Poker Hall of Fame: Origins, Members, and Induction Rules

Poker has no shortage of trophies. There are tournament titles won around the world every week, and the gold bracelets handed out each summer at the World Series of Poker. But one honor stands above all of them, and it cannot be bought in or won in a single tournament. Induction into the Poker Hall of Fame is the closest thing the game has to immortality.

Founded in 1979, the Poker Hall of Fame honors the greatest players in history, alongside the individuals who have helped shape the game into what it is today. Getting in is not about one hot run. It is about a career, a reputation, and standing the test of time. This guide covers the origins of the hall, how induction actually works, the most notable names within it, and the complete list of every member to date.

What Is the Poker Hall of Fame?

The Poker Hall of Fame is a virtual hall of fame, meaning there is no giant building to walk through, that recognizes the very best players and most influential figures in poker. It is widely considered the highest honor in the game.

Each year, at least one new person is inducted. Membership is decided by the World Series of Poker, which releases a list of ten finalists; the living hall of fame members then vote, with public nominations feeding into the process. Since 2023, the hall has had a physical home next to the WSOP Hall of Fame Poker Room at the Horseshoe Casino in Las Vegas, where photos of every inductee are displayed. There is no cash prize or material reward for getting in. The honor is the recognition itself, and in poker, that recognition means a great deal.

As of 2025, there are 65 members, a mix of legendary players and non-players such as tournament directors, broadcasters, and casino pioneers who shaped the game from outside the felt.

The Origins: Benny Binion's Idea

Benny Binion created the Poker Hall of Fame, the owner of the Horseshoe Casino, a man known for finding creative ways to promote his business and the game he loved.

Binion understood poker's appeal long before it became a global phenomenon. In 1949, he convinced Johnny Moss and Nick “The Greek” Dandolos to play a legendary high-stakes heads-up match where the public could watch. In 1970, he invited the era's best players to compete in the first World Series of Poker. Nine years later, in 1979, he founded the Poker Hall of Fame to preserve the names and legacies of poker's greatest players, and, characteristically, to draw visitors to his casino.

It began as a small, closed world. Poker in the 1970s was a niche pursuit, far from the televised, online-fueled game it would later become. But Binion's institution outlasted its humble beginnings, and today, decades after his idea took shape, the hall remains a fixture of the poker world.

The Original 1979 Class

To launch the hall, Binion inducted a group of names he knew intimately, a mix of genuine greats and colorful figures from poker's early days.

The headline name was Johnny Moss, the inaugural WSOP champion and a master of every poker game type, widely regarded as the best player of his era. Alongside him was Nick “The Greek” Dandolos, the high-rolling gambler who had faced Moss in that famous 1949 match. The class also included Red Winn, considered one of the strongest players of the time, though little is documented about him today.

The rest of the original class was more anecdotal than competitive. Felton “Corky” McCorquodale is credited with introducing Texas Hold'em to Las Vegas. Edmond Hoyle, who died in 1769, was honored as an early authority on card games, the source of the phrase “according to Hoyle”. Casino owner Sid Wyman earned a place for his role in the Las Vegas gambling scene. And James Butler “Wild Bill” Hickok, the frontier legend, was included for poker folklore's sake: he was famously shot dead holding two pair, aces and eights, forever known as the “dead man's hand“.

How to Get Into the Poker Hall of Fame

For years, the selection process was loose. WSOP commissioner Jeff Pollack set the modern rules in 2009. That was the year the hall began accepting public nominations, and it laid out clear criteria a player must meet:

• Played against acknowledged top competition
• Played for high stakes
• Played consistently well and earned the respect of peers
• Stood the test of time

For non-players, the standard is different: they must have contributed to the overall growth and success of the game with lasting, positive results. This is how broadcasters, tournament directors, and executives earn their place.

One more rule shapes the hall, and it has a story behind it. In 2009, 23-year-old online star Tom Dwan came close to induction on the strength of public voting. That exposed a flaw: a player could be a phenomenon without having stood any test of time. The WSOP introduced a minimum age of 40, sometimes called the “Chip Reese Rule”. It delayed the inductions of players like Phil Ivey and Daniel Negreanu until they hit the threshold, both of whom got in as soon as they were eligible.

Greatest Names in the Poker Hall of Fame

The hall is full of players whose names every poker fan should know. Here are some of the most significant, past and present.

Johnny Moss, the first inductee, won three WSOP Main Events and set the standard for all-around excellence. Doyle Brunson, inducted in 1988, is one of the most influential players ever; a ten-time bracelet winner across three decades and the author of Super System, long treated as poker's bible. Brunson passed away in 2023, but his impact on the game is permanent.

Stu Ungar, inducted in 2001, was a once-in-a-generation talent who, like Moss, won the Main Event three times before his tragic early death. Johnny Chan (2002) took back-to-back Main Events and owns ten bracelets. Phil Hellmuth, inducted in 2007, holds the record with 17 WSOP bracelets and remains one of poker's most recognizable personalities.

Phil Ivey, inducted in 2017 once he cleared the age rule, is regarded by many as the most naturally gifted player the game has produced, with ten bracelets of his own. Daniel Negreanu (2014), a six-time bracelet winner, has been the game's most visible ambassador for two decades. And Chris Moneymaker (2019) may have the thinnest tournament resume of any inductee, but his 2003 Main Event win triggered the poker boom that changed the game forever, more than earning his place.

Builders and Recent Inductees

The hall also honors those who shaped poker from outside the felt, such as Mike Sexton (2009), the beloved voice of the World Poker Tour, and Barbara Enright (2007), the first woman inducted and the only one to reach a WSOP Main Event final table.

Recent classes reflect the poker boom generation finally aging into eligibility. Patrik Antonius (2024), the Finnish high-stakes legend, and Nick Schulman (2025), a multiple bracelet winner and respected commentator, are among the newest names. So is Michael Mizrachi, inducted in 2025: after winning both the Poker Players Championship and the WSOP Main Event in the same summer, the living members voted him in on the spot.

The List of Poker Hall of Fame Members (1979-2025)

Here is every member of the Poker Hall of Fame, by year of induction.

FAQ About Poker Hall of Fame

Article by

Bence Mitykó

My relationship with cards started thanks to my father. I was still in elementary school when he first taught me how to play Rummy, and I still remember the long evenings spent playing cards with my family. During the poker boom I was still underage, but the televised tournaments immediately captured my attention. I became fascinated with the game and started learning different poker formats whenever I had the chance. Later in life, as an adult, I was fortunate enough to spend four years playing poker professionally. During that time I mainly focused on Heads-Up Sit & Go games, where I found the format that suited me best. Even though my professional career was relatively short, poker remains something I’m grateful to have experienced as a major part of my life. Today I play mostly as a hobby, while writing has become my main focus. That said, my enthusiasm for writing about poker is just as strong as my passion for playing the game once was.