discreetly to cut a deal regarding the prize pool based on their chip counts. They had come to a private agreement to let Slim take the pot. Brunson later recounted in the book 'Aces and Kings' that he had no interest in the fame associated with what would become the world’s most prestigious poker tournament.
'I didn’t want to bring shame upon my family,' Brunson explained. 'The regular working man didn’t have a good opinion about gamblers.'
Yet today, even with millions tuning in through online platforms, things aren’t entirely straightforward. At the previous year's World Series of Poker, a group of well-known professionals publicly accused another player of marking cards.
The allegations remain unproven.
The accused vehemently denied the claims and sought legal representation.
The World Series of Poker Phenomenon Continues…
Despite ongoing controversies, incidents of death, and shady dealings, nothing can halt the unstoppable force known as the World Series of Poker.
Starting on May 28, this year's tournament series will commence at the newly renamed Horseshoe Las Vegas, now owned by Caesars Entertainment, previously known as Bally’s.
Cards will be flying, and all attention will be directed toward the richest gambling tournament on the planet.