Billy Baxter (poker player)

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**Billy Baxter**
Billy Baxter in the 2006 World Series of Poker
Nickname(s)	None
Hometown	Augusta, Georgia
World Series of Poker
Bracelet(s)	7
Money finishes	24
Highest ITM main event finish	22nd, 1997
World Poker Tour
Titles	None
Final tables	0
Money Finishes	5

Billy Baxter is an American professional poker player. He was inducted into the Poker Hall of Fame in 2006.

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'd 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 Vegas on the way back. He and his new bride ended up living out of 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.

Though his most well known contribution to poker is that he staked Stu Ungar from 1990 on, Baxter has won 7 of his own World Series of Poker bracelets. As of 2006, he ranks just behind Johnny Moss (8), Phil Hellmuth, Johnny Chan and Doyle Brunson (10 each). All of Baxter's bracelets are in lowball games.

As of 2006, his total live tournament winnings exceed $1,450,000.

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.

[edit] WSOP Bracelets

Year	Tournament	Prize (US$)
1975	$1,000 Deuce to Seven	$35,000
1978	$10,000 Deuce to Seven Draw	$90,000
1982	$10,000 Deuce to Seven Draw	$95,000
1982	$2,500 Ace to Five Draw	$48,750
1987	$5,000 Deuce to Seven Draw	$153,000
1993	$5,000 Deuce to Seven Draw	$130,500
2002	$1,500 Razz	$64,860