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The Status of Online Poker
(November 05, 2006)
 Largely responsible for the dramatic rise in the number of new poker players around the world, online poker is a phenomenon which continues to surprise many. Still, more than two years after the Poker Boom, the popularity of the game shows no signs of slowing down. Clearly the proliferation on online poker rooms on the internet is the main reason for the resurgence of poker, and in this article we’ll take a closer look at the impact.
How do we explain the success of poker’s online variety? Well, there are a number of reasons actually. For one, traditional poker venues (usually referred to as brick and mortar establishments), such as casinos and poker rooms, satisfied a number of dedicated players for decades, but it was not until the advent of online poker that the game really entered the home of the average family. The internet made it possible for anyone (regardless of age, gender, social status, playing ability) to log in, test their luck, and improve their skills. Many players begin playing online for fun, rather than real money, which means they can hone their game before taking it to the next level. Once some confidence has been gained, they then turn to sites which offer live betting action. Thus, the game has become much more accessible to a legion of would-be amateurs.
Another factor which led to the recent widespread appeal of online poker, from the profit-making side of things, is the low overhead costs which are involved in running an online poker site. This essentially means that these savings could be passed on to the player, making it more desirable to stay home and play the online version of the game. The amount of money that the establishment takes on each bet (called the rake) is typically much lower for online casinos, who need not worry about physical expenses such as employing pit bosses, cleaning staff, and cocktail waitresses, just to name a few examples. Also, to add another table to an online room does not limit the amount of space available for other profit-generating games. Online poker rooms don’t have the size constraints which influence their brick and mortar counterparts. Online poker rooms also allow the players to play for low stakes (as low as 1¢) and often offer poker freerolls (where there is no entry fee), which usually attracts beginners.
Yet another reason for online poker’s massive growth is the influence of the mass media. Texas Hold’em tournaments are now a popular televised event, with dozens of channels airing competitions from around the world. Tune into to any of these programs and you will notice that a large portion of the sponsors are online poker rooms. They offer special bonuses to new players and some of the best poker players in the world are members of their promotional teams. With all of the exposure that online poker is receiving, it’s no wonder that the game continues to enjoy such unprecedented growth.
The poker rooms have also undergone massive improvements in gameplay and presentation. The graphics are now super-slick and the sites are easy to navigate. It’s a billion-dollar industry and the competition is fierce, as rooms are constantly forcing others to adapt and improve. Security in the online poker industry is also an area of major improvement. There has always been a concern that the poker rooms were not entirely safe but most of those fears have been alleviated by recent attempts to stamp out cheating and collusion.
Finally, what makes poker such an intriguing game for many is that even the beginner can compete with the expert. Obviously, over time, the expert will outperform the novice, but the element of short-term luck is so strong that it captivates many newcomers and, once bitten by the poker bug, it is very difficult to quit playing.
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