The Moneymaker Effect — How 2003 Changed Poker Forever
On May 21, 2003, an accountant from Nashville, Tennessee sat down at Binion's Horseshoe casino in Las Vegas and changed the world. Chris Moneymaker had won his seat in the World Series of Poker Main Event through a $86 online satellite on PokerStars. He had never played a live tournament before. He beat 838 players and walked away with $2,500,000.
Before the Boom
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The 2003 WSOP Final Table
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The ESPN Effect
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The Numbers Don't Lie
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The Legacy
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Frequently Asked Questions
How did Chris Moneymaker qualify for the 2003 WSOP Main Event?
Moneymaker won his seat through a $86 satellite tournament on PokerStars, turning it into a $2.5 million prize after winning the Main Event.
How many players entered the 2003 WSOP Main Event?
839 players entered the 2003 WSOP Main Event, more than double the previous year's field. The following year, entries jumped to 2,576.
What is the Moneymaker Effect?
The Moneymaker Effect describes the explosion in poker's popularity following Chris Moneymaker's 2003 WSOP win — driven by his everyman story, ESPN's televised coverage, and the rise of online poker.
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