Lyle Berman

Lyle Berman was born in Minneapolis in 1941 and built his fortune in business before becoming famous in poker. He co-founded Grand Casinos, developing properties in Minnesota and Mississippi, and later founded Lakes Entertainment. His business success gave him the resources and connections to pursue poker at the highest levels.

Berman earned credibility as a poker player by winning three WSOP bracelets in No-Limit Hold'em events. But his lasting contribution came in 2002 when he co-founded the World Poker Tour with Steven Lipscomb. The WPT revolutionized poker television with hole-card cameras and dramatic production values, helping spark the poker boom.

As a player, Berman is known for aggressive, fearless play suited to the big-bet games he prefers. His business background gives him comfort with risk and variance that intimidates other players. He regularly competes in the biggest cash games in the world, where his business success allows him to play without financial pressure.

The World Poker Tour transformed poker from a niche activity into mainstream entertainment. The WPT's production innovations—including the now-ubiquitous hole-card camera—made poker accessible and exciting for television audiences. Berman's combination of business acumen and poker credibility made him uniquely positioned to create and guide the WPT.

Lyle Berman was inducted into the Poker Hall of Fame in 2002, recognized for both his playing achievements and his contributions to poker's growth. The WPT he co-founded continues to operate as a major tournament circuit. His unique career demonstrates that business success and poker excellence can complement each other.