From LA Times Poker aficionados will descend on Las Vegas as the 44th World Series of Poker kicks off at Rio All-Suite Hotel & Casino. The first event, which began Wednesday, is a two-day No-Limit Hold ‘em tournament exclusively for casino employees. This year, the World Series of Poker, first held in 1970, will run until July 15 and will feature 62 events on 480 tables. Seemingly every major poker variation is present in the tournament, with buy-ins for the various events ranging from $500 to $111,111. Anyone 21 years or older can enter. Tens of thousands of poker enthusiasts…