More than $1Billion awarded by WSOP

This year marks the 40th Anniversary of the biggest poker event in the world, The World Series of Poker. The first WSOP was played in 1970. And in the 40 years since then, the WSOP has awarded more than $1 Billion in prize monies.

The official 2009 financial figures for the event were released at the close of the Main Event registration. WSOP President and Commissioner Jeffrey Pollack said, “It’s nice to reach this milestone during the 40th annual WSOP,” and “what’s most remarkable is that nearly 2/3 of this amount has been awarded in just the last four years. Poker is alive and well and here to stay.”

For the fourth year in a row, the total prize pool for all WSOP events has exceeded $155 Million, compared to the total of $354 Million in prizes awarded in the first 36 years the WSOP was held.

The World Series of Poker is the richest competitive event in the world. Compared to the Daytona 500, racing’s biggest event, with has awarded $21Million since 1959; The Kentucky Derby, which has awarded $16.7Million since 2001 and Wimbledon, which has given out about $20.5 Million this year.

News Added: 08 July, 2009

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