Sexton voted into Poker Hall of Fame

Poker industry veteran Mike Sexton will be the lone 2009 inductee into the Poker Hall of Fame. Harrah’s Entertainment and the World Series of Poker are expected to make the announcement Thursday.

Sexton was the only member of the nine-person ballot to receive at least percent of the votes cast by the 15 living members of the Poker Hall of Fame and a 15-person media panel.

Sexton will be inducted on Nov. 7 at the Rio when play resumes in the World Series of Poker’s main event.

He beat out three former World Series of Poker champions, Tom McEvoy (1983), Dan Harrington (1985) and Scotty Nguyen (1998). Also on the ballot were Barry Greenstein, Phil Ivey, Men Nguyen, Daniel Negreanu, and Eric Seidel.

Sexton, who has spent more than 20 years in the poker industry, won a World Series of Poker champions bracelet in Seven-Card Stud Split in 1989. He has more than $2.7 million in prize money and become a regular fixture in tournaments.

In June 2006, Sexton defeated Negreanu at the World Series of Poker Tournament of Champions event.

However, Sexton’s mark on the game has come through his position as a television host for World Poker Tour. Sexton is known as the game’s consummate promoter and he has raised poker's profile throughout the world.