Biography
Commonly known as Amarillo Slim, Thomas Austin Preston Jr. was an American professional gambler known for his poker skills. He won the 1972 WSOP main event and was inducted into the Poker Hall of Fame in 1992.
Background
Thomas Austin Preston Jr. was born on December 31, 1928. His parents moved to Turkey, Texas, and after their divorce, his mother moved back to Johnson, and his father moved to Amarillo. Preston also plays pool, dominoes, and proposition betting. He has beaten Willie Nelson and Larry King at dominoes.
In August 2003, Preston was charged with indecency with his 12-year-old grandchild. He received a $4000 fine, two years of probation, and was ordered to undergo counselling. In 2009, he said he was innocent but took the plea only to spare his family from the court trial.
In 2006, he became the victim of an attempted armed robbery. The robbers fired three bullets at his car; he was uninjured. In 2007, he was robbed at gunpoint in his home, and in 2009, he was beaten and robbed near the intersection of Interstate 40 and Soncy Road.
In 2009, his planned Hollywood movies were shelved. Preston died on April 29, 2012, from colon cancer.
Amarillo Slim Poker Career
Preston started as a rounder; before tournaments, he travelled the U.S. looking for gambling action, effectively introducing Texas Holdem to Las Vegas. In 1970, he played his first WSOP and won the main event. This event made him popular, and he appeared on talk shows and in movies.
He created his poker tournament, Amarillo Slim's Super Bowl of Poker, from 1979 to 1991. He has won four WSOP bracelets, including two in Omaha games.
In 1991, Villa Crespo Software published a video game named Amarillo Slim Dealer's Choice.
Amarillo Preston WSOP Bracelets
| Year | Tournament | Prize (US$) |
|---|---|---|
|
$1,972 |
$10,000 No Limit Hold'em World Championship |
60,000 |
|
$1,974 |
$1,000 No Limit Hold'em |
11,100 |
|
$1,985 |
$5,000 Pot Limit Omaha |
85,000 |
|
$1,990 |
$5,000 Pot Limit Omaha |
142,000 |
Amarillo Slim's Net Worth
Preston’s lifetime winnings were more than $587,000.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did Amarillo Slim change his name?
Amarillo was born Thomas Austin Preston Jr. He moved to Amarillo, TX, with his father when he was an infant and decided to take the name of his residence as his moniker.
How many bracelets Amarillo won?
Amarillo has won four WSOP bracelets.
How to Play 7 Card Stud
Justin Bonomo Poker Player
