News
#33 - Mickey Appleman
Mickey Appleman has been playing in the WSOP since his trip in 1975. He has played high stakes poker for decades, even with appearances on televised events, but has kept out of the spotlight the poker boom has cast. He is a four-time WSOP bracelet winner and won each of his bracelets in four different variations of poker.
Appleman captured his bracelets winning a 1980 Seven Card Stud Split event, No Limt Deuce to Seven Draw in 1992, Limit Hold ‘Em in 1995, and finally Pot Limit Hold ‘Em in 2003. Along with his bracelets, Appleman has cashed four times in the Main Event, making the final table twice.
A New York native, Appleman graduated from Rutgers with a degree in statistics. His knack for numbers coupled with a natural talent for sports betting made him a very successful handicapper. He worked teaching statistics and later as a coordinator at a drug and alcohol rehabilitation center in
He made his way to Las Vegas where he could make a living gambling. During his first trip to Las Vegas Benny Binion spotted him and took him under his wing. The Horseshoe was a gambler’s community and Binion worked hard at protecting them. Appleman’s large prop bets and hunger for action led to friendships with Stu Ungar and Jack “Tree Top” Strauss. Appleman’s prowess at sports betting funded his high stakes poker career.
He once won $640,000 playing a single round of golf. He was able find 32 people willing to bet him $20,000 each that he couldn’t break 100 on a golf course he didn’t know. He sunk a 50-yard chip on the 18th hole for his 99th stroke.
Appleman has over $1.5 million in tournament winnings to date and lives in Fort Lee, New Jersey.
