LA Times
The tables are out, the chips are stacked and poker players from around the world are getting ready to take home millions. The World Series of Poker started yesterday, and for the first time ever, it's not being held at Binion's. News 3's Lisa Hidalgo spoke to players who have mixed feelings about its move to the Rio.
Many of them say they miss the nostalgia of Binion's but are willing to give it up for the space. This year the tournament floor has 60 thousand square feet of space to work with. The room can hold 200 poker tables. That's more tables than Binion's has in the entire casino.
Organizers estimate that at least four thousand players will register for the main event, 30 percent more than last year. We asked one of the pros what he thought about the big move from Binion's.
"It wasn't as nice as the Rio, but it was old school. You felt like you were a gambler from the 50's like in the movies."
"The reactions have been unbelievable. They see this room and they compare it and they are just amazed," says an event organizer.
The The World Series of Poker, poker's main event, starts in early July and the last two days of that tournament will be held at Binion's. The World Series of Poker first started in 1970. The total prize money for this year's events will be around 75 million dollars.
