Las Vegas Poker Icon Celebrates 100th BirthdayTodd Derlachter Has Been Playing Poker In Las Vegas Since 1949 |
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On Wednesday in Las Vegas, cash game regular Todd Derlachter celebrated his 100th birthday with friends and family in the Bellagio poker room. Derlachter has been playing poker for 75 years, longer than the likes of Doyle Brunson.
Derlachter began playing poker in Las Vegas in the late 1940s. Though he has never played for a living, he has always loved poker as a pastime. Derlachter was once involved with the Las Vegas casino industry by serving as the Executive Vice President of the Dunes Hotel and Casino. That famous casino closed in 1993 after nearly four decades serving the Las Vegas community.
Even after a century of living, Derlachter still plays $5-$10 no-limit hold’em at the Bellagio.
“I’ve been playing poker for 75 years and enjoy the competition,” he told Card Player. “It has been a source of great pleasure because of the people and the friends I’ve made. I guess that would cover it.”
Derlachter doesn’t plan on leaving the game of poker anytime soon. He credits his longevity to “mediocrity, moderation, drinking, gambling and chasing girls.”
Derlachter was born in St. Louis, Missouri. He now resides in North Carolina to be near his daughter. He still makes frequent trips to Las Vegas in which he stays for months at a time.
“You could say I’ve reached the half-way point in my life, and for the rest of it I intend to play poker,” he said of his poker plans for the future.
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