Online Poker

First Published: February  2006
Last Update: February  2006
Author:  Poker Shopping

Online Poker

Online poker has grown rapidly over the last few years. Between 2003 and 2005 only, the growth astonishingly was over 1,000%. Today millions of people all around the world are playing poker on the Internet. There are always poker tables open for those willing to risk some money (or a lot of it). Cash games and tournaments run around the clock in the online poker rooms. Texas Hold’em is the most popular playing form, but you can play Seven-Card Stud, Omaha, Draw Poker, and many other poker variations as well.

Chris Moneymaker & The World Series of Poker

How did this happen? How did online poker suddenly become so popular? Chris Moneymakers win in the World Series of Poker 2003 is one of the main reasons for this development. His amazing victory showed that almost any player can win huge amounts of money playing poker, without risking a lot. Moneymaker paid no more than $40 to enter an online WSOP satellite, and went on to win $2,500,000. Every aspiring poker player dreams of repeating that achievement. Extended television coverage is another reason. Shows like “The World Poker Tour”, with hole-cams that reveal the player’s cards, capture the complexity and excitement of poker in a good way. You get to see how the pros play their hands and handle their poker chips. Players try to imitate their idols, and, as mentioned, the huge prize pools attract a lot of people to the game.

Can the Poker Boom Last?

The interest of online poker has certainly been booming, but what the about the future? Will the growth continue, and will the poker companies keep making huge profits? Some concerns are actually spreading throughout the online poker community. PartyGaming, one of the world’s leading online gaming companies, recently experienced a steep stock dive, and other companies within the poker sector were dragged down along with them.

Is this a sign that the poker bubble is about to burst? Authorities on the subject say it isn’t. The stock market trading has not been affected by any loss from PartyGaming, but rather a warning that growth at the current rate is not realistic. The general belief seem to be that the online poker sector will continue to grow, but in a much more solid and sustainable way. The frenzy is over, and the Internet poker industry is about to establish itself. There is no need to panic according to the experts - skilled poker players will still be able to make a lot of money, and the leading online gambling companies will still show great profits.