Orenstein Invented Poker's Hidden-Card Camera

Polish-born American inventor Henry Orenstein survived five Nazi concentration camps before immigrating to the United States after World War II. He became a successful toy manufacturer, secured more than 100 patents, and convinced Hasbro to buy the Diaclone and Micro Change toys and repackage them as Transformers. Orenstein later patented an under-the-table camera system that revealed players' face-down cards to television audiences, helping transform televised poker. In 1996, while in his 70s, he won $130,000 and a World Series of Poker bracelet in the $5,000 seven-card stud tournament.

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