WSOP Tournament Director, Robert Daily

In 1981, 75 players gathered at Binion's Horseshoe in downtown Las Vegas to pony up the $10,000 entry fee for a seat in the World Series of Poker (WSOP) championship event. That year saw the legendary Stu "The Kid" Ungar win his second of three WSOP championship event bracelets, and just under $400,000 for his efforts. As impressive as that number is - especially if you account for inflation - it's peanuts relative to what players are earning these days.

The growth of the WSOP in the past quarter-decade is nothing short of phenomenal. 5,619 players entered the WSOP in 2005, comprising the largest field of any poker tournament to date. The entry fee has remained unchanged but the payout was by far the largest in any game or sporting event in history, with Joe Hachem taking home $7.5 million for first place. Even Mike Matusow won $1 million for a ninth place finish, a position that would have earned him a mere $15,000 in 1981.

What's to account for such incredible growth? Will the World Series of Poker's main event draw another record number of entrants in 2006, or did last year show us the full potential? These and other questions regarding the most highly sought-after prize in poker are on the tips of tongues all around the poker arena.

I sought answers from the man behind the scenes, Mr. Robert Daily. Daily is the manager of the Rio's poker room, regional director of marketing for Harrah's Entertainment, and Tournament Director for the WSOP. Even with the big show just months away, Daily was kind enough to grant an interview to discuss his thoughts on the past, present, and future of both the World Series of Poker and on the game, itself.

Justin West: So, Mr. Daily, how did you get started in casino operations?

Robert Daily: Well, I've been in the casino business since 1970. Most of that was in poker, overseas in Southeast Asia, Europe, and the Middle East. I've been here at the Rio for a little over 10 years, 8 of those years in the table games department. When Harrah's sent out an all hands listing for people with poker experience, I came forward with a little over 20 yrs. in poker experience and was given the job of manager of tournament poker.

Justin West: Aside from the operations side of things, have you played the game much?

Robert Daily: I did! I won a couple of events, made 4 other final tables. I'm a very avid poker person. To give you an example, last year during the World Series every time I'd walk into the big room I got chill bumps from hearing all that chip chatter. Not only do I work on the operations side, I'm a huge, huge, avid poker person.

Justin West: Any bad beat stories?

Robert Daily: I've got tons. (chuckling) But I'd rather not waste this particular space on 'em! Everybody's got bad beat stories and we always look for people that wanna listen to 'em. Maybe when I see you during the World Series I can share some with you.

Justin West: We'll see... depends on my mood.

Robert Daily: (chuckling) Thank you for that!

Justin West: So given your extensive experience with poker, what's changed in the years since you entered the game?

Robert Daily: You see younger and younger age groups playing poker now, and they're accomplished players because they get their education online. It's really just amazing to see all these 21, 22, 25 year-olds coming into big games and playing heads up with all these pros, and they're really accomplished players! I think that's the biggest change - to see the younger set coming in. And of course that's great because that kind of guarantees the longevity of the popularity of poker, and I'm very pleased with that.

Justin West: What changes would you like to see in the sport?

Robert Daily: I think poker is great just like it is. I would like to see more professional tours. On the amateur side I'd like to see poker rooms become larger and larger, catering to the poker player in many ways, make them part of their comp system and things of that nature. Value them as a player. Not just as a poker player, but as a valued casino player.

Justin West: It's been said that poker is somewhat of a loss leader for casinos. Is that true?

Robert Daily: I think at one time it was true. Now, casino management is noticing the impact of poker operations in other areas such as food and beverage, hotels, and table games. There's a theory in casino management that action creates action. Poker players do create action in casinos, and I think that's something that casino managers are just now learning and placing importance on.

That's why you see all these big poker rooms re-emerging throughout the world, particularly here in Las Vegas. Harrah's is kind of leading the way in that. They have poker rooms in all their properties, they're giving proper budgetary considerations for them, and they're really taking care of their poker players in many respects. I'd like to see other casino management groups follow Harrah's lead in that regard.

Justin West: So on the subject of the World Series of Poker... It's taking place entirely at the Rio on the Las Vegas strip this year, correct?

Robert Daily: Absolutely right, all the way down to the final heads up match.

Justin West: If I remember correctly, the final two days of the main event were played at the Horseshoe last year.

Robert Daily: Exactly. The final 27 players went to the Horseshoe and that was in response to our mayor's request to move it downtown in coordination with Las Vegas' centennial celebration. Of course, we're part of the community here and that's why we agreed to that. But this year, 2006, will all be at the Rio.

Justin West: Last year drew a record number of players. How many entrants into the main event do you expect to see this year?

Robert Daily: We're planning for a little over 9000 players. Realistically, our over-and-under is about 7500, which is a couple of thousand more than last year. We have reason to believe that's a fairly accurate estimate.

Justin West: Would you consider taking any steps to restrict the field if it continues to grow like this?

Robert Daily: There may be a point in time where that may be necessary, but our current attitude is: "How can you have a world champion if you limit the field?" So we're going to take all steps necessary to accommodate all comers.

Justin West: How do you even begin to plan a tournament that's got 7500 players in it?

Robert Daily: Well, it's a chore! One of the things we've done is [to implement] 4 first days and 2 second days of play, that way we can eliminate the field down to fit in with our 208 tables..

Justin West: With so many days of play, is player fatigue a bigger factor now than it was before?

Robert Daily: We're giving one day off in the middle of all of this, so players will have an opportunity to have plenty of rest. We think we have it organized so no players will have to play to 2 or 3 o'clock in the morning and be back at noon the next day.

Justin West: There's a question that bears asking when it comes to such a huge field of players. In your opinion, has the largeness of the field negated to a degree the skill factor of the game and placed greater importance on luck?

Robert Daily: As a poker player - and the one's that I've spoke to, they've always feel as do I - that the cream will rise. And while you might think that with this number of people it might be a lottery, I think it's a combination of skill and luck that gets you to the final table.

That's the way it was last year. Skill and luck kind of brought the final tables together and we had a great combination of amateur and professional players. We think it will be the same scenario for 2006. Of course that's only a guess, it's only our opinion, but it's shared by more than just myself.

7500 players? Given the incredibly exponential and seemingly limitless nature of poker's growth in recent years, I can believe it. Check back next week for part two of this interview and the answers to the really burning questions, such as: Was that really $7.5 million dollars on the table last year?

Part I | Part II

More Interviews

Justin West played poker since the age of 17, he spent more than a year earning a living on the green felt; a modest living, to be sure, but a living nonetheless. His aim was at one point to win the WSOP main event, thus causing Hell to freeze over. However, given his penchant for sin and his extreme dislike of cold weather, Justin has put that dream to rest.

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