BankrollMob Poker News

Poker is a game that has been around for several generations. Although it can be traced back centuries to similar games found in many European countries, including the UK, Ireland, Spain, France, and Germany, the poker we know today began in the United States. 

Despite having a dedicated following in the south of the country, it wasn't until poker was introduced into Las Vegas in the 20th century that things really took off. Texas Hold'em was first played in the city in 1963 at the California Club, and quickly spread up and down the Strip. 
 
It grew in popularity in the years that followed and interest exploded after the World Series of Poker was launched in 1970. The competition, which at the time was the most prestigious tournament in the sport, saw entrants increase more than 1,000% in the first decade. It then doubled between 1982 and 1991.
 
However, it wasn't until the rise of online poker that the sport really hit the stratosphere. 
 
The First Poker Boom
The poker boom was the period between 2003 and 2006 where the number of people signing up to online poker sites exploded. Several factors are widely considered to have contributed to it.
 
The first was the film Rounders. Although it was released five years earlier, this movie about an underground poker player who overcomes adversity to qualify for the World Series of Poker resonated with many people interested in doing the same. 
 
The second factor was Chris Moneymaker. He was an accountant working a 9-5 job before qualifying for the World Series of Poker through a PokerStars online satellite tournament, the first player to do so. He went on to win the competition, earning himself $2.5 million in the process. 
 
Another factor that is widely considered to have sparked interest in poker was the increasing number of televised games. One of these was Late Night Poker, a show that aired in the US and UK. 
 
A Second Poker Boom?
Interest in poker has continued to grow since the end of the poker boom, albeit at a much slower rate. The number of entrants to the World Series of Poker has grown from around 50,000 in 2006 to more than 120,000 today.
 
This has led many to question whether there will be a second boom. For that to happen, similar conditions need to be met, and at the moment they seem unlikely.
 

 
Rapid Acquisition of New Players
Online poker sites are not seeing the same influx of new players as they did back during the poker boom. This is not to say that they aren't growing, with most online poker sites reporting user and revenue growth over the last few years. 
 
One way that poker brands grow their numbers is to provide educational resources to new and recreational players to help them learn how to play poker more effectively. This includes basic information on poker hands and more sophisticated strategies that can be used as the player advances their abilities. 
 
Some also offer free-to-play poker games where they can practice in the same types of tournaments and games, but without wagering real money. 
 
While growing, the annual reports of major publicly traded poker companies do not show a rapid increase in player acquisition. Nor do they forecast it happening in the coming years. 
 
More American Players
One of the main reasons that the poker boom ended in 2006 was because the United States restricted the ability for online poker sites to operate within its borders. This has remained the case ever since, although laws allowing online poker have been passed in several states since 2018. 
 
Currently, five states allow poker to be played online and more are expected to legalize it in the coming years. 
 
This won't be enough though; a second poker boom will not be possible until the majority of the US has access to the game. 
 
A Role Model
Chris Moneymaker's win at the World Series of Poker in 2003 is seen as one of the most pivotal moments in online poker. Repeats of his victory were shown on TV regularly over the Thanksgiving weekend that year. With time on their hands, people loaded up their computers and tried their hand at the game as well. 
 
The Moneymaker effect was critical and would be necessary for a second poker boom. The problem here is that an Average Joe qualifying in an online tournament isn't a unique national newsworthy story anymore since it's been replicated several times since. 
 
Somehow, another source of inspiration will be necessary. 
 
Based on these criteria, it seems like a second poker boom isn't likely any time soon. That said, the sport is still seeing growing interest from the public, just not at the same pace as we saw nearly 20 years ago.