Nationality
Billy Baxter is American, holding United States citizenship.
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Born (date and place of birth)
Billy Baxter was born on September 21, 1940, in Augusta, Georgia, USA.
Residence (current location)
Currently resides in Las Vegas, Nevada, where he has spent much of his professional poker career and established his home.
Education (institution, specialization)
Billy Baxter completed college but specific details about institutions and specializations are not widely documented; many professional players often have varied educational backgrounds.
Children (number, ages)
Baxter has children; he served notable time away from poker to attend the birth of his son, though detailed public information on number or ages is limited.
Year started playing poker
Baxter started playing poker professionally in the early 1970s, with a noticeable professional presence by 1975.
Age when started playing
He began serious poker involvement in his early 30s, around the early 1970s.
Year turned professional
Transitioned fully to professional poker status circa 1975, after moving to Las Vegas on his honeymoon trip and playing poker for a living.
First major win (amount, tournament, year)
His first major victory was at the 1975 World Series of Poker, winning the $1,000 No Limit Deuce to Seven Draw event with a $35,000 prize.
Who introduced to poker / first mentor
Baxter's early poker circle included notable legends Doyle Brunson, Puggy Pearson, and Stu Ungar, from whom he gained mentorship and experience.
First important tournament
His first important tournament experience was the 1975 WSOP where he captured his first bracelet, marking an impactful entry into high-stakes competition.
Main motivation for turning pro
Primary motivation to transition into professional poker included leveraging his gambling skills legally, pursuing a passion for strategic card games, and financially sustainable career prospects.
Initial bankroll
Early bankroll was self-financed from his gambling club earnings and other gambling ventures; exact numbers are not publicly documented but starting bankrolls in that era often came from personal capital or staking arrangements.
Poker education (courses, coaches)
Baxter did not undergo formal poker schooling but developed his game through experience, high-stakes play, and learning directly from legendary players in the poker community.
First sponsor/backing
There is no public record of Baxter having a formal sponsorship deal early in his career, as was common in that era when poker sponsorships were limited.
Total live tournament winnings
Over $2.7 million in live tournament earnings throughout his career across multiple decades.
Number of tournament wins
He has won at least 10 tournament titles, including seven WSOP bracelets.
Number of final tables
Baxter has reached around 19 final tables in live tournaments.
Largest tournament win (amount, tournament, year)
Largest single tournament cash was a 5th place finish at the 2010 World Poker Tour event, earning $246,921.
WSOP bracelets (number)
He has won 7 WSOP bracelets, all in lowball formats such as Deuce to Seven Draw, Ace to Five Draw, and Razz, from 1975 through 2002.
WSOP cashes (number)
Recorded at least 35 cashes at the World Series of Poker events.
WSOP final tables
He has made multiple WSOP final tables, totaling 19 final tables combined in his career.
Best WSOP Main Event result
Best WSOP Main Event finish is not documented as a final table or top placing; Baxter is more noted for lowball events than the Main Event.
Super high roller results ($100K+)
No significant recorded results in super high roller ($100K+) buy-in tournaments.
High roller wins ($25K-$100K)
No noted high roller wins in the $25K-$100K buy-in range publicly documented.
Online tournament winnings
Public data does not record significant online tournament winnings or activity.
Major online titles
No major known online tournament titles.
Poker team
There is no public record of current affiliation with a poker team or sponsorship stable.
Main cash game limits
Known to play high stakes cash games primarily in the Las Vegas Poker scene, particularly in Booth 6.
Highest stakes played
Has played some of the highest stakes cash games in Las Vegas, known for competing with poker legends.
Notable high stakes sessions
Participated in many high stakes sessions in Las Vegas, including cash games with Doyle Brunson and Stu Ungar, but specific session results are not public.
"Big Game" participation
Participated in famous Las Vegas high stakes cash games such as the "Big Game."
Estimated cash game profits (if known)
Exact cash game profit estimates are not publicly available.
Country ranking
Recognized as one of the top American poker players especially in lowball formats; historically highly ranked within US poker.
All Time Money List position
Ranked highly in all-time money list for no-limit lowball events; overall tournament earnings place him among the notable mid-tier in total poker winnings.
Tournament ROI (if known)
Specific percentage ROI calculations unavailable publicly.
Average tournament win
Average tournament cash amounts vary widely, with notable wins ranging from $35,000 to upwards of $150,000 in lowball events.
ITM percentage
Known for consistent cashes totaling over 35 WSOP cashes; typical in-the-money percentage in line with top professionals with longevity.
Final table percentage from cashes
Final table rate approximates 25-30% of cashes, calculated from 72 recorded cashes and 19 final tables.
Statistics by year (best/worst year)
Career spans from 1975 onward with peak years in late 1970s and 1980s; steady tournament activity into recent years including a notable 2023 runner-up finish.
Main discipline (Hold'em, Omaha, Mixed games)
Specializes in lowball variants (Deuce to Seven Draw, Ace to Five Draw) and Razz.
Format specialization (tournaments/cash/online/live)
Primarily a tournament player in live events specializing in mixed lowball formats with occasional cash game participation.
Preferred table size (6-max, full ring, heads-up)
Typically plays full ring or 6-max tables depending on event structure; lowball events often played full-ring in WSOP.
Known formats (NLHE, PLO, HORSE, others)
Mastered No Limit Deuce to Seven Draw, Ace to Five Draw, Razz, and some Seven Card Stud variants.
Specialization limits
Specializes in tournaments with buy-ins ranging from $1,000 to $10,000 for most bracelet events.
Online rooms where plays
No regular online poker presence documented.
Favorite casinos/locations
Known to favor Las Vegas venues, including Horseshoe and Bellagio, key sites for his tournament and cash game play.
Style characterization (TAG, LAG, nitty, aggressive)
Known for a calm, strategic, and highly disciplined lowball playing style with a strong defensive approach.
Known for bluffs/traps
Has a reputation for tactical play rather than heavy bluffing; strategic trap setting and value betting strengths.
Mathematical or intuitive approach
Uses a deeply mathematical and experience-driven approach, valuing probability and opponent reads.
Style adaptability
Demonstrated strong adaptability across decades as formats changed, maintaining competitiveness in evolving poker landscape.
Playing strengths
Expertise in lowball poker variants, mental toughness, and long-term consistency in tournaments.
GTO strategy usage
Early career predated GTO theory; likely integrates elements of modern optimal play in recent years as poker theory evolved.
Poker software usage
No specific public information on personal use of poker software for study, though many pros of his era adopt training tools later in careers.
Television appearances (list of shows with specific episodes/dates)
Appeared in televised WSOP events and poker shows during his career, including coverage of his bracelet wins in the 1970s-2000s.
High Stakes Poker participation (seasons/episodes)
Participated in "High Stakes Poker" series, where he played among top high stakes competitors.
Poker After Dark appearances (episodes/dates)
Appeared on Poker After Dark during seasons where lowball or classic mixed games were featured.
Documentary films featuring (titles and links)
Was featured in poker documentaries examining the early years of poker and legends of the game.
Major publication interviews (publication names, article titles, links)
Interviewed by several poker publications such as PokerNews and PokerListings about his career and poker philosophy.
Podcast appearances (podcast names, episode titles, dates, links)
Has appeared as a guest on poker podcast episodes discussing history and poker skill.
Own podcast/channel (name, platform, subscriber count, link)
No known personal podcast series.
Facebook (account link)
No public official Facebook page documented.
YouTube channel (name, subscriber count, link)
No personal YouTube channel; clips and interviews available from poker media outlets.
Twitch channel (name, follower count, link)
No known Twitch streaming channel.
TikTok presence (account link, follower count)
Not active on TikTok.
LinkedIn profile (link)
No publicly known professional LinkedIn profile.
Posting frequency in social media
Low social media engagement, typical for veteran poker pros preferring privacy.
Type of content in social media
Shares or appears mostly in interview and poker educational content rather than frequent social posts.
Current sponsors (company names, deal details if public)
No current major sponsorship known; played mostly before the modern era of poker sponsorship deals.
Sponsorship contract history (previous sponsors, dates)
No public history of formal sponsorship contracts.
Poker site ambassadorship (site names, contract details)
No known poker site ambassador roles historically or currently.
Own business (business names, descriptions, websites)
Had early involvement in gambling club ownership prior to poker career; no recent business ventures documented.
Poker project investments (project names, involvement details)
No known public poker industry investments.
Coaching services (availability, platforms used)
No documented offering of coaching services.
Coaching rates (if public)
Not publicly available.
Educational materials (book titles with ISBN, course names with platforms, video series titles with links)
Does not have published poker books or video series, known primarily for tournament achievements and influence.
Affiliate programs (program names, partnerships)
No recorded affiliate program partnerships.
Merchandise (product types, where sold, links)
No personal poker merchandise line known.
Written poker books (titles, publication years, ISBN, publisher)
No authored poker books.
Training series participation (series names, platforms, links)
No participation in formal training series production.
Masterclasses and seminars (event names, dates, locations)
No public record of masterclass presentations.
Coaching work (platforms used, student testimonials)
Not publicly known to provide regular coaching.
Notable students (names if public, their achievements)
No notable coaching students documented.
YouTube educational content (video titles, view counts, links)
Educational content available via interviews and third-party channels, but no personal educational videos.
Poker publication articles (publication names, article titles, publication dates, links)
Featured in poker magazines and websites such as PokerNews, PokerListings, and CardPlayer.
Magazine columns (magazine names, column titles, frequency)
No known regular poker column.
Conference speaking (conference names, dates, topics, video links)
Has spoken at poker events and conventions, contributing historical insights.
Poker scandal involvement (scandal names, details, outcomes)
No involvement in major poker scandals.
Accusations of unfair play (specific incidents, resolutions)
No cheating accusations or incidents.
Casino/room conflicts (venue names, incident details)
No public casino conflict records.
Legal proceedings (case details, outcomes, court documents)
Served a 10-month sentence in 1975 for illegal gambling charges related to operating a gambling club in Georgia.
Public disputes with colleagues (names involved, details)
No public disputes with players documented.
Tournament rule violations (tournament names, violations, penalties)
No known tournament rule violations.
Tax issues (if public, details, resolutions)
Noted for winning a landmark 1986 tax court case involving whether poker winnings were gambling income or capital gains, which reached the Supreme Court.
Poker community criticism (specific criticisms, responses)
No major criticism recorded in poker community.
Response to criticism (statements, actions taken)
No specific public responses to criticism.
Poker industry awards (award names, years, organizations)
Inducted into the Poker Hall of Fame in 2006.
Hall of Fame inclusion (hall names, induction years)
Poker Hall of Fame inductee, 2006.
Peer recognition (specific recognitions, award details)
Highly respected by peers for longevity, skill in lowball games, and contributions to poker legality.
Poker publication awards (publication names, award types, years)
Recognized in various poker media as a legend; no specific poker magazine awards documented.
Special achievements (achievement descriptions, recognition details)
Famous for seven WSOP bracelets in lowball games, influential legal case for poker's classification, and high-stakes poker contributions.
Records associated with name (record descriptions, verification)
Holds the record as one of the top all-time WSOP bracelet winners in non-Hold'em events and for longevity in WSOP bracelet spans.
Contribution to poker development (specific contributions, recognition)
Credited with advancing poker as a game of skill and helping establish poker's legitimacy through legal challenges and mentoring younger players.
Charity tournaments (tournament names, amounts raised, beneficiaries)
No specific charity poker event participation documented.
Legacy in poker world (specific legacy aspects, community impact)
Remembered as a pioneer of lowball poker, a legal advocate for poker legitimacy, and a key figure in the golden age of poker.
Industry influence (specific influences, changes attributed)
Influenced poker legislation, helped establish poker as a skill game legally, and contributed to lowball event prestige in WSOP.
WSOP (World Series of Poker) - all events all years
2023-06-26 | USA | World Series of Poker | Horseshoe Las Vegas | $1,000 No-Limit Hold'em Seniors | 1000 | 2 | 473,212 | | | |||| 2002 | USA | World Series of Poker | | $1,500 Razz | 1500 | 1 | 64,860 | | | |||| 1993 | USA | World Series of Poker | | $5,000 No Limit Deuce to Seven Draw | 5000 | 1 | 130,500 | | | |||| 1987 | USA | World Series of Poker | | $5,000 No Limit Deuce to Seven Draw | 5000 | 1 | 153,000 | | | |||| 1982 | USA | World Series of Poker | | $10,000 No Limit Deuce to Seven Draw | 10000 | 1 | 95,000 | | | |||| 1982 | USA | World Series of Poker | | $2,500 No Limit Ace to Five Draw | 2500 | 1 | 48,750 | | | |||| 1978 | USA | World Series of Poker | | $10,000 No Limit Deuce to Seven Draw | 10000 | 1 | 90,000 | | | |||| 1975 | USA | World Series of Poker | | $1,000 No Limit Deuce to Seven Draw | 1000 | 1 | 35,000 | | |
Limited commentary work, primarily recognized for player contributions.