Most poker fans think that Mike Sexton is a poker announcer who plays a bit of poker on the side. But poker’s greatest ambassador has been on the poker scene since the late seventies, and has cashes on his record going back to 1981. After college, where he played poker more than he went to class, and a short stint in the Army, Sexton realized that he could make more money playing cards than he could working any job, and the rest as they say is history.

Since that decision, Sexton has over $3.2 million in tournament winnings and is one of the most recognizable faces in the industry. Sexton has a WSOP bracelet, and a year ago he won the million-dollar first prize at the 2006 World Series of Poker Tournament of Champions. He is also is 10th on the all-time list of cashes at the WSOP with 37 cashes, including three at this year’s tournament. Ranking 44th on the all-time U.S. money list is an impressive stat as well, not to mention 26 first-place tournament finishes. Mike has done just about everything there is to do on the poker table.

And that’s why he’s done so much for the game off of the table. He’s the face and announcer for the WPT and the spokesman for Partypoker.com. He has published articles in Card Player Magazine and Gambling Times. No one in poker speaks to the fans more than Mike because he is a trusted, knowledgeable voice who calls it the way he sees it.

Sexton isn’t on the tables as much as he was in the past. Appearances and other commitments have cut his playing time down, and his many affiliations limit the events in which he can play. The event is always better when Mike is the host, anyway. I met him at the 2005 WSOP Celebrity/Media event. He was the exact gentleman he presents himself as on television, but he had a lot of difficulty getting anywhere because he had to stop and chat with just about every person he walked past, as any true ambassador would.

Get set to play some online poker!