Hosting the World Poker Tour has made Mike Sexton a well known face to anybody today. This is something the ‘Ambassador of Poker’ with more than 20 years in the poker industry enjoys on several levels.

Mike Sexton has worked hard to gain the epithet as the ‘Ambassador of Poker’. His background before he wholeheartedly ventured into the poker world had prepared him well. Born and raised in Ohio, Mike Sexton earned a degree from Ohio State University where he attended on a gymnastics scholarship. During his studies he changed his major from business to public relations. He also held classes of his own in card games throughout the college years. The card game he taught was contract bridge but poker was also a big part of his life, such a big part that he has jokingly said he majored in poker.

After graduating Mike Sexton joined the U.S. Army in 1970. He signed up as a paratrooper and was part of the 82nd Airborne Division. His division had just gotten back from Vietnam so Sexton never saw any action himself. While in the army he continued with teaching. This time he taught ballroom dancing, which he still enjoys today. One of his dance pupils persuaded him to try being a salesman. He continued to work as a military sales rep and ballroom dance teacher after his two year enlistment was up. He also stayed in North Carolina and started to play more poker in home games this period. After a few years he realized he could make more money playing poker than he did at his ordinary job. In 1977 Mike Sexton, a then married man, decided to quit his job and play poker full time.

After making the decision he made a living "just" playing poker for more than 20 years. His commitments at home included coaching little league baseball which prevented him from participating in the World Series of Poker. He made up for this when he moved to Las Vegas in 1985 to get better access to the best games. This is also when Mike Sexton’s name start to appear more and more frequently in tournament reports in Las Vegas and all over the world. The performances in where he has landed in the money are very global with salesmen trips to Europe with his earlier job and with recent success in Australia. Mike sexton is in the top on many top-lists including number of cashes in the WSOP. His first bracelet came in 1989 with the $1,500 Seven-Card Stud Hi-Lo event, which he still considers to be his strongest game.

Mike Sexton is known as a conservative player. His style of play has been slightly modified as of late though, mixing it up more frequently with aggressive moves. His role as a commentator has prevented him to play in the popular WPT circuit. Mike Sexton’s take on this is that not playing has had advantages for his own game too; with his unique position he has been able to evolve. While the tv-audience watches an edited show, he gets to see every hand. Cruising the tables – getting a feel of the atmosphere in preparing himself for his job at the final table – he has been inspired by players like Gus Hansen, Phil Ivey and Erick Lindgren. On this subject Mike Sexton has said: "I definitely feel I'm a better player now by watching all the great players who play on the World Poker Tour. Ironically, even though I feel I've become a better player, I don't get to play much any more as I am not allowed to play in the WPT events." It is not only the WPT engagement that sees him play poker less now but with his long career changing gears is not the same as getting sidetracked.

Perhaps his greatest accomplishment is his work with online poker. Mike Sexton is the spokesman of Party Poker. Mike Sexton started to collaborate with Party Poker early on when trying to give online poker the appreciation and respect it had the potential to reach. At Party Poker Mike Sexton has worked with the structure of the site, the tournaments and the cash games. Party Poker are definitely pleased with the results and – while it would be presumptuous to give all the glory to one man – online poker is well reputed today. Other activities in the service of poker are his articles in Cardplayer, his books whereof "Shuffle Up and Deal" is the best received and his work with different tournament structures. The last topic closed a fascinating circle at the 2006 WSOP. In 1998 Sexton devised the Tournament of Champions of Poker which ran for three years. After the tournament lay in fallow for a few years the WSOP crew picked up this best-of-the-best format. Mike Sexton has seen what all the best players are doing at the WPT, and adapted his game. 17 years after his first bracelet 17 straight hours of play gave him the victory in the 2006 WSOP Tournament of Champions. It would not be Mike Sexton if he was not part of something novel as he closed one circle. Taking the lead after pioneer Barry Greenstein "The Robin Hood of Poker", Mike Sexton gives half of his winnings to charity which in this case equaled half a million dollars.

Mike Sexton has helped a lot of people get a much better understanding of poker. Poker is a lot less shady because of him. While he is delighted with the increased popularity of the game he has some really sound advice for anyone toying with idea of becoming a pro. Other more financially geared advice are off course inescapable aspects before embarking on such a journey but Mike Sexton also has a different and important angle: "You better love the game. I don't mean 'like' to play, I mean 'love' to play". Since he made the decision himself, we know how he feels about the game.