World Poker Tour

Jamie Ligator

Birthplace
Havana, Cuba

Hometown
San Jose, Costa Rica

Birthday
February 2

Total Winnings
$115,560

Jamie Ligator was born in Havana, Cuba. He and fellow poker player Dewey Tomko are co-owners of the Horseshoe Casino in Costa Rica. Ligator says he learned to play poker as a young kid, but he admits he wasn't very good at it until much later in life. Before he entered the world of tournament poker, he was a tennis player and coach. In fact, he coached his own daughter until she went away to college on a scholarship. Ligator says he then took up poker to play with people at his casino.

Ligator is not a professional poker player. He says he loves the competition, and he plays for fun. His business partner calls him an aggressive player, but Ligator calls himself a coward at the table. He says when someone goes all-in against him, he's likely to fold. His opponents might have a different point of view to offer.

Ligator first cashed at the World Series of Poker in 1997. He placed 4th in a No Limit Hold 'em event and took home more than $33,000. He's had quite a few cashes in big tournaments since then. During the first season of the World Poker Tour, Ligator final-tabled the Costa Rica Classic. He won $45,000 for second place. Since then, he's cashed at three more WPT events. Ligator's biggest cash was in 2006 at a WSOP Circuit Event at Harrah's in Atlantic City. He won more than $100,000 in that No Limit Hold 'em event.