Poker Hall of Fame Voting Now Open

For the first time ever in the history of the Poker Hall of Fame, the public is getting to help pick the next nominees for induction. The Commissioner of the World Series of Poker Organization (the same organization responsible for the series of the same name, the 40th annual incarnation of which is running as we speak) has announced that at this year’s induction ceremony 2 or 3 people will be honored. And from now until July 2, anyone who wants to can vote for who they think should be on the short list of nominees. The top 10 of those nominees will have their names read live at Harrah’s Rio Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas sometime during the 2009 WSOP Main Event.

Members of the Poker Hall of Fame don’t have to be poker players, necessarily. They can simply have contributed in a “lasting and indelible” way to the game of poker. Like Henry Orenstein, one of last year’s inductees. If you’ve ever watched poker on TV then you’ve seen the Hole Card Cam that shows us what each player is holding. Well, he holds the patent to it.

If the person being nominated is a poker player, he or she must have played opposite renowned competitors, played in high stakes games, performed well consistently, earned their peers’ respect.

If the person being nominated is not a poker player then his or her name must at least have passed the “test of time”.

To place your vote go to: worldseriesofpoker.com/pokerhalloffame/halloffamevoting