In the past couple of years, poker mania has swept the world. Only five years ago if you stopped someone on the street and asked them what Texas Hold'em was they would probably not be able to tell you. Now, someone has to practically be living in a cave to not know what Hold'em is. You cannot turn on the Television without having at least five poker shows on. The stakes are getting higher and the purses larger.
In 2003, World Poker Tour revolutionized televised poker and brought Texas Hold'em, the Cadillac of Poker, to the forefront of international excitement. WPT introduced the world to the "WPT Cam", a new, lipstick-sized camera that enables the TV audience to see the players' hole cards. This tiny camera plays a crucial role in revealing the drama of the poker players' high-stake bets and bluffs. WPT's expert commentary and educational content enables viewers to improve their own poker playing. When hosts Mike Sexton and Vince Van Patten use poker lingo, pop-up boxes appear on the screen with more information about the terminology. Such phrases, including the "flop," "turn," and "river," help familiarize new enthusiasts with the game. WPT's lovely host Shana Hiatt introduces viewers to the glamorous casinos and exotic locales in which the WPT tournaments are held.
World Poker Tour has turned poker into a sporting event that draws the young and old, men and women and people of all nationalities into the game; it has reshaped the face of poker and has raised the competitive bar to a new level. World Poker Tour established the WPT Walk of Fame at Commerce Casino to honor top poker players: starting with Doyle "Texas Dolly" Brunson, Gus Hansen, and James Garner. The WPT Championship's total prize pool in 2004 was over 8 million dollars, and the top prize winner took home over 2.7 million, setting a sporting record for top prize winnings: more than any other poker event or sporting event in North America.
