Poker boom
Encyclopedia
The poker boom was a period between 2003 and 2006, during which poker
, primarily no limit Texas hold 'em
, but also other variations, became considerably more popular around the world. During the boom years the online poker
player pool was at least doubling in size every year.
The seeds of the boom began in 1998, with the release of the film Rounders
and the introduction of online poker
at Planet Poker
. These events built on the occasional telecasts of the World Series of Poker
(WSOP) Main Events that were recorded each summer and broadcast later in the year.
Two specific 2003 triggers completed the launch of the poker boom. In the spring of 2003, the World Poker Tour
's inaugural season debuted on the Travel Channel
on American
cable television
. The impact of the boom was escalated in May, 2003, when amateur Chris Moneymaker
won the 2003 WSOP Main Event. Moneymaker won his seat via a $39 satellite tournament
on the PokerStars
online poker room. Moneymaker was one of 839 entrants in the 2003 event, an increase of roughly 200 players from 2002 and almost doubling the 393 competitors that played in 1999. By the very next year, the field in the 2004 Main Event swelled by more than 1700 (over 200%), to 2576 players. By the 2006 Main Event, this number had grown to 8773 competitors - nearly a 1300% increase versus the last 2002 pre-boom Main Event.
The end of the boom is generally considered to be October 2006, when the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act of 2006
(UIGEA) became law in the United States, and several online poker sites, including the industry leader at the time, Party Poker, left the United States. In the first WSOP following the passage of UIGEA, attendance in the WSOP Main Event dropped nearly 28%, from 8773 in 2006 to 6358 at the 2007 Main Event
.
The game today remains much more popular than the pre-boom period, with WSOP Main Event attendance having stabilized near the 2007 level, in part due to higher growth levels internationally.
Based on the 6685 entries to the July 2011 launch of the 2011 Main Event, it appears that the "Black Friday"
indictments, on April 15, 2011, have not reduced the recent level of poker activity. Numerous online poker sites serving players in the United States were seized and shut down by U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of New York, which alleged they were in violation of federal bank fraud and money laundering
laws.
Poker
Poker is a family of card games that share betting rules and usually hand rankings. Poker games differ in how the cards are dealt, how hands may be formed, whether the high or low hand wins the pot in a showdown , limits on bet sizes, and how many rounds of betting are allowed.In most modern poker...
, primarily no limit Texas hold 'em
Texas hold 'em
Texas Hold 'em is a variation of the standard card game of poker. The game consists of two cards being dealt face down to each player and then five community cards being placed face-up by the dealer—a series of three then two additional single cards , with...
, but also other variations, became considerably more popular around the world. During the boom years the online poker
Online poker
Online poker is the game of poker played over the Internet. It has been partly responsible for a dramatic increase in the number of poker players worldwide...
player pool was at least doubling in size every year.
The seeds of the boom began in 1998, with the release of the film Rounders
Rounders (film)
Rounders is a 1998 film about the underground world of high-stakes poker. Directed by John Dahl and starring Matt Damon and Edward Norton, the movie follows two friends who need to quickly earn enough cash playing poker to pay off a large debt...
and the introduction of online poker
Online poker
Online poker is the game of poker played over the Internet. It has been partly responsible for a dramatic increase in the number of poker players worldwide...
at Planet Poker
Planet Poker
Planet Poker was the first real-money cardroom for playing online poker, opening in 1998.-The pioneer:Without an existing model to follow, Planet Poker founder Randy Blumer was entering uncharted territory. During the initial launch and testing phases in late 1997, Planet Poker started to build a...
. These events built on the occasional telecasts of the World Series of Poker
World Series of Poker
The World Series of Poker is a world-renowned series of poker tournaments held annually in Las Vegas and, since 2005, sponsored by Harrah's Entertainment...
(WSOP) Main Events that were recorded each summer and broadcast later in the year.
Two specific 2003 triggers completed the launch of the poker boom. In the spring of 2003, the World Poker Tour
World Poker Tour
The World Poker Tour is a series of international poker tournaments and associated television series broadcasting the final table of each tournament. It was started in the United States by attorney/television producer Steven Lipscomb, who served as CEO of WPT Enterprises , the firm that...
's inaugural season debuted on the Travel Channel
Travel Channel
The Travel Channel is a satellite and cable television channel that is headquartered in Chevy Chase, Maryland, US. It features documentaries and how-to shows related to travel and leisure around the United States and throughout the world. Programming has included shows in African animal safaris,...
on American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
cable television
Cable television
Cable television is a system of providing television programs to consumers via radio frequency signals transmitted to televisions through coaxial cables or digital light pulses through fixed optical fibers located on the subscriber's property, much like the over-the-air method used in traditional...
. The impact of the boom was escalated in May, 2003, when amateur Chris Moneymaker
Chris Moneymaker
Christopher Bryan Moneymaker is an American poker player who won the main event at the 2003 World Series of Poker . His 2003 win is said to have revolutionized poker because he was the first person to become a world champion by qualifying at an online poker site...
won the 2003 WSOP Main Event. Moneymaker won his seat via a $39 satellite tournament
Satellite tournament
A satellite tournament is either a minor tournament or event on a competitive sporting tour or one of a group of such tournaments that form a series played in the same country or region.-Poker:...
on the PokerStars
PokerStars
PokerStars is the largest online poker cardroom in the world. PokerStars' satellite tournaments produced the 2003 World Series of Poker champion, Chris Moneymaker. 1983 champion Tom McEvoy, 2005 champion Joe Hachem, 2009 champion Joe Cada and 2010 champion Jonathan Duhamel and others also represent...
online poker room. Moneymaker was one of 839 entrants in the 2003 event, an increase of roughly 200 players from 2002 and almost doubling the 393 competitors that played in 1999. By the very next year, the field in the 2004 Main Event swelled by more than 1700 (over 200%), to 2576 players. By the 2006 Main Event, this number had grown to 8773 competitors - nearly a 1300% increase versus the last 2002 pre-boom Main Event.
The end of the boom is generally considered to be October 2006, when the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act of 2006
Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act of 2006
The Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act of 2006 is United States legislation regulating online gambling. It was added as Title VIII to the SAFE Port Act which otherwise regulated port security...
(UIGEA) became law in the United States, and several online poker sites, including the industry leader at the time, Party Poker, left the United States. In the first WSOP following the passage of UIGEA, attendance in the WSOP Main Event dropped nearly 28%, from 8773 in 2006 to 6358 at the 2007 Main Event
2007 World Series of Poker
The 2007 World Series of Poker began on June 1, 2007. The $10,000 no-limit Texas hold 'em Main Event began on July 6 and was completed on the morning of July 18...
.
The game today remains much more popular than the pre-boom period, with WSOP Main Event attendance having stabilized near the 2007 level, in part due to higher growth levels internationally.
Based on the 6685 entries to the July 2011 launch of the 2011 Main Event, it appears that the "Black Friday"
United States v. Scheinberg
United States v. Scheinberg, 10 Cr. 336 , is a United States federal criminal case against the founders of the three largest online poker companies, PokerStars, Full Tilt Poker and Cereus , and a handful of their associates, which alleges that the defendants violated the Unlawful Internet Gambling...
indictments, on April 15, 2011, have not reduced the recent level of poker activity. Numerous online poker sites serving players in the United States were seized and shut down by U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of New York, which alleged they were in violation of federal bank fraud and money laundering
Money laundering
Money laundering is the process of disguising illegal sources of money so that it looks like it came from legal sources. The methods by which money may be laundered are varied and can range in sophistication. Many regulatory and governmental authorities quote estimates each year for the amount...
laws.