Last year, the World Series of Poker accepted a record 10,043 participants, each of whom had to shell out more than $10,000 to participate in the $93.4 million no-limit hold ’em tournament. including $12.1 million for the winner.
The event, which began in 1970 with seven participants, took off in 2003 when Chris Moneymaker burst onto the scene, The Financial Times reported. The Tennessee accountant won $2.5 million after qualifying for the main event in an $86 online satellite tournament, and poker hasn’t been the same since.
The previous year saw the launch of the World Poker Tour, which organizes and hosts international poker tournaments. Added to that, the increased availability of broadband Internet, plus unregulated online poker rooms and the entertainment value of televised events helped foster a surge that lasted until the Unlawful Gambling Enforcement Act. The Internet of 2006 prevented companies from accepting payments from people who participated in illegal gambling.
Online poker took another big hit in 2011, when the Department of Justice, on what became known as Black Friday, seized the domains of super sites PokerStars, Full Tilt Poker, Absolute Poker and Ultimate Bet, and $34 million. of the players. However, it returned when the coronavirus pandemic caused new platforms to emerge, and subsequent developments and innovations made the game more attractive.
Still, it’s been a slow process, and while poker has seen ups and downs as the gaming industry rises and falls, more and more players are sitting up to up the ante.
To see which players had the most eyes on them, Clubs Poker compiled a ranking (based on national analysis) of the most popular poker players in Massachusetts using data from The Hendon Mob. Players residing in Massachusetts were ranked based on unique page views on the website as of January 1, 2008. Data on each player’s live cash winnings was added as supplemental information. The data is as of March 13, 2024.
#10. Bernard Lee
– Total lifetime earnings: $2,406,503
— 982nd highest live poker winnings of all time
– Best Live Cash: $400,000
– Residence: Wayland, Massachusetts
– Unique hits: 35,799
#9. Andres Brokos
– Total Live Earnings: $859,760
— 3,218th biggest live poker wins of all time
– Best Live Cash: $193,000
– Residence: Boston, Massachusetts
– Unique hits: 42,064
#8. Matthew Wantman
– Total Live Earnings: $5,852,979
— 290th highest live poker winnings of all time
– Best Live Cash: $443,474
– Residence: Boston, Massachusetts
– Unique hits: 42,314
#7. David Paredes
– Total Live Earnings: $2,717,926
— 817th highest live poker winnings of all time
– Best Live Cash: $723,227
– Residence: Brookline, Massachusetts
– Unique hits: 46,614
#6. Ronnie Bardah
– Total lifetime earnings: $2,101,726
— 1,160th biggest live poker wins of all time
– Best Live Cash: $566,135
– Residence: Brockton, Massachusetts
– Unique hits: 56,833
#5. jonathan jaffe
– Total Live Earnings: $11,994,090
— 105th highest live poker winnings of all time
– Best Live Cash: $1,537,600
– Residence: Longmeadow, Massachusetts
– Unique hits: 67,123
#4. Brian Altman
– Total lifetime earnings: $8,076,653
— 183rd biggest live poker win of all time
– Best Live Cash: $723,008
– Residence: Boston, Massachusetts
– Unique hits: 73,151
#3. Jesse James Sylvia
– Total lifetime earnings: $7,767,587
— 194th biggest live poker win of all time
– Best Live Cash: $5,295,149
– Residence: West Tisbury, Massachusetts
– Unique hits: 82,657
#2. Ethan Yu
– Total lifetime earnings: $2,336,396
— 1,021st biggest live poker winnings of all time
– Best Live Cash: $894,240
– Residence: Quincy, Massachusetts
– Unique hits: 157,653
#1. Daniel Colman
– Total lifetime earnings: $28,925,058
— 24th highest live poker winnings of all time
– Best Live Cash: $15,306,668
– Residence: Holden, Massachusetts
– Unique visits: 411,663
This story features data reporting by Karim Noorani, written by Mike Taylor, and is part of a series using data automation in 49 states.
This story originally appeared on Clubs Poker and was produced and
distributed in association with Stacker Studio.
Keynote USA
For the Latest Local News, Follow Keynote USA Local on Twitter.