| Poker on TV has been the catalyst that allows | | | | tournaments that anyone can play in to get a |
| millions of people to view real poker being | | | | chance to be a television star competing for |
| played by today's young guns and poker | | | | big bucks. Even states within America such as |
| legends. A day does not go by without | | | | North Dakota, Illinois and Georgia are |
| advertising for another Texas Hold'Em TV | | | | competing to pass legislation to legalize |
| poker scheduled event for cable or | | | | poker over the Internet for a piece of the |
| television. It is becoming the basis for | | | | revenue pie, despite the direction of the |
| corporate investment in a growing industry | | | | federal government. Outside of the U.S., |
| and a motivation for players to enter | | | | England is at the threshold of permitting its |
| numerous tournaments that offer millions of | | | | land-based casinos to take bets online from |
| dollars. Software is being developed for hand | | | | U.S. citizens. |
| held devices and cell phones to play poker. | | | | |
| Deals are being made to broadcast live | | | | Proponents of the game state that the effects |
| tournaments over the Internet from land based | | | | of the televised tournaments toward society |
| casinos. And if that's not enough, then there | | | | are positive. Enough to where a person can |
| are a growing number of television shows | | | | find "family nights" for playing being |
| based on poker. Even charity events are | | | | offered by organizations promoting the game. |
| bringing in money for those who need it | | | | Many of the present day champions have stated |
| behind the affection started by televised | | | | that they learned how to play from ages as |
| tournament events. Plus women are coming to | | | | young as 5 from their parents or relatives at |
| the tables in droves, along with magazines on | | | | home. Kids and teenagers with guidance can |
| different versions of the game like Texas | | | | learn how to plan strategy, manage money, |
| Hold'Em marketed especially to women. And the | | | | solve complex problems and understand the |
| end is not in sight for this trend as more | | | | psychology of human beings. But every coin |
| people learn to enjoy and watch the game of | | | | has two sides. A concerned number of people |
| poker. | | | | are voicing the opinion that the creation of |
| | | | gambling addicts is taking place. More and |
| With an estimated 50,000,000 people in the | | | | more land-based and online casinos are taking |
| United States alone who play the game, | | | | this seriously by offering help for gambling |
| corporations began scrambling to capitalize | | | | addiction and the creation of new programs |
| for all the money that could be made when | | | | for assistance for those who have problem |
| tournament event ratings showed reflection of | | | | issues. Having help available for players |
| the public's appetite. ESPN's poker audience | | | | will become increasingly important as the |
| went from 408,000 viewers in 2003 to | | | | enthusiasm of the game goes forward. |
| 1,300,000 per broadcast in 2004. The 2005 | | | | |
| World Series of Poker broadcasts will have | | | | Is there a limit to the "all in" attitude for |
| over 2,000,000 people watching each televised | | | | Texas Hold'Em tournaments being watched by |
| episode when ESPN starts showing them in | | | | the public? With retail sales, record ratings |
| June. World Poker Tour episodes will be shown | | | | for television and cable plus big business |
| in 60 countries and if Steve Lipscomb has his | | | | pouring millions into it, the trend is still |
| way this will increase to 200 countries. And | | | | clearly reflecting the upswing. And if state |
| others are close behind with programs like | | | | legislation moves in favor of regulation of |
| Celebrity Poker and Poker at the Plaza which | | | | the online gambling industry for the tax |
| are pulling in big ratings. Online poker | | | | revenue, it might not go away anytime soon. |
| rooms are now becoming a billion dollar | | | | Because no one sits down at a table looking |
| industry. They provide many satellite | | | | to bust out early, they sit down to win. |