Nationality
Lyle Berman is American and a citizen of the United States.
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Born (date and place of birth)
Lyle Arnold Berman was born on August 6, 1941, in Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA.
Residence (current location)
Lyle Berman currently resides in Plymouth, Minnesota, United States, his living arrangements are private but he is known to live there with his family.
Education (institution, specialization)
Lyle Berman graduated from the University of Minnesota in 1964 with a degree in business administration, which laid the foundation for his business and poker careers.
Children (number, ages)
Lyle Berman has four children and eleven grandchildren, though detailed ages are not publicly disclosed.
Year started playing poker
Lyle Berman began playing poker seriously around 1983 when he first recorded a live tournament cash.
Age when started playing
Lyle Berman started serious poker involvement around age 42, after reading Doyle Brunson’s book Super/System and re-engaging with poker in the early 1980s.
Year turned professional
Lyle Berman transitioned to professional poker status around 1983-1984 when he began competing at a high level regularly.
First major win (amount, tournament, year)
Lyle Berman’s first major tournament victory was in 1989 when he won a $1,500 Limit Omaha event at the World Series of Poker, earning $108,600.
Who introduced to poker / first mentor
Lyle Berman credits Doyle Brunson’s book Super/System as a key influence in his poker education but did not cite a specific individual mentor; he also helped bankroll and support other prominent players like T.J. Cloutier.
First important tournament
His first important tournament participation where he cashed and gained recognition was the 1983-1984 WSOP circuit with his first cash recorded in 1983.
Main motivation for turning pro
Lyle Berman’s primary motivation for transitioning to professional poker was a passion for the game sparked by early interest and reinforced by a business mindset valuing strategic decision-making and challenge.
Initial bankroll
Early financial backing and bankroll were potentially self-supported given his business success; he also provided backing to other players, lending $15,000 bankrolls at Bicycle Casino in the 1980s to friends and players.
Poker education (courses, coaches)
Lyle Berman’s poker education was largely self-driven through studying Doyle Brunson’s Super/System, playing extensively in high stakes cash games, and learning through practical tournament and cash game experience.
First sponsor/backing
There is no public verified information about a formal first sponsorship deal; his career predated the modern sponsorship era and he was more known as a player and businessman backing other players.
Total live tournament winnings
Lyle Berman’s total live tournament winnings exceed $2,600,000 as of around 2017, with substantial portions from WSOP events.
Number of tournament wins
He has won a total of 5 recorded tournament titles including three WSOP bracelets.
Number of final tables
Lyle Berman has made at least 14 final table appearances at the WSOP and at least one WPT final table.
Largest tournament win (amount, tournament, year)
His largest single tournament cash was $444,000 for 5th place in the $50,000 H.O.R.S.E. event at the 2008 WSOP.
WSOP bracelets (number)
Lyle Berman has won 3 WSOP bracelets: 1989 ($1,500 Limit Omaha), 1992 ($2,500 No-Limit Hold'em), and 1994 ($5,000 No Limit Deuce to Seven Draw).
WSOP cashes (number)
He has approximately 22 cashes at the WSOP totaling over $1.6 million.
WSOP final tables
He has reached about 14 final tables at the WSOP events.
Best WSOP Main Event result
His best finish in the WSOP Main Event was 5th place in 1989.
Super high roller results ($100K+)
There are no public verified records of Lyle Berman participating in $100K+ buy-in super high roller tournaments.
High roller wins ($25K-$100K)
He does not have documented high roller wins in the $25K-$100K buy-in range publicly available.
Online tournament winnings
There is no verified public data on Lyle Berman’s online poker winnings; he is primarily known for live tournament and cash game play.
Major online titles
No known major online tournament titles or significant virtual victories are publicly attributed to him.
Poker team
There is no information indicating Lyle Berman is part of a current poker team, stable, or sponsorship group.
Main cash game limits
Lyle Berman primarily played high-stakes cash games, often preferring stakes that are very high though exact limits are not publicly detailed.
Highest stakes played
He played in some of the highest stakes cash games available during his peak years, including high-stakes no-limit hold’em and mixed games, often being recognized as one of the best no-limit cash players of his era.
Notable high stakes sessions
Specific notable cash game sessions are not widely documented, but Berman is known for consistently competing in elite high stakes cash environments.
"Big Game" participation
He participated in famous “Big Game” style high stakes cash games, considered a top player in those circles historically.
Estimated cash game profits (if known)
Estimated cash game profits are not publicly available but Berman is widely regarded as very successful in cash games by industry consensus.
Country ranking
As an American player with Poker Hall of Fame status and multiple WSOP bracelets, he is considered among the top historically ranked players in the US poker scene.
All Time Money List position
Lyle Berman’s position on the All Time Money List is not prominently listed but his live earnings over $2.6 million place him in a respected tier of all-time tournament earners.
Tournament ROI (if known)
Specific ROI data is not publicly available, but sustained success over three decades suggests a positive return on investment in tournaments.
Average tournament win
Average tournament cash amounts vary, but with 22+ WSOP cashes totaling $1.6 million, an approximate average exceeds $70,000 per cash.
ITM percentage
His in-the-money percentage is typical for seasoned professionals with over 30 years in the field, reflecting consistent deep runs but exact percentage is not publicly calculated.
Final table percentage from cashes
With 14 final tables from 22+ cashes, his final table percentage from cashes is around 63%, which is notably high.
Statistics by year (best/worst year)
Detailed year-by-year tournament stats are not comprehensively published but he had peak years in late 1980s through early 2000s with significant results continuing to at least 2017.
Main discipline (Hold'em, Omaha, Mixed games)
Lyle Berman specializes primarily in No-Limit Hold’em and mixed games, including Limit Omaha and Deuce to Seven Draw.
Format specialization (tournaments/cash/online/live)
He has played mostly live tournaments and high stakes cash games, with strong preference for live tournament play interleaved with cash game competition.
Preferred table size (6-max, full ring, heads-up)
He prefers full ring and mixed format tables rather than 6-max or heads-up as primary tournament and cash format.
Known formats (NLHE, PLO, HORSE, others)
Known for No-Limit Hold’em, Limit Omaha, and No-Limit Deuce-to-Seven Draw among other mixed variants at high-level tournaments.
Specialization limits
Specialized in high-stakes cash games and tournaments generally in the higher buy-in ranges typical of WSOP and major American poker events.
Online rooms where plays
No public records of regular online play or known online poker room affiliations are available.
Favorite casinos/locations
Favorite venues include major Las Vegas casinos like Binion’s and Bellagio, home of the WSOP and WPT respectively, as well as Minnesota-based venues.
Style characterization (TAG, LAG, nitty, aggressive)
Lyle Berman is characterized by a strategic, balanced, but sometimes aggressive playing style combining strong fundamentals with well-timed bluffs.
Known for bluffs/traps
Known for a thoughtful approach with occasional strong bluffing and trap tactics; not overly loose but very precise in strategic deception.
Mathematical or intuitive approach
Combines mathematical and intuitive decision-making, emphasizing consequences and probabilistic outcomes learned from early study of poker theory.
Style adaptability
Highly adaptive to opponents and game conditions, a skill accounting for decades of sustained poker success.
Playing strengths
Key strengths include decision making under pressure, reading opponents, bankroll management, and longevity in both cash and tournament formats.
GTO strategy usage
His career began before formal GTO theory was widespread; he plays primarily with classic strategic soundness, balancing experience and theory.
Poker software usage
No known public disclosures of significant poker software use for analysis or training, relying more on experience and study.
Television appearances (list of shows with specific episodes/dates)
Has appeared on televised events related to WSOP and WPT but specific episodes or shows are not comprehensively documented.
High Stakes Poker participation (seasons/episodes)
No confirmed participation on televised "High Stakes Poker" seasons or episodes.
Poker After Dark appearances (episodes/dates)
No documented appearances on Poker After Dark.
Documentary films featuring (titles and links)
Subject of the poker biography book "All-In: Lyle Berman and the Birth of the World Poker Tour" which chronicles his life and contributions to poker.
Major publication interviews (publication names, article titles, links)
Featured in interviews with major poker publications such as PokerNews, PokerListings, and cardplayer.com discussing career and poker philosophy.
Podcast appearances (podcast names, episode titles, dates, links)
Has appeared as guest on poker industry podcasts, though specific episodes and links are limited.
Own podcast/channel (name, platform, subscriber count, link)
No record of Lyle Berman hosting his own poker podcast or video channel.
Facebook (account link)
No notable public Facebook profile/page for poker-related communication.
YouTube channel (name, subscriber count, link)
No dedicated official YouTube poker channel.
Twitch channel (name, follower count, link)
No known Twitch streaming activity.
TikTok presence (account link, follower count)
No known TikTok presence.
LinkedIn profile (link)
No publicly accessible updated LinkedIn profile focusing on poker or business available online.
Posting frequency in social media
Given absence of social media presence, no public posting frequency data.
Type of content in social media
No public social media content to analyze.
Current sponsors (company names, deal details if public)
No publicly known current sponsorship deals; more prominent as a businessman and poker executive than as a sponsored player.
Sponsorship contract history (previous sponsors, dates)
No detailed records of historical sponsorship contracts; career largely predated modern player sponsorship era.
Poker site ambassadorship (site names, contract details)
Served in a leadership role as chairman of the World Poker Tour and PokerTek company, representing poker’s commercial interests.
Own business (business names, descriptions, websites)
Former chairman and CEO of Rainforest Cafe and involved as co-founder/CEO in Grand Casinos and Lakes Entertainment, plus poker industry executive roles.
Poker project investments (project names, involvement details)
Co-founder and investor in World Poker Tour; also invested in casino operations and poker technology companies.
Coaching services (availability, platforms used)
No public information on formal coaching services.
Coaching rates (if public)
Not applicable; no known coaching service.
Educational materials (book titles with ISBN, course names with platforms, video series titles with links)
Authored autobiography “I’m All In, Lyle Berman and the Birth of the World Poker Tour” (published 2005).
Affiliate programs (program names, partnerships)
No records of affiliate partnerships.
Merchandise (product types, where sold, links)
No public information about personal merchandise sales.
Written poker books (titles, publication years, ISBN, publisher)
Authored "I'm All In, Lyle Berman and the Birth of the World Poker Tour," published 2005.
Training series participation (series names, platforms, links)
No public records of participating in formal poker training series.
Masterclasses and seminars (event names, dates, locations)
No public records of hosting or presenting masterclasses or seminars.
Coaching work (platforms used, student testimonials)
No public documentation of professional coaching work.
Notable students (names if public, their achievements)
No publicly known coaching students.
YouTube educational content (video titles, view counts, links)
No educational YouTube content linked to him.
Poker publication articles (publication names, article titles, publication dates, links)
Featured in poker media articles like PokerNews and PokerListings discussing poker industry and career.
Magazine columns (magazine names, column titles, frequency)
No regular magazine columns known.
Conference speaking (conference names, dates, topics, video links)
Has spoken at industry events related to gaming and poker but specifics are limited.
Poker scandal involvement (scandal names, details, outcomes)
No known involvement in poker scandals.
Accusations of unfair play (specific incidents, resolutions)
No accusations or controversies related to cheating documented.
Casino/room conflicts (venue names, incident details)
No publicized conflicts with casinos or poker rooms.
Legal proceedings (case details, outcomes, court documents)
No public legal issues documented.
Public disputes with colleagues (names involved, details)
No known public disputes with other players.
Tournament rule violations (tournament names, violations, penalties)
No tournament rule violations reported.
Tax issues (if public, details, resolutions)
No public information on tax-related issues.
Poker community criticism (specific criticisms, responses)
Lyle Berman is generally well-respected, with minimal documented criticism.
Response to criticism (statements, actions taken)
Not applicable.
Poker industry awards (award names, years, organizations)
Received B’nai B’rith Great American Traditions award (1995) and Gaming Executive of the Year (1996).
Hall of Fame inclusion (hall names, induction years)
Inducted into the Poker Hall of Fame in 2002.
Peer recognition (specific recognitions, award details)
Peer recognition highlighted by WPT Honors Award in 2018 for contributions to poker community.
Poker publication awards (publication names, award types, years)
No public record of poker publication awards beyond Hall of Fame.
Special achievements (achievement descriptions, recognition details)
Co-founding the World Poker Tour, multiple WSOP bracelets, long-term poker success and contributions to poker broadcasting innovations.
Records associated with name (record descriptions, verification)
No specific poker records documented.
Contribution to poker development (specific contributions, recognition)
Instrumental in creating and launching the World Poker Tour, helping popularize poker through innovations such as hole-card cameras.
Charity tournaments (tournament names, amounts raised, beneficiaries)
No specific charity tournament involvement publicly documented.
Legacy in poker world (specific legacy aspects, community impact)
Remembered for bridging poker and business, helping modernize poker broadcasting, and longevity as a highly skilled player and executive.
Industry influence (specific influences, changes attributed)
Major influence in establishing WPT and advancing poker’s television presence, contributing significantly to the poker boom era.
No known tournament commentary roles.