Billy Baxter (poker player)

infobox poker player
firstname=Billy
lastname=Baxter
nickname=


caption=Billy Baxter in the 2006 World Series of Poker
hometown=Augusta, Georgia
wsop bracelet count=7
wsop money finishes=28
wsop main event best finish rank=22nd
wsop main event best finish year=1997
multi-year wsop winner=
wpt titles="None"
wpt final tables=1
wpt money finishes=7

William E. Baxter, Jr. (born 1940) is an American professional poker player. He was inducted into the Poker Hall of Fame in 2006.

Born in Augusta, Georgia, Baxter started his gambling career like many others of his age by gambling in the pool halls. When he was 14 he discovered he had a talent for hustling pool games. By the time he was 16, he had saved $5,000 from his hustling money, and when he turned 18 he was old enough to head to the taverns, where he discovered his next big love - poker.

In 1975 he took a honeymoon trip to Hawaii and ended up in Las Vegas on the way back. He and his new bride lived in a hotel there for nine months while Baxter played poker for a living. It was there that he met fellow legends Doyle Brunson, Puggy Pearson and eventually Stu Ungar.

Baxter has won seven World Series of Poker bracelets. As of 2007, he ranks just behind Erik Seidel (8), Johnny Moss (9), Johnny Chan, Doyle Brunson (10 each) and Phil Hellmuth (11). All of Baxter's bracelets are in lowball games. Additionally he staked Stu Ungar from 1990 until his death in 1998.

As of 2008, his total live tournament winnings exceed $2,100,000. [ [http://pokerdb.thehendonmob.com/player.php?a=r&n=9883 Hendon Mob tournament results] ]

Although Baxter is best known for his on-table poker accomplishments and the aforementioned staking of Stu Ungar, it's his landmark case of William E. Baxter Jr. vs. the United States that will forever cement his status as one of the most influential poker players of all-time. It was the judge's ruling that Baxter's poker winnings should be classified as "earned income" contrary to its previous classification of "unearned income" which was taxable up to 70 percent. Thus, in the process, providing equal tax status to those earning a living as professional poker players. [ [http://www.cardplayer.com/magazine/article/14882 Cardplayer.com: Billy Baxter - The Man Who Made a Difference] ]

WSOP Bracelets

Notes

External links

* [http://www.pokerlistings.com/poker-player_billy-baxter PokerListings.com profile]