It’s one thing to engage in an activity because you enjoy it; it’s another to become famous for being successful at it. This is the life of Bobby Baldwin, an oldie in the poker industry whose name lies among the game’s greatest.
Today’s casino news examines the life of the famous American, who has won four World Series of Poker (WSOP) titles and many other victories.
Bobby Baldwin: Master of Cards and King of Chips
When it comes to poker, Bobby Baldwin is generally considered to be among the world’s best. Bobby was born on July 15th, 1950, in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Raised in Oklahoma, he began seriously playing casino games, particularly poker, at a young age.
Even though he already had an idea of how to win online poker, Bobby lost the first game he played when he was twelve. However, that didn’t discourage him. Instead, Bobby was enthralled.
He remained dedicated, and his innate skill soon shined through. Baldwin became recognized by many, including some to be considered the best poker player in the world. Throughout high school, he played casually and was renowned as the player to beat.
Poker Career Journey
Baldwin’s interest in poker blossomed at Oklahoma State University in the late 1960s and early 1970s. In 1970, he and a couple of his gambling friends went to Las Vegas with $5,000 they had won playing poker in college. However, a few hours after they arrived, their entire cash was drained. Bobby Baldwin then realized he needed to improve. Throughout his university days, he began playing more games similar to Pai Gow Poker and even dabbled in NFL sports betting.
Bobby’s first break into the Poker Hall of Fame was in 1977 when he won his first and second WSOP titles. He skillfully won the $10,000 Deuce to Seven draw event and backed it to get another win at the tournament’s $5,000 seven-card stud event. He instantly became the youngest player to win two bracelets, which he accomplished at 28. This record lasted until Stu Ungar broke it in 1980.
Bobby proved himself again as a young giant at the 1978 WSOP event final table, defeating others like Jesse Alto, Buchanan, and Ken Smith to win another bracelet. At the end of the event, he beat Crandall Arrington during the heads-up play. His cash win in that year’s event was a whopping $210,000. At that moment, everyone knew the Bobby Baldwin name was going to be around for a long time. He got his fourth WSOP bracelet in 1979, winning at the same game that got him the first two— the $10,000 deuce to seven draw event.
A few other tournaments he participated in after this include:
Feb 1979
$10,000 No Limit Hold ’em Amarillo Slim’s Superbowl Of Poker, Las Vegas; 12th position and $5,000 Seven Card Stud Amarillo Slim’s Superbowl Of Poker, Las Vegas; 1st position with a $26,400 win.
May 1979
$10,000 No Limit Deuce to Seven Draw 10th World Series of Poker – WSOP 1979, Las Vegas; 1st position with a $90,000 win, and $10,000 No Limit Hold ’em World Championship 10th World Series of Poker – WSOP 1979, Las Vegas; 6th position.
Bobby Baldwin: Double-Barreled Successes Outside Poker Tables
Boddy Baldwin started working as a consultant with the Golden Nugget in 1982 and became president in 1984. In 1987, he was chosen to lead The Mirage, and in 1998, he was named president of the Bellagio Hotel.
Bobby held the role of the Chief Financial Officer of Mirage Resorts from 1999 to 2000 under Steve Wynn. Mirage Resorts and MGM Grand then merged in 2000 to become MGM Mirage. Bobby was promoted to the role of the Chief Executive Officer.
MGM Mirage continued to grow and acquired Mandalay Resort Group in 2005, allowing Bobby Baldwin to hold dual roles. He was the chief executive officer (CEO) of Mirage Resorts and president of the newly announced Project City Center.
Contributions to the Gaming Community
Boddy is undoubtedly a successful poker player. He gathered his acquired knowledge over time and released Baldwin’s Winning Poker Secrets in 1979. Mike Caro revised the book in 2004, which brought it much success and did not lose the chance to be used later in some years as a role model for many online casino poker enthusiasts who wanted to become a good player like him.
In addition, in 1985, he wrote Tales Out of Tulsa, a poker book for beginners who also use the Jacks or Better Guide for poker variants skills’ improvement. He has also penned numerous pieces on poker in a section of Doyle Brunson’s Super/System.
Bobby Baldwin’s Seamless Shuffle
Bobby Baldwin inspires many young players. He exemplifies that being young doesn’t mean you can outshine those already well-known in poker. Occasionally, Bobby still joins other world-class players in high-stakes poker tournaments.
If you are 18 or older, visit Vegas Aces Casino to play free poker online games and home your skills at this magnificent card game. If you’re also a fan of table games or other casino games, make sure to visit our game catalog to find other exciting titles, like our Keno online games.
Get the latest casino updates by joining our exclusive community on social media, and tag someone who needs to see this!
