While this is 2,415 below last year’s total, it is also 739 higher than that of 2005. In its 38-year history the World Series of Poker has shown an amazing ability to grow. In fact, it has only experience a decline in numbers from one year to the next once. In 1991, 215 players entered the main event; in 1992, only 201 did. Such growth has always been a major part of the event’s mystique. Some years, when it appeared that the numbers would decline, the Binion family would buy players into the event directly or develop means for them to do so on their own. This is the origin of satellites. When it appeared that the numbers were going to decline in 1982, Eric Drache, then the tournament director, convinced a table full of players to put up $1,000 apiece and play a one-table satellite that awarded one seat to the winner.

So what are we to make of this year’s decline? I have heard some people, mostly those who are in the business of making money off the poker industry, who are treating it as if it were the end of the world. They feel the public will get a false image of the game’s demise, believing that the poker “fad” is over. But why should you or I care about that? The only other entity that has any interest in this is Harrah’s. Fewer players means fewer bucks put into their coffers—last year Jamie Gold made $12 million while Harrah’s came in second, making more money than the runner-up Paul Wasicka. Are we to feel sorry for this monstrous corporation? Hell no. Should we feel sorry for this year’s winner who will be taking home a mere $8.25 million? Once again, hell no. I’ll probably never know first-hand but I can’t imagine that there is a very big difference between possessing $8 million and $12 million. At that point it’s just a number on a computer screen.

While the mainstream press might try to argue that poker is in the decline, every one here inside the Rio knows differently. All it takes is one quick look inside the Gaming Expo to see that poker is doing just fine, thank you very much, and it’s here to stay. As I mentioned before, there is now an entire poker industry: books, DVDs, energy drinks, tables, dealer buttons, t-shirts, and $10,000 buy-in tournaments every where you look. The average guy on the street knows what a flop is and Phil Ivey is nearly as recognizable as Michael Jordan ever was. Five years ago there were a handful of journalists who covered the World Series of Poker; this week over 600 journalists from every corner of the world will be camped out in the Rio’s media room. 6,358 seems like the perfect number to me. I actually can’t imagine how much more congested and crazy this place would be with 2,000 more players in the tournament. Then again it will be a momentous day when 10,000 players enter the tournament for the first time. I am quite sure it will happen, but if it never does that’s fine by me. The basic structure of this event will never change: countless players will arrive with their dreams and one of them will leave very happy and very wealthy.