ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. (AP) — Scott Blumstein's path to winning more than $8.1 million as the World Series of Poker champion started in the online poker rooms of New Jersey.
While internet gambling has helped Atlantic City's beleaguered casino industry begin to recover, Blumstein credited his online experience with helping him win the biggest prize in poker after he defeated more than 7,000 players to win the series' marquee no-limit Texas Hold 'em main event early Sunday in Las Vegas.
"Two weeks ago, I was just a New Jersey online grinder and nothing's really changed," the 25-year-old with an accounting degree from Philadelphia's Temple University told reporters.