From a Wild West gunslinger to a Moneymaker who sparked a boom, poker’s highest honour has inducted the game’s defining figures since 1979.
The Poker Hall of Fame is the game’s highest honour, founded by casino operator Benny Binion in 1979. It recognises elite players and major contributors to poker. Inductees range from “Wild Bill” Hickok to modern stars like Phil Ivey and Daniel Negreanu. Nick Schulman and Michael Mizrachi were the most recent class, inducted in 2025.
- What Is the Poker Hall of Fame?
- How Players Make the Poker Hall of Fame
- Notable Inductees
- Full List of Inductees by Year
The Poker Hall of Fame is the highest honour in the game. Casino operator Benny Binion established it in 1979, nine years after the first World Series of Poker in 1970. It honours both the world’s best players and the people who grew the game. The inaugural 1979 class inducted seven figures at once, including frontier gambler “Wild Bill” Hickok and seven-time WSOP Main Event-era legend Johnny Moss. Since then, the roll call has stretched from Stu “The Kid” Ungar to modern greats. Nick Schulman and Michael Mizrachi joined most recently, in 2025.
What Is the Poker Hall of Fame?
The Poker Hall of Fame began inside Binion’s Horseshoe casino on Fremont Street in downtown Las Vegas. It has since moved to the Horseshoe Las Vegas on the Strip. Benny Binion created it to recognise elite play and lasting contribution to poker. The institution carries real historical weight, tracing the game from its Old West roots to the televised modern era. Its earliest inductees were frontier and mid-century gamblers. Its newest are tournament professionals and high-stakes cash specialists. According to the Hall’s own framing, membership is permanent and represents the sport’s ultimate recognition. The World Series of Poker now oversees the selection process. Readers tracking the live tournament scene can also see our coverage of APPT Manila 2026.
How Players Make the Poker Hall of Fame
Since 2009, a formal set of criteria governs induction. A player must have competed against acknowledged top competition. They must be at least 40 years old at the time of nomination. They must have played for high stakes. They must have played consistently well and earned peer respect. They must have stood the test of time. Non-players face a different bar: they must have contributed to poker’s growth and left a lasting, positive mark on the game. That dual track explains why the Hall includes tournament directors, broadcasters, and innovators alongside the players. As a result, figures like television-format inventor Henry Orenstein sit beside multiple-bracelet winners. The criteria reward longevity and influence, not a single big score.
Notable Inductees
The Hall reads like a map of poker history. Johnny Moss and “Wild Bill” Hickok anchor the 1979 founding class. Doyle Brunson, a towering figure in the game’s growth, entered in 1988. Stu Ungar, regarded by many as the most gifted Texas Hold’em player ever, was inducted in 2001. The modern era is well represented. Phil Hellmuth joined in 2007, Daniel Negreanu in 2014, and Phil Ivey in 2017. Chris Moneymaker, whose 2003 WSOP win triggered the global poker boom, entered in 2019. The Hall also recognises women who shaped the game, including Barbara Enright, Jen Harman, Linda Johnson, and the late Layne Flack among its players. International inductees span Finland’s Patrik Antonius, Spain’s Carlos Mortensen, and Israel’s Eli Elezra.
Full List of Poker Hall of Fame Inductees by Year
The complete roll of inductees runs from the seven-strong 1979 founding class to the 2025 entrants. The list below covers every player and contributor honoured to date, with their country and year of induction.
| Year | Inductee(s) |
|---|---|
| 2025 | Nick Schulman; Michael Mizrachi (US) |
| 2024 | Patrik Antonius (Finland) |
| 2023 | Brian Rast (US) |
| 2022 | Layne Flack (US) |
| 2021 | Eli Elezra (Israel) |
| 2020 | Huck Seed (US) |
| 2019 | David Oppenheim; Chris Moneymaker (US) |
| 2018 | John Hennigan; Mori Eskandani (US) |
| 2017 | David Ulliott (UK); Phil Ivey (US) |
| 2016 | Carlos Mortensen (Spain); Todd Brunson (US) |
| 2015 | John Juanda; Jen Harman (US) |
| 2014 | Daniel Negreanu (Canada); Jack McClelland (US) |
| 2013 | Tom McEvoy; Scotty Nguyen (US) |
| 2012 | Brian “Sailor” Roberts; Eric Drache (US) |
| 2011 | Linda Johnson; Barry Greenstein (US) |
| 2010 | Erik Seidel; Dan Harrington (US) |
| 2009 | Mike Sexton (US) |
| 2008 | Henry Orenstein (Poland); Duane “Dewey” Tomko (US) |
| 2007 | Barbara Enright; Phil Hellmuth (US) |
| 2006 | TJ Cloutier; Billy Baxter (US) |
| 2005 | Jack Binion; Crandall Addington (US) |
| 2004 | Berry Johnston (US) |
| 2003 | Bobby Baldwin (US) |
| 2002 | Johnny Chan; Lyle Berman (US) |
| 2001 | Stu “The Kid” Ungar (US) |
| 1997 | Roger Moore (US) |
| 1996 | Julius Oral “Little Man” Popwell (US) |
| 1993 | Jack Keller (US) |
| 1992 | Thomas Austin “Amarillo Slim” Preston (US) |
| 1991 | David “Chip” Reese (US) |
| 1990 | Benny Binion (US) |
| 1989 | Fred “Sarge” Ferris (US) |
| 1988 | Jack “Treetop” Straus; Doyle Brunson (US) |
| 1987 | Walter Clyde “Puggy” Pearson (US) |
| 1986 | Henry Green (US) |
| 1985 | Red Hodges (US) |
| 1984 | Murph Harrold (US) |
| 1983 | Joe Bernstein (US) |
| 1982 | Tom Abdo (US) |
| 1981 | Bill Boyd (US) |
| 1980 | T “Blondie” Forbes (US) |
| 1979 | Founding class: Nick “The Greek” Dandolos; Red Winn; Sid Wyman; Felton “Corky” McCorquodale; “Wild Bill” Hickok; Edmond Hoyle; Johnny Moss (US) |
Frequently Asked Questions
Who founded the Poker Hall of Fame?
Casino operator Benny Binion founded the Poker Hall of Fame in 1979, nine years after the first World Series of Poker. It began inside Binion’s Horseshoe casino in downtown Las Vegas and now sits at the Horseshoe Las Vegas on the Strip. Binion himself was inducted in 1990.
Who was inducted into the Poker Hall of Fame in 2025?
Nick Schulman and Michael Mizrachi, both from the United States, were inducted into the Poker Hall of Fame in 2025. They were the most recent class. The previous year, 2024, saw Finland’s Patrik Antonius become only the second non-American player honoured in the modern era.
What are the criteria for the Poker Hall of Fame?
Since 2009, a player must have competed against top opposition, be at least 40 at nomination, played for high stakes, performed consistently well, earned peer respect, and stood the test of time. Non-players qualify by making a lasting, positive contribution to poker’s growth and success.
Who were the first Poker Hall of Fame inductees?
The 1979 founding class inducted seven figures at once: Johnny Moss, “Wild Bill” Hickok, Nick “The Greek” Dandolos, Red Winn, Sid Wyman, Felton “Corky” McCorquodale, and Edmond Hoyle. They spanned frontier gamblers, mid-century professionals, and Hoyle, the long-dead author of foundational card-game rules.
Which women are in the Poker Hall of Fame?
Three women have been inducted into the Poker Hall of Fame: Barbara Enright in 2007, Linda Johnson in 2011, and Jen Harman in 2015. Enright was the first woman honoured, recognised for her tournament success and influence on the game across several decades.
Are any international players in the Poker Hall of Fame?
Yes. While most inductees are American, the Hall includes Canada’s Daniel Negreanu, Finland’s Patrik Antonius, Spain’s Carlos Mortensen, the UK’s David Ulliott, Israel’s Eli Elezra, and Poland-born Henry Orenstein. Their inclusion reflects poker’s globalisation beyond its American origins.
This article has been thoroughly researched and reviewed by the CasinoBait editorial team to ensure accuracy and relevance for Asian casino players.
