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Tournament Poker Buy-Ins Add Up

Life Is Expensive for the Traveling Tournament Pro

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It costs money to play poker, and if you're considering life on the poker tournament circuit, you better have a bundle set aside for buy-ins.

It cost $355,550 to play in every World Poker Tour (WPT), World Series of Poker Circuit, and World Series event in 2005. Roll in travel costs and it is conceivable that playing big-buy-in poker costs a half million a year.

While the price is high, the spoils are ridiculous. These events generated a total prize pool of over $187 million.

Players who competed in all the WPT television events in 2005 invested $139,350 in buy-ins that ranged from $5,100 to $25,500 for the season's championship event. The buy-ins generated over $67 million in prize money.

Players who traveled around the country for all the World Series of Poker Circuit events had to put up $100,200 for the 10 events. A total of $18,672,705 was won at the tournaments.

To play in all the events at the World Series this past summer, players needed to wire Harrah's $116,000. Players won over $101 million at what was the richest sporting event in history. More than half (over $52 million) came from the massive field the main event attracted.

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