CR83-p20-Poker:SJC-Casino Review 23/8/09 01:53 Page 1
internationalcasinoreview
“We’re very hopeful and we’re very
confident that we can get these laws
passed. We have a lot of powerful people on
our side, including Barney Frank, who is the
Chairman of the House Financial Services
Committee. We’re confident that our
message is getting through.”
Poker
Poker Players Alliance lobbyist
Mickey Leibner
REPORT
Poker
holds firm
While analysts continue to report
that land-based poker has hit a
blip in many corners of the world,
the long-term success of the
game should not be called into
question, writes James Walker.
firmhand
WORLD VIEW
In the last decade, poker has moved from
being a niche interest to a mainstream activity
that feeds a multi-billion dollar industry. While
it is nigh on impossible to put an exact figure
on the global penetration of poker, analysts
have been quick to report that poker rooms in
casinos from the US to Europe are suffering
from the effects of the global downturn and
what could only be termed the end of the hon-
eymoon period: the unfortunate, but entirely
logical, by-product of the most recent boom.
Yet the vast majority of operators Casino Review
has spoken to during the course of the year remain
upbeat about the future of their poker rooms, and
this optimism, ironically, is grounded in something
that was once considered a major threat.
It is no coincidence that the growth of
poker during the first half of the decade corre-
lated with the rise of the internet and increas-
ingly fast broadband connections. This,
coupled with the media’s quick realisation
that poker fits perfectly within a television
format, resulted in the game garnering a
tremendous following in a short space of time.
The biggest game in town
Yet the unbridled growth of the online
poker sector originally sent shivers down the
spines of many land-based operators. With
While some may argue the market has topped out, one thing is absolutely clear:
over 50,000 players playing at any given time, poker can no longer be considered an ‘optional extra’ in casinos.
who will be left to visit my casino?
The way things have transpired, however, standardfare casinos were closing or converting their because the internet is the breeding ground
has been quite different from that what was THE FACE OF POKER poker rooms before television and the for tomorrow’s live casino player.
previously expected. Many land-based internet turned the game into the indus- Should Washington agree that regulation
groups are now major online operators. As a means of gambling, poker seems to try’s flagship product. and taxation is the way forwards then the
Prompted by their knowledge that the gaming have been around forever. It has inspired Once operators had got over their initial impact on bricks-and-mortar companies
market is still far from being saturated, they many a legendary tale in what has been an misjudgement surrounding the lack of a within the industry will be massively posi-
are unwilling to continue feeding their players extremely colourful history. But like so house ‘edge’ and realised that it’s bodies in tive; and there is irony in the fact that the
to the big online cardrooms. many traditional things in life, poker has the building that bring the bucks, it was game that many were sceptical about at the
These multi-sphere operators now have the changed more dramatically in the past downhill all the way. Before we knew it beginning of this decade could turn out
unique advantage of keeping player traffic circu- handful of years than at any time in the pre- there were in-house events, local tourna- being an industry saviour before its end.
lating within their own gaming properties, online ceding centuries. ments, cash games and larger events in The other seemingly never-ending
and land-based. They also benefit immensely The casino sector is constantly on the almost every casino in almost every country debate is the issue of ‘skill’. Is poker a game
from making their online players’ funds available move. Satellite events, local poker tourna- in the world. And then came the icing on of skill or a game of chance? A definitive
through their land-based facilities. ments and other player incentives are now the cake with the lucrative arrival of a answer to this perennial question would
The synergies between online and land-based the standard rather than the exception. gaggle of electronic multi-player solutions. benefit the entire industry, including legis-
poker routes are still yet to be fully explored, but Moreover, there has been huge expansion In business terms, poker delivers. Of that lators, but the suspicion is that the ‘men in
it is clear that the rise of online poker continues to in online play, the live tournament circuit there is now no doubt. A huge European suits’ are scared to go ‘all-in’ on this one.
bring the game to a new, enthusiastic audiences. continues to gain momentum and televi- popularity is also now well established So let’s leave the final word to WSOP
And this, coupled with the increasingly success- sion coverage continues to grow world- with the sixth season of the European Poker bracelet winner and one of the UK’s top
ful live tournament final scene, should ensure the wide. Tour now underway and taking in casinos players, former journalist Roland de Wolfe.
success of the game for years to come. With growth that is so multi-faceted it in Barcelona, London, Warsaw, Vilamoura, Commenting on the presence of Phil Ivey
seems safe to suggest that this classic game Prague, Deauville, Vienna, Copenhagen, at the WSOP final table in November, Roland
Total number of entrants into
will be at the forefront of our entertain- Dortmund, Dublin, San Remo and Monte said: “I think he’s the favourite and I hope
live casino tournaments: ment menu for many years to come. Carlo. But this is all well documented and he wins. It will be good for poker if he does.
There is no doubt that over the past the big question now is where does it go It’ll show it’s such a game of skill.
2008 515,677
couple of years in particular, mainstream from here? “If the guy who they say is the best player
2007 466,710 poker for regular players has graduated Following on from WSOP 2009 all the in the world goes ahead and wins the
2006 402,539
from being an ‘optional extra’ within the talk is of the political and legal manoeu- world’s most prestigious event and ploughs
2005 310,459
occasional casino to becoming ‘standard vring taking place in the US with regard to through 6,000 people to do it - all those
equipment’ in almost every casino you can the online game. This process should be of people who say poker is just a gambling
2004 235,626
visit. It is true that only a few years ago, huge interest to land-based operators game, they can shut up now.”
20 September 2009 • pokerreport
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