2008 Poker Hall of Fame: Dewey Tomko and Henry Orenstein

Lance Bradley | October 31, 2008 at 3:40 pm

Dewey Tomko had three cashes at the 2008 World Series of Poker, but he’s probably going to remember it more for receiving poker’s most prestigious honor - a Hall of Fame induction.

Harrah’s Entertainment, which owns the Hall of Fame, announced Friday that Tomko, along with Henry Orenstein would comprise the 2008 class.

Tomko’s career includes three bracelets and two runner-up finishes in the WSOP Main Event in 1982 and 2001. He also finished second to Paul Phillips at the 2003 World Poker Tour Five Diamond World Poker Classic.

Orenstein’s poker tournament results only showfour cashes, including a bracelet win at the 1996 WSOP, but he’s not going in for what he did on the felt, rather it’s what he did under the felt. Orenstein holds over 100 patents on many different items and is credited as the inventor of the hole-card cam. The camera, which allows television audiences to see the hole cards of players in real time was one of the driving factors behind the popularity of poker on television.

The pair will be inducted during a ceremony on Sunday, November 9 at the Penn & Teller Theater at the Rio All-Suites Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas during the final table of the 2008 Main Event. ESPN will also show portions of the ceremony during the final table broadcast.

Tomko and Orenstein are the 36th and 37 HOF inductees. They join Phil Hellmuth and Barbara Enright who were inducted last year.

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