From the scantily-clad models emblazoned on Playboy Poker, to the gripping Full Tilt adverts where you can ‘step inside’ the mind of Phil Ivey. From the hustle and bustle of the Bellagio, to the idyllic surroundings of the Aruba Classic, poker appears to be brimming with glamour.
As Doyle Brunson will testify, it’s a far cry from the olden days, when an aspiring poker professional would face robbery and ridicule. Poker is no longer a game confined to seedy, back-alley card-rooms, it’s a global phenomenon that can be experienced from your local pub to any one of the hundreds of online poker sites.
Contrary to those who berate it as one big-scam, online poker is booming, with increasing traffic and more and more ‘online pro’s’ exchanging insane amounts of money. In 2005, revenues from online poker were estimated in the excess of ‘US$200 million per month’. It’s remarkable to think the online format is barely ten years old.
So why the boom, why the glitz and glamour? The simple fact is, Chris Moneymaker’s 2003 World Series of Poker victory epitomizes the American Dream and the rags-to-riches mentality. Poker is the perfect vehicle to convey the American Dream – the notion that with a little hard work and belief in your own ability, you can achieve economic prosperity. Even Moneymaker testified, ‘If I can win it, anybody can’. With as little as ten dollars you could be playing the highest limits in a matter of six months.
Whether it’s raking in your first ten dollar pot at the online micro-limits or winning the WSOP and receiving a unique bracelet, poker can fill the player with ecstasy. Tom ‘Durrrr’ Dwan, no doubt one of the wealthiest youngsters in the world, is a bastion for the potential success online poker can generate. The reality is anyone, be it prince or pauper, can experience that blissful, elusive winning feeling. Even the elderly African man playing beside his mud hut in the Party Poker commercial, can one day bust Phil Ivey’s aces with his 7 2 off suit.
The world of online poker is not just a money-spinning utopia however, with the Ultimate Bet and Absolute poker scandals tarnishing its reputation. Master account access from crooked employees of the two websites saw high stakes players swindled of hundreds of thousands of dollars, as their hole cards were in plain view. The attempted cover up by gaming regulation committee, Kahnawake, served only to heighten suspicion of foul play.
Television coverage also goes a long way to glamourizing the game. It requires little, if any, grasp of the game and its theory to marvel at the bundles of cash being handed over in an episode of High Stakes Poker. With the hole-cam revolution, you can share the drama and suspense. A single pot can spiral to a figure that many of us could only dream of earning in a year. The final table of July’s 2008 WSOP commenced in November in order to add intrigue and meet ESPN’S televised coverage, prompting a big stir in the poker community.
There is, however, a balance that needs to be struck, between integrity of the game and appeal to the masses. The $50K H.O.R.S.E tournament at this year’s WSOP for instance, despite being the zenith of poker tournaments due to its hefty buy-in and incorporation of all major variants, was criticized for having no television coverage. Pros are on the fence – some wish to maintain the current format, where as others such as Daniel Negreanu propose a NL Hold’em final table, so the ESPN network purchase the rights.
Animated characters such as Mike ‘The Mouth’ Matusow and Phil Hellmuth make for compelling viewing, with the latter admitting his ‘bad boy of poker’ persona is to entertain viewers. The modern poker table is filled with action and controversy, whether it’s the vile aggression of ‘Tony G’ or loveable banter from Scotty Nyugen. Poker encompasses people from all walks of life, from the naïve, over-aggressive college student who’s endured some mild online success, to the seasoned live pro who’s seen poker evolve from the dark ages. Even celebrities from other sports are flocking to poker – tennis legend Boris Becker has recently joined Team Pokerstars, where as cricketing hero Shane Warne relinquished the captaincy of county side Hampshire in order to play at the World Series. Meanwhile, actor Toby Maguire, noted for his role in the Spiderman series, has enjoyed a money finish at the WSOP. Once brandished seedy gamblers, poker players now enjoy celebrity status, with the formidable Phil Ivey known as the, ‘Tiger Woods of Poker’. Indeed, Pokerroad produces a ‘Life of Ivey’ series, where viewers are offered a unique insight into the opulent lifestyle of Ivey.
The blogs of several professionals, including online legend Brian ‘sbrugby’ Townsend and attract a wide readership. Poker is stretching far beyond the confines of the smoky back alley, as it indulges in philanthropy and charity – Barry Greenstein donates all of his tournament profits to a Children Foundation, where as Jennifer Harman recently organized an event to support her Animal Foundation.
Try telling the parents of Christian Sellergren that poker is glamorous. The twenty-one year old, a professional gamer who led Team Eyeballers to the 2004 CPL Counter-Strike championship, committed suicide in 2007 after racking up $13,000 online poker debts. Sellergren’s father maintains that, ‘A lot of people think they can earn easy money. Instead, they get stuck in a living hell.’
So is poker merely another form of sordid gambling? Taken to its extreme, logical conclusion, poker advertisements should come with a health warning, similar to cigarette packets. However, in the long-term, with a blend of skill, strategy and bankroll management, the game can be beaten. This makes it unique from most other forms of gambling – in Blackjack and Roulette the House will always hold an edge, where as the Bookmakers will usually profit from Sports betting.
To put it succinctly, the individual and poker aren’t always compatible. Many people lack the discipline and willpower to learn, so inevitably become perennial losers. They view poker as a short-term release, and have no motivation to develop theory, abusing the accessibility of online poker sites with constant reloads. For these people – potential compulsive gamblers – poker is as dangerous as alcohol is to the alcoholic. Britain estimates to have at least 175,000 compulsive gamblers – people who are prepared to gamble despite the negative and harmful consequences on their life (i.e. depression, financial insecurity, resorting to theft). Compulsive gamblers may be addicted to arousal. Some scientists suggest that ‘noradrenaline’, a brain chemical associated with arousal, thrill and excitement, must be involved. This fits with the notion that compulsive gamblers are addicts who get a rush and then '"crash'' afterwards, and would explain why only placing a bet makes them feel better.
The creation of ‘poker celebrities’, the grandeur of the venues and excessive advertising all portray poker as, at least superficially, glamorous. Although poker can be very profitable and enjoyable, with the implementation of strategy and theory, and sound self-control, for some the responsibility is too great and the game descends into a reckless form of gambling. Behind all the glitz and glamour, there is a serious need for discipline and development of strategy. As long as you bare this mind, the poker world can be fun and fruitful.