W3 Spin|Internet news blog

From an image of shady characters in smoke filled rooms, poker has emerged as a booming industry. The professional player was seen as a con man, or worse. Now he is an ambassador for his craft, an endorser of products, and a celebrity.

Three key things have happened that created the boom. They have caused poker to become a big money maker. It’s an interesting combination of events that led to this happening.

The first step in the evolution of poker is when in 1998 Planet poker became the first online poker room. Online casinos had been around for about four years by then. So, with people starting to play poker from home our story begins.

Televised poker has been around since the late seventies. This was a one hour show, once a year, showing the WSOP Main Event. Not many people were watching.

This would change dramatically, eventually. The second key factor in changing poker is the hole card camera, or “pocket cam”. Patented way back in 1994, and was used briefly in Europe in 1997. Once used to it’s fullest, this tool revolutionized watching poker on the television.

In 2002 a couple of things happened. The WPT (World Poker Tour) was formed and held tournaments that were recorded and aired the next year. These recording used the pocket cam as a key tool in their shows. Earlier in 2002, ESPN used the pocket cam for the first time on U.S. television while covering the WSOP.

The use of the pocket cam gets more people watching. The fact that the viewer can see what the players have increases the drama, and exposes the strategies. ESPN decides to show a lot more of the event the following year.

They decide they will cover the tournament from beginning to end and increase the air time. Pocket cam is used at the feature table and obviously the final table. The story that unfolds changes poker forever.

With increased coverage the whole world sees Chris Moneymaker fight his way through the field of 839 to win the event. He outplayed many of the best players in the world in the last two tables. But, Chris is just an online player, having earned his $10,000 entry from a $40 satellite event.

This astonishing result has a profound effect on the poker world. This proves that, unlike other sports and games, you can beat the best and be the world champ. The game takes off.

The internet makes poker accessible. The pocket cam makes it fun and intriguing to watch on television. And, Chris Moneymaker makes us believe we all have a can be world champ.

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