“The Bird Cage Theatre, Allen Street, Tombstone, AZ” by Warren LeMay, CC BY-SA 2.0
Ever sat through a long poker session and thought, "This is never going to end"? Now imagine playing for eight years. Straight. Sounds impossible? Well, welcome to the story of the longest poker game in history. It’s a tale full of grit, cigars, legends, and a poker room where time stood still—almost literally.
Whether you're just starting to learn the ropes or already grinding cash tables on weekends, this wild piece of poker lore will help you see the game in a new light. And who knows? Maybe it'll inspire your own marathon session (though we recommend bathroom breaks).
⌛ The Longest Poker Game in History
Let’s get to the point. What was the longest poker game ever played? According to poker folklore—and quite a few historical records—the honor goes to a legendary game at the Bird Cage Theatre in Tombstone, Arizona, way back in the 1880s.
- Location: Bird Cage Theatre, Tombstone, Arizona
- Time Period: 1881–1889
Duration: 8 years, 5 months, 3 days - Buy-in: $1,000 minimum (which was a serious chunk of cash back then)
- Format: Mixed games, but mostly Five-Card Stud and Draw Poker
- Players: Rotating cast of local miners, businessmen, traveling gamblers, and even famous names like Doc Holliday and Wyatt Earp reportedly dropped in.
“Gamble With Your Money Or Your Health” by Brian Wallace, CC BY-NC 2.0
Yes, you read that right. The game never stopped—cards were dealt 24/7, players came and went, but the action kept going. Staff rotated in shifts, and security was always present to protect the enormous sums of cash and gold on the table.
💰 The Money on the Table
Estimates suggest that over $10 million passed hands during this game. That’s not adjusted for inflation—$10 million in the 1880s money is roughly $300 million today. You could say this wasn’t your average Tuesday home game.
🏆 Who Won the Longest Poker Game in History?
Here’s the twist—no one "won" in the traditional sense. The game didn’t have a final pot or champion. It was a cash game, and players would buy in, play for as long as they wanted (or could afford), then cash out (or go bust). So if you’re asking "who won the longest poker game in history?", the answer is: the house. With a rake in place, the Bird Cage Theatre made a killing.
⏳ Top 5 Longest Poker Games Ever Played
Not every marathon poker game is a legend carved into Old West saloon walls. But a few other sessions deserve honorable mention.
1. Phil Laak’s Endurance Record (2010)
- Duration: 115 hours (4 days, 19 hours)
- Location: Bellagio, Las Vegas
- Type: Heads-up cash game (mix of live and online)
- Purpose: Set a new Guinness World Record and raise money for charity
- Result: Sleep-deprived but smiling, Phil survived on bananas, meditation, and sheer willpower.
2. Larry Olmsted’s Poker Marathon (2004)
- Duration: 72 hours
- Location: Foxwoods Casino, Connecticut
- Type: Limit Hold’em
- Note: Played under Guinness rules with timed breaks. He later wrote a book about poker’s deeper meaning.
3. WSOP Main Event Final Tables (2005–2007 era)
- Duration: Up to 14+ hours in a single sitting
- Type: No-Limit Hold’em tournament
- Highlight: Under the lights, with millions at stake and sleep-deprived players, mistakes got costly—and unforgettable.
4. Andy "BKiCe" McLEOD’s Online Ultra Grind (2008)
- Duration: 48+ hours
- Platform: PokerStars, Full Tilt
- Type: Multi-table online tournaments
- Note: One of the early examples of extreme online grinding. Inspired a generation of MTT grinders.
5. “The Big Game” at Bellagio
- Duration: Sessions lasting 24–36+ hours regularly
- Players: Doyle Brunson, Patrik Antonius, Tom Dwan, Daniel Negreanu, and others
- Type: Mixed games at nosebleed stakes
- Why it matters: No clocks, no mercy. Play continues until someone’s brain—or bankroll—gives out.
Eight years. Thousands of hours. Millions of dollars on the table. No bracelets, no cameras, no glory—just cards, cigars, and a rotating cast of gamblers chasing the next big pot.
The longest poker game in history isn’t just a record—it’s a reminder of how wild, unpredictable, and straight-up absurd this game can be. One table, non-stop action, and a level of commitment that feels borderline mythological.
Poker might have evolved, but stories like this? They still raise eyebrows.