Gambler and Poker Playing Legend Amarillo Slim Passes at Age 83

Poker is one of America’s great past times with countless stories of games played etched into the culture. Poker has always been a game that produces legends in more ways than one, and it’s not always about winning or losing but how the game is played. Online poker has been around a short time but as all things that have something to do with the internet professional poker players become known by many very fast. In the old school days of poker playing skill and luck seem to go hand and hand like butter and bread or beans and cornbread. Legends were not that common and when a legend was born the media of the day took notice.

Sad news came at the end of April 2012 when it was announced that one of those great poker playing gamblers had passed away at the age of 83. Called by many as the greatest gambler of all time Thomas Amarillo Slim Preston Jr. left the planet after a lengthy battle with cancer.

This man had gambling in his blood from early on and took his talent for betting to lengths most people wouldn’t dream of. Amarillo Slim was quoted as saying, "I like you son, but I'll put a rattlesnake in your pocket and ask you for a match." He was often seen while playing poker with his cowboy hat on that had a gaping rattlesnake head on the hatband, something that intimidated the spunk out of the young players. True to character Amarillo Slim took on the biggest and richest of opponents, everyone from the great pool player Minnesota Fats who he beat playing one pocket using a broom to country music legend Willie Nelson whom he took for $300,000 playing dominoes. His poker prowess was sealed by winning 5 WSOP bracelets, including the main event in 1972. Forever the gambler, his fame spread as he bet the strangest long shots imaginable and won many times. Rest in Peace Amarillo Slim.