Is The World Series of Poker Staged?

Question

One of my friends claims that the WSOP is fake, and all the contestants are actors. I personally don't believe him, especially after searching the internet for nearly an hour fruitlessly -- and especially after I realized he had no real, substantive proof.

Could anyone shed any light on this, please? Thanks much!

Answer 1

Well, they did not recruit me as an actor when I played. And I do not think any of the other players I met there were actors either.

And if we were actors then instead of me paying to enter, maybe I should have gotten paid for the gig! LOL!

Seriously, it is not staged, the players are real and the intensity is incredibly high. It may seem that way because of the way the TV program is staged for drama and excitement, but then in the show you see only a very small fraction fo the hands that are actually played.

Your friend is putting you on!

Answer 2

There were more than 6000 players in the main event. Why would they hire that many people to "act" out a poker tournament?

Does he also think the World Poker Tour is fake? And the Pokerstars International (on Fox)? And Heads-up Poker on NBC? The same people keep showing up on all of these, so they must be good "actors".

Answer 3

Ridiculous!  I have played in WSP, WTP and many LA tourneys and they are not staged.  End of story.  Now man on the moon is a different question.

Answer 4

Absolutely not.  A friend of mine placed 5th in 2005, and as i had a $100 share in him, i walked away with a mean $3500 for sitting on my a$$ smoking cigarettes.

He was knocked out by the eventual tournament winner Joe Hachem on a very unlucky draw.

Answer 5

Is your friend also one of those who thinks the moon landings were filmed in Hollywood?