The bookie beats the living legend brunson.

Jimmy Vaccaro entered the 37th World Series of Poker at Harrah's Rio Hotel and Casino on a whim.

So he finds it rather amusing he's around to play another day while the likes of Doyle Brunson and Phil Hellmuth Jr. already have been eliminated.

Prior to Monday, it had been 23 years since Vaccaro last sat down at a WSOP table, and that was at Binion's Horseshoe Club in Downtown Glitter Gulch when the tournament was still in its youthful stages.

He's back in at the urging of a group of friends, who passed the hat to collect his $10,000 entry or buy-in fee, and will be back in action Wednesday after surviving Monday's opening block.

"We were having lunch, near the Rio, and the subject came up," said Vaccaro, one of Las Vegas' all-time best-known bookmakers. So we came up with the money and I went over and registered. I guess you'd say we're a conglomeration. There's a very good reason I haven't been in it since 1984 ... I'm not very good at it. Since I didn't take a vacation this year and football's coming, I decided to do it. Do I think I'm going to win? No. But I'm still in it, so I guess I still have a chance."

Vaccaro worked behind the Barbary Coast and Golden Nugget bet shop counters before taking over as chief book boss for Steve Wynn's Mirage Resorts, then worked in the Bahamas for a stint.

He returned to Las Vegas a couple years ago and now handles promotions and media relations for Leroy's Race and Sports Books, which operate more than 60 Nevada betting emporiums and has been stimulating wagering, particularly with its contests, throughout the Silver State.

"I'm Americanized," Vaccaro said. "I'm still friends with the (offshore) people there, though, still talk to them regularly. I'm glad I did it (worked in Nassau), but I'm also glad to be back."

Like most folks in the sports betting business, Vaccaro closely has been watching developments in the federal crackdown on online gambling, which some observers label "the story of the year" in industry circles.

He has extensive local connections as well as a multitude of offshore ones.

"I think Nevada is neutral on this," Vaccaro. The state just wants to see what happens. The islands are as regulated as we are. Some of their policies were ripped right off the walls here."

Vacarro believes "there's too much money flying around" for Uncle Sam to be able to ultimately shut down Internet wagering.

"I saw it," he said. These young American kids would fly in to Nassau, where the drinking and gambling age is 18, for the weekend. Face it: We're a gambling society and if you're under 21, you can't bet here (so you go elsewhere). Now we have to do things right."

Getting back to poker, Vaccaro called the WSOP "exciting" and "entertaining," but also a grueling test of endurance.

He regards Harrah's purchase of Binion's and the WSOP brand as "the biggest steal in gaming history."

Deducting breaks, Vaccaro figured he played 13 hours on Monday. He considers himself a decent player, but far from a great one.

"I'm good enough to play the good and bad hands, but not the marginal ones," Vaccaro said, calling players like legenday Doyle Brunson "light years" ahead of him.

Vaccaro believes he or any player with some knowledge of poker, with the right cards, could beat a Brunson or similar player in a tournament such as the WSOP, but skill would win out in the long run.

"I'd have to have 24 jobs to play with Doyle everyday," he said.