2006-11-27 12:16:43 · 7 answers · asked by ftrgtytyhtytytu 1 in Games & Recreation ➔ Gambling
Because a guy with the improbable name of Chris Moneymaker started with a $40 on-line tournament and ultimately won the World Series of Poker main event in 2003, making him an overnight millionaire. The subsequent buzz and TV coverage has greatly increased the participation of live and on-line participation in the game.
2006-11-27 13:20:20 · answer #1 · answered by menloshark 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It is an extremely complex game that can be learned in minutes, but takes a lifetime to master. People enjoy watching people win millions of dollars and using their skill and ingenuity to outplay their opponents.
Back in 2003, Chris Moneymaker, an amateur online player, turned a $40 online competition into a $2.5m pay day by winning the World Series of Poker. This suddenly made people realize that you don't have to be a professional gambler to have a shot at the big money.
Since then poker has exploded with high stakes cash games and major high stakes tournaments televised. The addition of the hole cam allows viewers to see the cards that people are playing, which makes the action that much more interesting.
I guess these are just some of the reasons for the explosion. There is also something very cool about playing poker, this makes people want to learn the game. Many people make a very nice side income or even full time income at the game these days.
2006-11-27 13:33:16 · answer #2 · answered by ZCT 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Poker has always been popular, just not public.
Gambling in general has always been around, but card games didn't become popular until the standarization of the playing deck, which was based off the Eastern European "Tarot" deck. Not the 72-card "what is your future" deck, but a smaller deck used by court entertainers that was more show than mystisim. It was socially exceptable for the upper-crust to play games of chance and cards were easily made and easy to carry from place to place. Amoung the lower classes, it was a way to make (or loose) money and as long as someone had a deck and some extra cash on hand, a game could be started at anytime and in anyplace.
During the dawn of television, it was common for the patriarch of many TV familys to meet with friends/co-workers for a game of cards to discuss politics, work, etc. That was acceptable and soon became one of the token roles of men; to play cards. But this was always protrayed as "friendly", no one got mad over hands because it was "fate" and the money lost was money they could afford to loose. The gritter side to this, the "gambler", was always protrayed as someone who had lost it all to chance, whose greed was his own downfall. To some extent, these stereotypes still exist in the media world, though the "gambler" is now treated as a victum of a diesease, not change or greed. There is also a move towards identifying compulsive gamblers and getting them help.
Today's "Poker Boom" was triggered by the tele-casting of major poker events in Las Vegas, the cookie-cutter Celeberty Poker matches, Congress' attempts to limit (if not ban) internet gambling, and the adoption of lotteries in states that had adimantly fought for tougher gambling regulations.
~~ Abaddon
2006-11-30 06:12:03 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Mainly because of television and the use of cameras that let the viewing audience see a player hole cards. Having that advantage lets the audience become "arm chair" players. Also there are some interesting characters playing the game that people can relate to.
2006-11-27 21:11:48 · answer #4 · answered by tenkit5 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The possibility of turning a "small" or zero investment into millions of dollars, and the invention of the small camera displaying the cards in the players hand to the audience. (this is the big one) Without the camera it's kind of boring...you don't know why the people are betting...
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2016-10-07 21:31:03 · answer #6 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
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2006-11-28 12:53:04 · answer #7 · answered by Father Ashley 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋