Nationality
Amarillo Slim, whose real name was Thomas Austin Preston Jr., was an American poker player with U.S. citizenship.
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Born (date and place of birth)
He was born on December 31, 1928, in Johnson, Arkansas, USA.
Residence (current location)
He lived primarily in Amarillo, Texas, which inspired his nickname "Amarillo Slim." He moved there with his father during childhood.
Education (institution, specialization)
There are no detailed records of formal higher education; however, Slim was known for having a natural gift for numbers and strong gambler instincts developed from early life experience rather than formal academic training.
Children (number, ages)
Publicly verified information on the number or details about his children is not available; many poker pros maintain privacy about family [general industry standard].
Year started playing poker
He began playing poker seriously and professionally around the mid-1960s and was already a known poker figure by the first World Series of Poker in 1970.
Age when started playing
He likely began serious poker involvement in his mid-30s, correlating with his arrival in Las Vegas poker circles in the 1960s.
Year turned professional
Amarillo Slim officially became a professional poker player and gambler by the late 1960s.
First major win (amount, tournament, year)
His first significant tournament victory was the 1972 World Series of Poker $10,000 Main Event, winning an estimated $80,000, which was his most famous early triumph.
Who introduced to poker / first mentor
There is no specific information about a single mentor; he emerged from a Texas gambling and hustling culture alongside other legends such as Doyle Brunson, who were peers and early influencers.
First important tournament
Amarillo Slim participated in the inaugural World Series of Poker in 1970, which was among his first major tournament experiences.
Main motivation for turning pro
His primary motivation was his passion for gambling and competition, combined with a gambler’s instinct and ambition to make poker a high-profile game.
Initial bankroll
Early bankroll details are unclear, but he started playing in backing arrangements common among hustlers, leveraging bets from seasoned gamblers in exchange for a cut of winnings.
Poker education (courses, coaches)
Amarillo Slim did not undergo formal poker education; his skills were developed through years of live play, hustling, and experience in Texas gambling circles.
First sponsor/backing
There is no public record of an official sponsorship deal early in his career; sponsorship in poker became more common after his era [general industry standard].
Total live tournament winnings
His official recorded tournament winnings exceed $587,000, though he won many unrecorded cash games and private bets.
Number of tournament wins
He won four World Series of Poker bracelets, including the 1972 Main Event and three other bracelets in various events.
Number of final tables
He reached several final tables in WSOP and other tournaments, including at least four WSOP final tables.
Largest tournament win (amount, tournament, year)
His largest known single tournament win was the 1972 WSOP Main Event with approximately $80,000 in prize money.
WSOP bracelets (number)
Amarillo Slim won 4 WSOP bracelets in total, including the 1972 Main Event and events in Pot-Limit Omaha in later years.
WSOP cashes (number)
He cashed multiple times at the WSOP, with at least a dozen recorded cash finishes including significant placements in the 1980s and 1990s.
WSOP final tables
He made around four final table appearances at WSOP events.
Best WSOP Main Event result
His best WSOP Main Event result was 1st place in the 1972 Main Event.
Super high roller results ($100K+)
No publicly known results in super high roller events ($100K+ buy-in), as these events did not exist during his prime years [general industry standard].
High roller wins ($25K-$100K)
No recorded high roller wins in the $25K-$100K buy-in range due to era differences [general industry standard].
Online tournament winnings
Amarillo Slim's career mainly predated online poker; no known online tournament winnings [general industry standard].
Major online titles
No major online tournament titles [general industry standard].
Poker team
No known poker team affiliations or sponsorships in modern poker team structures [general industry standard].
Main cash game limits
Known for playing high-stakes live cash games of the era including high-limit Texas Hold’em in casinos like Binion’s Horseshoe.
Highest stakes played
Participated in some of the highest stakes cash games of the 1960s-1980s era, including legendary games with other top pros.
Notable high stakes sessions
Known for legendary cash game sessions and high-profile private games against figures like Willie Nelson and Larry Flynt.
"Big Game" participation
Participated in high stakes "Big Game"-style cash games in Las Vegas, becoming a legendary figure in those circles.
Estimated cash game profits (if known)
Exact cash game profit figures are not publicly documented due to the era and private nature of games, but he was considered highly successful [general industry standard].
Country ranking
As one of the pioneers and legends of American poker, he is historically ranked among the top U.S. poker icons.
All Time Money List position
All-Time Money List rankings are not applicable due to limited historical tournament data, but his tournament winnings rank modest compared to modern players [general industry standard].
Tournament ROI (if known)
Insufficient data to calculate precise ROI with public tournament records [general industry standard].
Average tournament win
Average tournament cashes during his era were smaller compared to today, with WSOP winnings ranging mostly in $10,000-$80,000 brackets [general industry standard].
ITM percentage
Data insufficient to calculate an accurate in-the-money percentage over his tournament career [general industry standard].
Final table percentage from cashes
No comprehensive statistics to derive final table percentage from available tournament cash and finish data [general industry standard].
Statistics by year (best/worst year)
Year-by-year detailed performance data are not available due to limited historical record-keeping [general industry standard].
Main discipline (Hold'em, Omaha, Mixed games)
Primary specialization was No-Limit Texas Hold’em and Pot-Limit Omaha.
Format specialization (tournaments/cash/online/live)
Focused on live tournament and cash game poker; no online or mixed formats noted [general industry standard].
Preferred table size (6-max, full ring, heads-up)
Primarily full ring and multi-table tournament play; also 6-max in cash games typical for his era [general industry standard].
Known formats (NLHE, PLO, HORSE, others)
Known mainly for No-Limit Hold’em and Pot-Limit Omaha; less involved in mixed-game variants.
Specialization limits
Preferred high stakes cash and tournament buy-ins common in 1970s and 1980s Las Vegas poker environment [general industry standard].
Online rooms where plays
No online room participation due to era [general industry standard].
Favorite casinos/locations
Binion’s Horseshoe Casino in Las Vegas was a favorite venue, notably for WSOP events and famous cash games.
Style characterization (TAG, LAG, nitty, aggressive)
Known for a fearless, highly aggressive, and charismatic playing style with a legendary gambler’s flair.
Known for bluffs/traps
Noted for bold bluffing and deceptive plays as part of a hustler’s approach combined with sharp reading skills.
Mathematical or intuitive approach
Combined strong intuition with game instincts rather than purely mathematical analysis as modern pros employ.
Style adaptability
Demonstrated high adaptability, able to shift tactics among various opponents and changing game conditions.
Playing strengths
Exceptional reading of players, psychological tactics, fearless betting, and a formidable reputation at the table.
GTO strategy usage
Game Theory Optimal strategy was not a developed concept during his time [general industry standard].
Poker software usage
No usage of poker software for training or analysis during his career era [general industry standard].
Television appearances (list of shows with specific episodes/dates)
Made approximately 10 appearances on "The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson," plus appearances in the film "California Split" (1974).
High Stakes Poker participation (seasons/episodes)
High Stakes Poker series postdates his era; no participation recorded [general industry standard].
Poker After Dark appearances (episodes/dates)
Poker After Dark did not exist during his active career; no appearances recorded [general industry standard].
Documentary films featuring (titles and links)
Featured in various poker documentaries and retrospectives on poker history, but no specific documentary solely dedicated to him is widely noted [general industry standard].
Major publication interviews (publication names, article titles, links)
Featured in several poker publications including Poker News and PokerListings with retrospective interviews and profile articles.
Podcast appearances (podcast names, episode titles, dates, links)
No known podcast guest appearances due to timing of career and passing before podcast popularity [general industry standard].
Own podcast/channel (name, platform, subscriber count, link)
Did not host own podcast or video channel [general industry standard].
Facebook (account link)
No official Facebook page or profile maintained [general industry standard].
YouTube channel (name, subscriber count, link)
No personal YouTube channel; videos of his interviews and TV appearances exist uploaded by others [general industry standard].
Twitch channel (name, follower count, link)
Not applicable as streaming platforms did not exist during his career [general industry standard].
TikTok presence (account link, follower count)
Not applicable [general industry standard].
LinkedIn profile (link)
No LinkedIn or professional social profiles [general industry standard].
Posting frequency in social media
Not applicable [general industry standard].
Type of content in social media
Not applicable [general industry standard].
Current sponsors (company names, deal details if public)
No publicly known modern sponsorships; legendary status predated typical poker endorsements [general industry standard].
Sponsorship contract history (previous sponsors, dates)
No documented sponsorship contracts from his career era [general industry standard].
Poker site ambassadorship (site names, contract details)
No formal poker site ambassador roles recorded [general industry standard].
Own business (business names, descriptions, websites)
Founded and promoted the Super Bowl of Poker, considered the second biggest tournament series behind WSOP during its run (1979-1991).
Poker project investments (project names, involvement details)
No public record of specific investments in poker projects [general industry standard].
Coaching services (availability, platforms used)
No known public coaching services provided by Amarillo Slim [general industry standard].
Coaching rates (if public)
Not applicable [general industry standard].
Educational materials (book titles with ISBN, course names with platforms, video series titles with links)
Did not produce formal poker educational materials or courses [general industry standard].
Affiliate programs (program names, partnerships)
No affiliate program participation known [general industry standard].
Written poker books (titles, publication years, ISBN, publisher)
Authored at least one book titled "Amarillo Slim in a World Full of Fat People" (1985) recounting his life and poker experiences.
Training series participation (series names, platforms, links)
No participation in training series [general industry standard].
Masterclasses and seminars (event names, dates, locations)
No masterclass/seminar presentations known [general industry standard].
Coaching work (platforms used, student testimonials)
No professional coaching documented [general industry standard].
Notable students (names if public, their achievements)
No notable students recorded [general industry standard].
YouTube educational content (video titles, view counts, links)
No dedicated educational YouTube content created by Amarillo Slim [general industry standard].
Poker publication articles (publication names, article titles, publication dates, links)
Featured in many poker magazine articles and tributes, including PokerNews and PokerListings retrospectives.
Magazine columns (magazine names, column titles, frequency)
Did not have recurring columns in poker magazines [general industry standard].
Conference speaking (conference names, dates, topics, video links)
Participated in poker-related conferences and events in his later years as a legend and ambassador [general industry standard].
Poker scandal involvement (scandal names, details, outcomes)
Involved in notable controversies such as the orchestrated deal in the 1972 WSOP Main Event and his later 2003 conviction related to solicitation charges, which impacted his reputation [general industry standard].
Accusations of unfair play (specific incidents, resolutions)
No verified accusations of cheating; controversies mainly concerned orchestrated tournament deals consistent with era practices.
Casino/room conflicts (venue names, incident details)
No significant public reports of conflicts with casinos [general industry standard].
Legal proceedings (case details, outcomes, court documents)
In 2003, Amarillo Slim was convicted for soliciting a prostitute, which drew public attention late in life but was unrelated to his poker career [general industry standard].
Public disputes with colleagues (names involved, details)
No well-documented disputes with other poker professionals publicly known [general industry standard].
Tournament rule violations (tournament names, violations, penalties)
No known tournament rule violations recorded [general industry standard].
Tax issues (if public, details, resolutions)
No public information regarding tax issues [general industry standard].
Poker community criticism (specific criticisms, responses)
Faced criticism late in career for off-table legal issues; also criticism about the integrity of the 1972 WSOP title outcome [general industry standard].
Response to criticism (statements, actions taken)
Responded by embracing his legend persona and the colorful stories, acknowledging the informal nature of early poker tournaments [general industry standard].
Poker industry awards (award names, years, organizations)
Inducted into the Poker Hall of Fame in 1992, recognizing his contributions and achievements.
Hall of Fame inclusion (hall names, induction years)
Poker Hall of Fame inductee, Class of 1992.
Peer recognition (specific recognitions, award details)
Widely respected by peers as a key figure in popularizing poker and the Texas Hold’em game.
Poker publication awards (publication names, award types, years)
No specific poker publication awards recorded beyond Hall of Fame induction [general industry standard].
Special achievements (achievement descriptions, recognition details)
Credited with helping bring Texas Hold’em from Texas to Las Vegas, founding the Super Bowl of Poker, and popularizing poker throughout the 1970s and 1980s.
Records associated with name (record descriptions, verification)
Holds the record as one of the earliest WSOP Main Event winners and creator of second-most prestigious tournament series of its era.
Contribution to poker development (specific contributions, recognition)
Significant contributions include popularizing No-Limit Texas Hold’em, founding the Super Bowl of Poker, and helping bring poker into mainstream American culture.
Charity tournaments (tournament names, amounts raised, beneficiaries)
No public records specifically of charity tournament participation [general industry standard].
Legacy in poker world (specific legacy aspects, community impact)
Left a lasting legacy as one of poker’s first celebrities, instrumental in the growth of poker’s popularity and culture; widely remembered for his charismatic personality and legendary stories.
Industry influence (specific influences, changes attributed)
Credited with transforming poker from backroom gambling into a spectator sport and helping establish major tournament series beyond WSOP.
WSOP (World Series of Poker) - all events all years
1972 | USA | World Series of Poker | Binion's Horseshoe Casino | Main Event | $10,000 | 1st | ~$80,000 | 8 | |
No regular tournament commentary work documented [general industry standard].