DRAFT Magazine

Not everyone under the roof at the Flamingo Hotel in Las Vegas is looking to hit red 3 at the roulette wheel or hoping for a big one-armed bandit payout. No, grown men and women are playing a frat-house sport for big money.

The World Series of Beer Pong seems to have found a home in Las Vegas, where it’s being played for the fifth year in a row. More than 450 teams (two players apiece) have entered to try to win a first prize of $50,000.

There are a few twists to the championships that undoubtedly will unnerve beer pong aficionados. First, no one needs to actually drink beer (they can drink water), which means little taunting will occur and floors will remain smooth. Second, players toss balls into the cups rather than knock them in with a paddle. Maybe it should be called “water toss” instead of beer pong.

Whatever the case, Jay Leno has sent a team to compete, and the World Series has become so big a documentary called “Last Cup” has been released about it.

The tournament itself was created by a Chicago-based business, according to the Chicago Tribune. Co-founder of BPONG LLC and Beer Pong Events LLC Bill Gaines told the newspaper, “We have a passion for the game.”