| iv id="body"> | | | | poker sites in 2004. And, as new devotees enroll |
| It should come as no surprise that Texas Hold | | | | in mind-boggling numbers, it's difficult to gauge an |
| 'em poker is responsible for the dramatic upsurge | | | | industry consensus on just where the limit lies. |
| in online gaming profits. After all, one only has to | | | | Though the poker resurgence began in the U.S., it |
| turn on the television most any weeknight, and a | | | | may be growing faster overseas. Britain, already |
| poker tournament will surely be showing | | | | a gambling-crazed country, accounts for roughly |
| somewhere. The exposure these days is | | | | 80% of the European poker market. Germany |
| relentless. | | | | and Austria have burgeoning poker clubs and |
| The draw, of course, is the thrill of the final table | | | | communities, while the Scandinavian population |
| and the riches that come with it. From poker's | | | | may be the ripest emerging new market. Also, it's |
| roots in dusty Old West saloons, to dazzling casino | | | | interesting to note that 30-40% of new European |
| rooms, to the home PC, it is everywhere today. | | | | players are female. |
| According to the research service PokerPulse, | | | | The phenomenon of women in poker may hold |
| more than 1.78 million poker players made real | | | | the key to explaining poker's rapid ascent. In the |
| money wagers online in January. That number is | | | | past, poker was viewed more in the Old West |
| only expected to increase as tournament prize | | | | sense. That is, that poker was a game for males |
| money continues to grow. On most any given | | | | conducted mostly illicitly and in less than pleasing |
| day, an online 'hold 'em' tourney will reward those | | | | surroundings. In fact, up until just a couple of |
| "in the money" with purses of $100,000, | | | | years ago most Las Vegas casinos had gotten |
| $250,000, even $500,000. | | | | out of the poker business. A handful of poker |
| Certainly $2,500,000 is a large sum by anyone's | | | | rooms on old Fremont Street were essentially the |
| standards. And that's just what a young fellow by | | | | only games in town. |
| the name of Chris Moneymaker from Tennesse | | | | The internet, however, changed all that. It offers |
| won in the 2003 World Series of Poker (WSOP). | | | | anonymity, is safe and hassle-free, and presents |
| That princely sum was parlayed from a $39 | | | | the opportunity for copious rewards in exchange |
| investment in a "qualifier" at an online poker room. | | | | for relatively modest entry fees. What more |
| His overnight success story aired countless times | | | | could a girl want? If she (or he) has the skill, it's |
| on cable television, and suddenly, poker was hot. | | | | possible to compete alongside world-class players |
| Not to be outdone, Greg "Fossilman" Raymer | | | | and actually win. |
| turned a $160 "satellite" entry at the very same | | | | But is it extraordinary skill which will get you to |
| poker site into a seat at the 2004 WSOP. | | | | the final table? Perhaps. Numerous authors have |
| Raymer's result? Champion! And a staggering first | | | | written on the subject of the perfect poker |
| prize of $5,000,000. Online poker had arrived. | | | | strategy. The odds, the hands, probabilities, you |
| Consider that in January 2002 the industry gross | | | | simply must know what you're doing they say. |
| 'rake' (or fees collected) per day was around | | | | Just don't tell that to Chris Moneymaker though. |
| $100,000. Today, it's near $2.5 million per day. An | | | | He'd never even read a book on poker prior to |
| estimated $16 billion was wagered on internet | | | | winning it all. |
