The world of poker has produced many legends in history, but one of the most intriguing is arguably Amarillo Slim. Amarillo Slim was born in December 1928, and until 2012 when he sadly passed on was a major name in the poker industry. He was a professional gambling expert, though it was his ability to land poker wins that made him one of the most famous names in the entire industry. He is a Poker Hall of Fame inductee, arriving in 1992, having won the 1972 World Series of Poker Main Event.
A colourful and bashful character, he started out as a major lover of the Texas Hold ‘em style of cards, and played a role alongside names like Doyle Brunson and Sailor Roberts to bring the card game to the Las Vegas scene. So, if you have ever won big at Texas Hold ‘em in Vegas, you know who to thank!
Slim was a very successful gambler, but the one thing that might make him less famous today is the era he played in. Given that his lifetime tournament earnings reached around $587,000, many modern players might be shocked at the relatively low total. Remember, though, that Slim played mostly in an era where half-a-million was still a lot of money.
While he might not have played in the era where people win millions, Slim was a massive part of the modern growth of the poker industry. Indeed, he was also the host of the 1980 Second Annual Poker Classic, a major event that was a massive part of the industry until 1991.
In his career, Slim won four WSOP bracelets, winning in 1972, 1974, 1985, and 1990. He was also a successful author, including his popular eBook collection and his wonderful, engaging 2003 autobiography. RIP, Slim!