Eric Drache

Who is Eric Drache?

Eric Drache is a professional poker player, former cardroom manager and consultant for NBC. Drache is best known for his management contributions to the poker world, and he is also a notable seven-card stud player. He finished second in World Series of Poker stud events in 1973, 1981 and 2009.

As of 2009, Drache's total live poker tournament winnings exceed $325,000.

Drache was responsible for inventing tournament satellites while running the World Series of Poker in the 1970s as a way to get more entries per tournament. Drache also managed and hosted notable cardrooms at the Golden Nugget and The Mirage. Drache's innovations as poker manager include: ante structures, dealer training and the invention of the "must-move" table. Eric Drache trained both Donna Harris and Doug Dalton, cardroom managers at The Mirage and Bellagio respectively.

In the mid-'90s, he was prosecuted on federal tax fraud charges and lost his Nevada gaming license as a result, which is required to work in casinos.