Mickey Appleman, an American professional poker player, grew up in Long Island, New York but currently resides in Fort Lee, New Jersey. He is a gambling legend who was once ranked as the biggest sports bettor in the US. Even as a child, he was highly competitive and excelled both in sports and studies. Mickey Appleman earned an MBA in statistics from Rutgers University and taught the subject for a while. During the turbulent 1960s, Mickey Appleman shifted to Washington D.C, where he worked as a social activist and later became a coordinator of a drug rehabilitation clinic. Mickey Appleman funded his poker career in the 1970s with the money that he earned from sports betting. He started playing in the World Series of Poker (WSOP) in 1975 and since then has been known for his impressive winnings in top poker tournaments.
In 1980s, Mickey Appleman won the title in the 11th Annual World Series of Poker Event#10 - WSOP Limit Seven Card Stud Hi/Lo, earning prize money worth $30,600. Between 1982 and 1986, Mickey Appleman finished third in a couple of events in the World Series of Poker to earn $66,000 in prize money. In 1989, Mickey Appleman participated in the 20th Annual World Series of Poker - WSOP Pot-Limit Omaha (Event 2) and bagged $13,500.
In 1992, Mickey Appleman had a major win in the 23rd Annual World Series of Poker - WSOP No-Limit Deuce to Seven Lowball (Event 18) and took home $119,250 in prize money. Also in 1993, he finished second in the 24th Annual World Series of Poker Event#15 - WSOP Pot-Limit Hold'em with prize money of $65,550. In the 26th Annual World Series of Poker - WSOP Limit Hold'em (Event 22), 1995, he outlasted a number of players to place first and bagged a total amount of $234,000.
Mickey Appleman was successful at the U.S. Poker Championship Limit Hold'em event held in 2002. He also finished fifth in the 33rd Annual World Series of Poker Event#6 - WSOP Limit Omaha to take home prize money of $8,220 in the same year. In 2003, he made an impressive first place finish in the 34th Annual World Series of Poker - WSOP Pot-Limit Hold'em (Event 19) and walked away with $147,280. However, in 2006, he placed ninth in the 37th Annual World Series of Poker, Event 16, WSOP Pot-Limit Omaha with earnings worth $40,984. Mickey Appleman is considered as one of the most feared players at the poker table. He finished fifth in the Five Star World Classic Poker Classic / WPT World Championship-Season 6, Super Satellite - No-Limit Hold'em in 2008 and won $25,700 in prize money.
Since his entry into the World Series of Poker, Mickey Appleman has won 4 bracelets, 47 cashes, and has secured first place in five events. As of 2007, he has total live tournament winnings that exceed $1,500,000.