Poker News

Byron Liggett

Editor’s Note: Here are just about the last words that Byron Liggett wrote on July 4, 2007. Ironically, it is about his personal journey in the world of poker. We thought you might like to read it.

After completing my Master’s in U.S. History, I discovered I was not a teacher. I eventually got a job as the PR person for the county planning department in Vancouver, WA.

In 1973, Washington State legalized poker. Curious, I convinced myself that as PR Director for the Regional Planning Council, I should check-out the new cardroom business that appeared in a few bars at the lower end of Main St, near the Columbia River.

There were four “poker rooms,” each in one of the down-’n-out bars. They consisted of three large, round, plywood table tops nailed to a base and covered with green canvas.

There was one deck of well-worn cards and the deal passed from player to player. The game was 6- Stud, two cards down, four up. The maximum bet was $5.

I stood at the rail and watched. As serious old men mumbled and blew smoke into the overhanging bare light bulb, I suddenly had an epiphany! It was absolutely clear to me; I was confident, this was my future! Never had I been so certain of anything. From that moment, poker has been my passion-both as a player and a writer.

I soon resigned my job with the Planning Departmentand organized the Recreational Gaming Association (RGA) of Washington, representing poker room owners and operators throughout the state. Although inherently weak at the time, it has gone on to become a very powerful, effective, well respected professional organization today.

A few years later, my family and I moved to Reno, Nevada, where I took the job as gaming editor for Showtime Magazine.

Over time, I became a columnist or editor for just about every gaming trade and player publication in the country (late 80s and 90s). In addition, I wrote a gaming column for a dozen daily newspapers coast-tocoast.

As the gaming industry grew and expanded beyond Nevada, I was no longer able to cover it all. Eventually, my focus, time and editorial activities became largely directed to my interest, poker.

When Card Player magazine was created I was one of the original columnists, a position I maintained until I resigned a few years ago. I also began providing what at that time was a rudimentary press and PR service to many of the major poker tournaments in Las Vegas and southern California. It was during these years, before the world discovered poker, that I became good friends with most of the major pro players, many of whom are now poker stars and celebrities.

Three years ago, I became Associate Editor and columnist with Poker Player. I’ve contributed significantly to helping make it the most thoroughly distributed poker publication in the U.S., almost 400 poker rooms nationwide.

I also operate a professional poker tournament press and PR business.

Among my clients are the Cherokee Casinos in Oklahoma, and the Peppermill Casino in Reno. Last year, I joined the Heartland Poker Tour (HPT) as press manager. I conduct press services for the HPT, the third largest televised poker show on TV.

Today, my writing, editorial and press work requires that I travel a lot, visiting casinos, poker rooms, attending tournaments, talking with poker personnel and players. My work is often exhausting, occasionally frustrating, but always interesting.

Ever since that day in 1973, as I stood at the rail in that seedy little sawdust joint watching the newly legalized poker game, it has been clear to me-this is the right school of fish I’m supposed to be with. And, I’m still swimmin’ with ‘em.

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