Poker pioneer to be inducted into Poker Hall of Fame

Perhaps the single biggest reason that televised poker is as popular as it is today can be traced back to a single invention. The hole card cam, which was invented by Henry Orenstein in 1995 made the game enjoyable to television viewers around the world. So it’s befitting that before the final table of this years World Series of Poker is played in Las Vegas that a ceremony honoring him takes place.

With almost 100 US patents under his belt, Orenstein is perhaps best known outside of the poker world for his toys. Most notably of the lot is the Transformer line of toys that were modeled for the original cartoon series. Somewhat ironic that a toy inventor would come to create something as innovative as the hold card cam but I’m sure no one in the poker world minds much, it clearly was the catapult that helped lift the game to it’s current peak of popularity.

So before the final table begins, the inventor will be enshrined forever in the Poker Hall of Fame. Poker celebrities will there and it’s rumored to be a part of the ESPN broadcast of the final table. So on behalf of the millions of people that have come to learn and love the game of poker thanks to your invention, we thank you Mr. Orenstein. Also present will be Dewey Tomko, who has the longest current streak of any poker player with 35 years of participating in the WSOP Main Event under his belt. Mr. Tomko will also be entering the Poker Hall of Fame during the same ceremony.