Panorama Towers Prop Bet

2010 WSOP Panorama Towers Prop Bet

May 22nd, 2010

The World Series of Poker attracts players from all over the world who want to take their crack at Millions in prize money and the career defining bracelet. However, some players need more motivation than even the bracelet. One way that they motivate themselves is via prop bets. Last year, Phil Ivey won Millions as the result of a prop bet that revolved around him winning a WSOP bracelet. This year, one of the more talked about prop bets is the “Panorama Prop Bet” made by online poker sensation Justin “ZeeJustin” Bonomo.

Bonomo is laying odds of 10 to 1 that someone from the Panorama Towers condominium complex will take down a 2010 WSOP bracelet. For those unfamiliar with the Panorama Tower, they are one of the main complexes in Vegas that many top name pros stay at through the summer. The bet is open to anyone that resides at the Panorama Towers through the WSOP. It is open both for renters and those that are just sharing a condo there. Another further stipulation of the bet is that only events at the Rio this summer count towards the bet. The WSOP Europe is excluded from the bet.

Bonomo will take bets through Midnight on the 28th. At that point he will post a list of players that are taking part in the bet. Those in the bet have 24 hours to back out before he posts a final list. Among those already taking part of the bet are Barry Greenstein, David Chicotsky, Liz Lieu, Shaun Deeb, Allie Prescott, David Williams, Jimmy Fricke, Joe Sebok, Noah Boeken, Phil Laak, Brock Parker, and Antonio Esfandiari. Over 50 pros are on the list at present with more expected to take part in the bet.

Laying odds of 10 to 1 does sound like a sucker bet to a degree but in reality, Bonomo may stand to make a killing. If each player put up $25,000 and 60 players participated, Bonomo would make a cool Million if nobody wins a bracelet. Granted, if someone makes a sizable bet and wins, Bonomo could be out of a lot of money. In reality, the odds of more than a couple of players on his list winning a bracelet are pretty long.

Prop bets are for some a great motivating tool. For example, in 2008 Phil Ivey was overheard telling Doyle Brunson that he was more interested in playing side action at the Bellagio than he was in playing tournaments at the WSOP. Honestly, who could blame him with the money that one could win in a single session in “Bobby’s Room.” Then last year, Phil Ivey’s prop bets provided him the motivation to not just win one bracelet, but two.

Will Bonomo’s prop bet provide the motivation to some players at the Panorama Towers to step up their game and take down a bracelet? We will find out over the next seven weeks at the 2010 World Series of Poker.