Poker Online » Poker Games

The Benefits of Playing Poker Online

admin — Fri, 29 Jan 2010 10:30:17 +0000

Online poker is the computer version of the poker and it is played over the Internet. Poker is a popular game that is played in all parts of the world and the popularity of the poker has resulted in the development of its computer version. Online poker further increased the popularity of the poker as it is very easy to play poker online and anyone with a computer and an Internet connection can enjoy the game of poker while he is on the move.

Online poker gained popularity in a very short span of time and as a result, there are a number of sites available on Internet that offers poker games. The best part of the poker sites is that people from different countries can play together and so, you are most likely to find thousands of people playing poker at the same time. A number of poker rooms are now available on Internet and they have made the game more exciting by offering real prizes. So apart from the entertainment, you can also win some fabulous prizes by playing poker from the comforts of your home.

It is very convenient to play poker online as an individual can enjoy the game of poker while enjoying the comforts of his home. He is not required to move out in order to play the game. This is very convenient when compared to the situation in which an individual needs to go to the card room for playing poker. Anyone with a computer and an Internet connection can play poker online. You don’t even need to dress properly in order to play poker online whereas an individual playing poker at a card room needs to dress up properly. So, playing poker online is very convenient.

For a beginner, it is very easy to learn the basics of poker by playing it online. Most of the online poker sites offer free games through which an individual can learn the basics of the game. The free games are perfect for an individual who is still learning poker and who wants to understand the game more clearly. Also, a person can practice poker whenever he wants as sites are open throughout the day. The poker sites also offer well-researched articles, guides, tips so as to help the players to improve their game.

It is more exciting and entertaining to play poker online as while playing the game online, you get to play and chat with players from different parts of the world and you are most likely to find new players each time you play poker. So, online poker is more fun-packed when compared to poker played at the card rooms located near your house.

The online poker industry is highly competitive and this is the reason why most of the poker sites offer great bonuses and exciting promotions. They offer these bonuses so as to encourage people to use their site and this gives an advantage to an end-user. An individual can make good amount of money by playing poker online.

Almost each site offers deposit bonuses in which a person is given some bonus for making a deposit. Also, some poker sites giveaway prizes for playing poker and this again allows an individual to win some great prizes. So, playing poker online is a great way to win some great prizes while enjoying the comforts of your home.

By: Daniel Millions

Poker: Poker Rules – Play it Fair or be Square

admin — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 04:43:44 +0000

Anybody who hasn’t heard of the poker game? Anybody who hasn’t played a round of poker game?i think not. Even celebrities nowadays participate in celebrity poker games. But who knows how poker came about? In truth, there is a dilemma as to who can lay claim for the birth of this card game. The French have it ‘poque’ which descended from the Germans’ ‘pochen’ which means “to knock”. However, it can be contested that it could have originated from the Persian game of ‘as nas’ that could have been taught to the French settlers by Persian sailors in New Orleans. However poker came about, everybody is playing it and loving the challenge. Poker rules therefore are extremely important since you might be betting your car keys already, for all you know. The poker rules guides the green horn on how to lose graciously the first few deals. Thus learning to play a good game of poker is expensive.

We need to know the basics on how to play poker, the poker rules according to the poker variant, poker etiquette and poker hands to be able to passably play. Winning is everything in poker since this is a mind game more than anything else.

First off, we need to clarify the different poker game variants to know which poker rules need to be in play. There are many variants to the poker game but the more universal poker game variants are: draw poker, stud poker, widow poker game, and miscellaneous poker games (which include Stud Horse poker, Oxford stud, Billabong (and Shanghai), Guts, and Blind Man’s Bluff). However, the most commonly played poker games for the first three variants are the five-card draw, seven-card stud, and the Texas hold ‘em.

Since this is the most played poker game variant, poker rules for the five-card draw are generally easy to remember. It is assumed that you basically know the general poker game play, the hand values and the betting system. Poker rules differ from the home-style games to the more formal games as played in the casinos. For formal games blinds are commonly used while for home games, it is more typical use an ante. Ante is where the first betting round starts from the player to the dealer’s left, then the second round betting begins with the player who opened or made the first non-zero betting in the preceding round.

A common house rule in playing five card draw in home or social games is that a player can not replace more than three cards, unless he holds an ace or a wile card so that the deck stub will not be easily depleted. Another common house rule is that the last card in the deck stub is not dealt anymore to ensure that anybody who might have seen it will not use that information.

In the seven card stud, poker rules are a bit more complex than the five card draw since two to eight players can play. The only poker rule to remember, (better make it your mantra) is two down, four up, one down. This is the lay of the cards and not meant to mean something else.

The third most commonly played poker game is the Texas hold ‘em. The poker rules here are the same with the first two but what makes this different is the introduction of lipstick cameras where spectators were able to view each player’s cards.

Definitely, we’ve seen that poker rules changes a bit depending on the game of poker being played. Now that we’ve learned the different poker rules, playing it like the pros would be as easy as pie.

By: Nicholas Tan

Online Poker Rooms That Accept American Poker Players and Absolute Poker

admin — Wed, 27 Jan 2010 22:47:58 +0000

Why did online casinos stop accepting United States players and What did happen?

President Bush On Friday October 13, 2006 signed a bill that affected online casinos, poker rooms, sportsbooks, bingos whose principal purpose is to tighten security measures for the United States sea ports. Attached to that bill was a federal ban on banking institutions knowingly transferring funds to businesses or people that may conduct gambling operations in United States and areas where gambling is prohibited. Many online casinos and poker rooms left the United States marketplace, but, gambling at online casinos is not illegal in most of the United States.

There are 11 states; Illinois, Indiana, Louisiana (felony to play online poker), Michigan, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, South Dakota, Washington (felony to play online poker) and Wisconsin that disallows gambling online, but there are 39 that have no laws against playing online poker or casino games.

Absolute Poker is an online poker room that allows Americans to play online poker after the United States passed the bill in October, 2006, and they are a privately held poker room so the new law does not affect their business like other poker rooms.

Online Poker for Live Players Online Poker, joining this online poker room lets you experience the excitement of playing against live players from all over the world and winning big money and prizes in our great tournaments. Real and play-money games are available and a great bonus and rewards system for everyone. Maybe you will meet Serinda Swan at a poker table? Read how to find Serinda. All you have to do is download their poker software, Log in and start playing online poker.

You can learn to play by reading their many articles, written by professionals poker players.

Play online Texas Holdem at Absolute Poker and they are one of the world’s largest poker websites and THE place to play poker online 24/7, they have the best in game choice, poker tournaments action, promotions, player features and a fast, knowledgeable, and professional customer support team.

Absolute Poker are dedicated to providing live poker players from around the world the best poker action whether you are playing in tournaments or your favorite Texas holdem games.

Multi Player Games and Tournaments, Multi player poker games offered include: Texas Holdem, Omaha High, Omaha Hi/Lo, Seven Card Stud, Seven Card Stud Hi/Lo, One on One, and daily tournaments. Experience the best poker has to offer including great promotions, 15 guaranteed tournaments daily. Play free tournaments or real money multi table, satellites, heads up sit n go and freeroll tournaments.

Fast Download or Instant Play, driven by proprietary software, Absolute Poker also has the most comprehensive, interactive poker room, providing such features as hand history, stat retrieval, player note taking, chat, locate a player, six table play, and representative image selection. You can also play poker in their Instant Play no download poker game.

Poker Tables, change poker table skins from the online poker room at any moment. Get together with your friends at private live poker tournaments. Live players with a bad beat will enjoy our Bad Beat Jackpot tables. The poker jackpot will keep growing until someone hits an unbelievable bad beat. Everyone at the table will win a piece of the distributed jackpot.

Prepare to Play, if you are not quite ready to sit at the table just yet, no problem, no account is necessary for just observing a poker game. Take your time and learn in the section poker articles and news about the games to update your skill.

Serinda Swan News, the Face of Absolute Poker and Guess Model, Serinda Swan, has garnered worldwide exposure from her connection to Absolute Poker and it has skyrocketed her to the top of the poker world. As today’s “It Poker Girl,” Serinda is recognized as the most beautiful bombshell in professional poker. Meet her at their tables on check out Sunday’s with Serinda at 14.00 – 16.00 ET.!

By: James Murray

Poker Tournament Online

admin — Fri, 22 Jan 2010 11:09:16 +0000

Playing in a poker tournament online can be a great way to have fun, meet other poker enthusiasts, make money, and even a great way to win a seat to play in a larger international poker tournament event like the WPT or the WSOP. There are many different types of poker tournaments available online that poker players can enter. Players have the option to choose a poker tournament online based on the tournament’s stakes level, the poker game played, the betting format, and/or on the tournament format.

Choosing a poker tournament online to join based on its stakes level is a good way to find a poker tournament that will meet the player’s skill level. Low stakes poker tournaments generally attract novice poker players, medium stakes poker tournaments generally attract moderately skilled poker players, and high stakes poker tournaments generally attract highly skilled poker players. The only exception to this generality is that freerolls, poker tournaments that are free to enter, can attract players from all of the poker skill categories.

Another way to select a poker tournament online is to base the choice on the game that is played in the tournament. The most popular poker game that is played in poker tournaments online is Texas Hold’em. Other poker games that are played in online poker tournaments include: Omaha Hi, Omaha Hi/Lo, Stud Poker, Pai Gow Poker, and Caribbean Poker.

In addition to selecting a poker tournament online based on its stakes level and game type, players also can select poker tournaments based on format of the poker tournament. Betting structure is the first tournament format issue that poker players need to take into consideration when searching for a poker tournament to enter. Poker tournaments can have any of the following betting structures: no limit, pot limit, or limit. The pace and structure of a poker tournament can also vary from tournament to tournament. For example a tournament can have a Sit ‘n Go format, a single elimination format, a double elimination format, or even a Turbo format. Players should take all of these things into consideration before deciding on the poker tournament to enter.

By: Doyle Brunson

Poker: the Colour of Poker Money

admin — Sun, 17 Jan 2010 18:44:54 +0000

“What’s that father?” a little boy once asked his father. “Can I play with them?”

The father replied, “No, son, it is not a toy! It is money, my boy!” The boy hurried off to play outside, though, wondering why his father considered those colorful chips as money.

Most children in America grew up with different kinds of colored chips. This colored chips represents money in the casinos. For example, a player who wants to play poker has to buy some chips to be used when betting. And because this is the kind of money that is being used during a game in the casino, particularly poker, others eventually call it poker money.

Poker money comes in various shades of blue, red, and other colors usually seen in the casinos.

In a particular poker game, a player’s poker money account is comprised of real cash and real chips. Normally, players could convert their cash to chips and vice versa. This can be done any time the player wants to do transactions except during a game.

Poker money arrives after a player settles down on a table and is ready to play poker. This poker money, in terms of chips, is being laid out in front of the concerned player.

However, before proceeding into playing poker, every player must make a deposit for his poker money.

In a live poker game where players get to play facing each other, the poker money are converted easily from cash to chips and vice versa on counters provided in the casino.

On the other hand, online poker games have different ways of managing poker money. Most of the online poker websites require their players to have their poker money accounts through deposits. Generally, these can be done into two categories. One category of depositing poker money is through direct methods wherein players use a credit card or draft in order to deposit money. The other category of depositing poker money is through a 3rd party services like NETeller or prepaid ATM which acts like Internet banks. Here, players can do transactions such as depositing poker money and transferring funds to online poker Web sites.

There are six deposit methods usually used when dealing with poker money by means of a 3rd party.

First of its kind is the Neteller. This method of depositing poker money is usually available on many Internet sites. Neteller offers players the choice of cashing out directly poker money into their account. Opening a Neteller account is like having an online wallet.

The other method you could consider is the MyCitadel wherein online poker players need not check their mails for drafts. MyCitadel is a payment system that manages US and Canadian customers mostly catering to poker money related matters. Here, poker players can have their poker money by purchasing chips online.

Then there is the FirePay, a Web based cash account. FirePay is great site wherein players with fund accounts from a United States bank can directly open a poker money account with them. Funds can be transferred directly from a U.S. bank account.

You also have the option in using a prepaid ATM. The difference with prepaid ATM is that players get to deposit their poker money to an ATM card and not just a Web site. When doing cash outs, it goes directly to your card. And the good thing about it is that the prepaid ATM works with most local ATM machines.

If you are not so convenient in using ATM, you could opt for credit cards. Poker money deposits can be easily managed without having a 3rd party. Or better yet, you could use the bank draft or check wherein your poker money deposits are better secured. Plus most Web sites offer 10% bonus when you deposit poker money through this method.

Last option would be the UseMyBank method wherein it also guarantees secured, fast, and easy transactions. Though, only those who have Canadian online bank accounts can be eligible.

And after you are through making poker money deposit, and maybe playing some hands of poker, there are online poker Web site that will give you a choice if you want to cash out your poker money at once or remove your funds at the site if in case you still want to come back and play. With the six deposit mode mentioned, you can be assured of having your poker money, whether chips or cash, remain exactly like you left them.

So, when the time comes you have finally decided to play poker online or in a live poker room in the casino, try to think of ways how to manage your poker money. After all, those chips are not just plain plastics. Poker money is exactly the reason why you have played poker in the first place.

By: Nicholas Tan

Poker: Party Poker – the Popular Poker

admin — Tue, 12 Jan 2010 11:06:06 +0000

Party poker is one of the most popular poker games over the internet. What is party poker? If you are aware of MMORPGs, (more popularly known as Massive Multiplayer Online Role Playing Game), then party poker is just like that. It is a Massive Multiplayer Online Poker Gaming. You can say that it is a kind of Mecca for poker players that don¡¯t have the time to go to casinos. Party poker is played by up to thousands of online poker gamers. It can also be compared to chatting, where you have the chance of joining chatting rooms, but in this case, you are supposed to join poker rooms.

I recommend party poker online, although there are some differences between playing party poker online and face-to-face poker. The difference relies on the bluffing. Because you can¡¯t see your opponents, you will not have the tell tale signs of their bluffs or can you have a reading of their card. Party poker online only gives us the very basic and fundamental laws of the game. Thus, a newbie can have a better chance of winning against a pro in an online game than in real life.

Party poker employs the basic poker rules, although some rooms have modified poker rules. It is good to first learn the basic poker rules and game play before engaging in serious betting online. However, if you are truly interested, there are party poker gaming rooms that are void of betting. These are strictly and purely gaming only. Party poker can also be compared to online casinos. The payments however are not chips, but are in cash. The payments, also known as bets are placed with the use of credit cards. Most of the party poker sites that are available recognize the standard credit cards.

What does party poker offer to a gamer? Hours and hours of fun! Whether you are a beginner in the game, or a serious poker player, party poker will be your poker gaming oasis. Maybe you want to learn about the intricate yet enjoyable game of poker but have no one to play it with. Don¡¯t worry, because party poker is actually a community in itself. It is a place where you can learn with other beginners. Party poker sites link hundreds, and even thousands of players. The abilities of these players also range from a complete beginner knowing nothing about poker, to advanced and pro players. However, one needs to be wary of your betting, because you might lose serious money in party pokers. The benefits really far outweigh the risks that are involved. Party poker can also reward you a lot of dollars, and might make your wallet fat.

So how does a person eager to play massive online poker do it? All party poker sites require poker gamers to download a poker gaming software. These gaming softwares differ from one party poker site to another. A poker gaming software is limited to that particular party poker site. So if you plan on playing on different sites, you will end up downloading numerous party poker softwares. Most party poker sites will require you to fill up a registration form. All the best party poker sites on the web are on members only basis. This membership will also require a membership fee. In the registration form, you will be asked your credit card number. This is how you will be deducted your losing bets. Your winning pot is transferred to your bank account directly.

Party poker sites earn millions of dollars a year because of thousands of patrons. Because party poker sites can operate online, you have the possibility of playing with poker enthusiasts from around the globe. Place your bets folks!

By: Nicholas Tan

Poker And Gambling – 3 Advantages Of Playing Online

admin — Sun, 10 Jan 2010 06:50:53 +0000

Old Age Poker Games

At those days, a poker game was played using only a deck consisting of 20 cards. Then, 4 players will keep a bet on which player has the best hand and hence the most valuable.

After some time, the game spread at the speed of forest fire to the other parts of America, the presence of the game headed along the west alongside California Gold Rush. Later, the game got its complete 52-card deck.

Later, the flush was added to the game, and slowly more and more additions were made to the game at the time of American Civil War. Many modifications were taken in like stud poker that is a 5-card variant of poker game, straight poker and draw poker.

Wild cards were introduced by the Americans in the year of 1875. Later in the 1900s, split-pot and lowball poker were developed in the poker game. Community card games in poker were introduced in the year of 1925.

Thanks to US military, the game of poker eventually spread to various other countries, mainly to the Asian countries.

Poker game wasn’t always taken as a game to be played. Before the 70s, poker was usually absent at casinos due to the lack of security measures for checking on the people who cheat in the game. Casinos didn’t open poker rooms for playing black jack and roulette even till the 80s and 90s.

– Poker at the Present

People’s interest was renewed thanks to the setting up of much better security techniques along with lots of promotion and tournaments being held.

Also, advent of online gambling or online poker helped the game to reach new heights. Online gambling or online poker gave life to the poker game which was held stagnant for a long time.

Many people of all skills and levels began to get a likeness to the poker game due to the introduction of online gambling or online poker. Amateurs and beginners began to bring themselves together to get to learn further or start learning about gambling online or online poker.

Online gambling or online poker helped the common people to learn how to play the poker game. The game which was once restricted to be enjoyed by rich businessmen alone at casinos rolling high could now be played by the common man too.

– Advantages of Online Gambling or Online Poker

Online gambling or online poker has many advantages over the mortar and brick poker games. Listed below are a few advantages of the online gambling or online poker game which have been proven many a time by the poker game fanatics:

1. Massive cheating caused the casinos of those days to close their business and move on to roulette or blackjack games. The game is still open to fraudulent tactics such as collusion of players even when security measures were taken into account in the poker game.

Gambling online or online poker uses a software which automatically monitors the game and detects patterns in the games of any player to identify any possible collusion between 2 or more players.

Gambling online or online poker software is also able to check any player’s IP addresses to be able to see if 2 or any more players are playing from the same area which is a form of fraudulent tactics used in the game.

Moreover, online gambling or online poker software can share data to another software virtually such that gambling online or online poker software can very easily keep a record of players having fraudulent records and then ban the players from playing any more in the poker game.

2. Online gambling or online poker is so famous that tournaments called satellite tournaments are being watched by real poker tournaments. The winners of the satellite tournament are given entry into the real tournaments like World Series Poker which takes places only once a year.

Actually, in the year 2003 and 2004, the winners of World Series Poker, Greg “the Fossilman” Raymer and Chris Moneymaker, got entry into the World Poker Series by winning the online gambling or online poker tournaments.

3. A noticeable advantage in online gambling or online poker is that there is no psychological factor in the game. The players of online gambling or online poker games don’t face each other. Each player is far far away from another player and they play together only in a virtual game room.

No body can observe another player’s body language or reaction and instead of that, players have to focus on the betting patterns to get an idea of other player’s card hands.

By: Abhishek Agarwal

Poker Rules: Keep Them Fair

admin — Sat, 09 Jan 2010 20:31:21 +0000

Who has not heard of a game of poker? Is there someone who has not played a round of poker game? There would not be many. Some celebrities too participate in several celebrity poker games. Not many know about the coming up of poker? In reality, there is some dilemma about who could lay the claim about the birth of the poker game. The French call it ‘poque’ which came from Germans’ ‘pochen’ meaning “to knock”. However, it could be contested about having originated from Persian game ‘as nas’ that might have been told to French settlers by the Persian sailors in the New Orleans. However, the game of poker came about, and all are playing and loving its challenge. Poker rules are therefore, extremely important since one might bet their car keys already, for all they know. These poker rules would guide the green horn about graciously losing the initial few deals. Hence, learning to play one good poker game is quite expensive.

One must know the basics about playing poker. The game must go according to poker rules as per the poker variants, poker etiquettes and poker hands so that the play gets implemented. Winning is the entire end in poker as this is more of a mind game than anything else.

At the outset, we should clarify the different games of poker or the variants to see which poker rule needs to be in the play. There are several variants in the poker game; however, the universal poker game variants are: widow poker, stud poker, draw poker and other miscellaneous poker games that include Stud Horse poker, Billabong, Oxford stud and Shanghai, Blind Man’s Bluff and Guts. The most usually played poker games for initial three variants are seven-card stud, five-card draw, and Texas holds ‘em.

As this is the commonly played variant of poker game, the poker rules for five-card draw are often easy to remember. The assumption is that you fundamentally know the general game of poker, all hand values and betting system. Poker rules always differ from any home-style games to any of the other formal games which are played in the casinos. For formal games, the blinds are usually used but for home games, an ante is typically used. Ante is the place where the initial betting round starts often from the player towards the left of the dealer. Then second round betting starts with the player whoever opened or made the very first non-zero betting act in previous round.

One common house rule when playing the five card draw in social games or home is that any player can’t replace more than 3 cards, unless he has an ace or the wile card so as to not easily deplete the deck stub. A common house rule says that the card last in the deck stub would not be dealt to ensure anyone who has seen it would not use the information.

Within seven card stud, the poker rules are bit more complex compared to five card draw as two to eight players could play. The mere poker rule to know and could better make it as the mantra; it is two down, four up, one down. It is lay of cards and is never meant to mean anything else.

Third most often played game of poker is Texas hold ‘em. Poker rules are the same here too, with the first 2 but what has this different is introduction of the lipstick cameras where all spectators are able to see each other’s cards.

It is apparent that we have seen that the poker rules change a bit depending up on the type of poker game being played. As now that we know the different rules in poker, playing it just like the pros will be quite easy as a pie.

By: Abhishek Agarwal

Poker: Poker Download – What You Should Know About Online Poker

admin — Fri, 08 Jan 2010 06:01:29 +0000

Poker Download: What you should know about online poker

Trying to download poker software is easy, many sites points to it. The real issue is what do you do with it and how do you maximize your potential winning in the card games thereafter you download poker?

There are some very good articles arguments for why to download poker software, it is surely the most popular of a class of online poker rooms, the news articles for players speak highly on the poker download software, especially it’s resource page on the game rules, odds and statistics figures, all is given in an easy to use format for new and experienced players, outlining the chances at playing the card games and giving some some knowledge of the equipment used for poker downloadprocedures, there is also a reference on what is legal about the usage and some illustrated programs for trying the play for fun and not for real money.

This poker download for Internet betting room reviews resource and guides that tell you all the story about this online cards game, where Texas Holdem, Omaha hi/lo, stud 7 and other card games are being played. They try to evaluate the poker platform to fully supply to you a helpful tool in understanding the card games and some knowledge of the equipment used for running the online tournaments.

A completely objective poker download and unbiased analysis of this online vendor is a long one, it starts by a detailed review of the online manual for the software and the unique collection of features within it, including some of the good old fashioned ways in how to win and an online exhibition of capabilities of the poker download software.

Play online poker with free poker downloads from top-rated internet poker sites! In less than 2 minutes you can download free poker download games on your computer thatwill allow you to join low limit to high roller poker tables, and everything in between, with thousands of real poker players online! It’s free, fast, and easy to start playing poker games like texas hold’em and 7 card stud in real internet poker rooms 24 hours a day, for fun or for real money. With Poker tournaments every 15 minutes, this free poker download is the best on the web.

Play real poker online

Enjoy all of your favorite poker download games including 7 Card Stud, Texas Holdem , Omaha and more. Download the state-of-the-art online poker software that lets you play real poker against real people.

Online poker

Online poker fits anyone’s schedule because you can play 24 hours a day. There is no traveling time involved, and there is little or no waiting to get into a game once you are logged on. With the growing popularity of poker, if you choose to play at a live cardroom you will most likely wait hours just to get seated at a table. But with online poker, there’s always a seat waiting for you.

Don’t be intimidated by online poker download tables, even if you’ve never played the game before. You can always play poker downloads for free while you learn the basics of the game. With free poker games, there’s nothing to lose. After you get the hang of the game, you may want to open a real money account and start playing for real pots.

Download poker games

Poker has gained immense popularity over the last few years. More people are interested in watching and learning to play poker downloads at home, in casinos, and even online. These days, it’s not uncommon to find televised poker games on ESPN and even a few network channels, including shows like Celebrity Poker, The World Poker Tour, and The World Series of Poker. The most convenient way to start playing poker is to download real poker software for free and join virtual poker downloads online. Most online poker sites offer free downloads that take only minutes to complete, so you can start playing real poker games in minutes.

By: Nicholas Tan

Smoking Aces: Poker’s Dramatic Rise in Asia

admin — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 03:19:20 +0000

10 years ago, Poker in Asia was a virtually unknown commodity and you couldn’t pick out a poker player from a crowd. Today, you’d be hard-pressed to find someone who doesn’t play the game, or at the very least, doesn’t know how it works.

While it was popular across America — specifically in California — and some parts of Europe, poker remained in the dark among Asian countries. For a long time, land-based companies have expressed interest in pursuing the Asian market but have been largely unsuccessful in part because most of these countries – with the exception of Macau – banned any form of gambling. As a result, poker remained a Western game, completely detached from the East.

10 years later and it’s a different story altogether.

It’s no secret that poker’s popularity experienced an unprecedented surge with the introduction of online poker. Not only that but broadcasts of the World Series of Poker and the World Poker Tour introduced the game to millions of casual viewers.

But most importantly, poker’s introduction to Asia happened because the countries slowly began to open its collective arms to land-based and on-line gambling.

The allure of Asia as a poker crazy region comes as no surprise considering almost half of the world’s population can be found there. China and India alone comprise almost 2.5 billion people when combined and that’s not even counting Indonesia, Japan, and the Philippines — densely populated countries in their own right. With all these people starting to get familiarized with the game and the attraction that comes with it, it was only a matter of time before poker games and poker tournaments exploded in the region.

And now, to say that Texas Hold ‘Em, unquestionably the most popular type of poker, is being played everywhere is a vast understatement. Poker rooms are sprouting like full-blown seeds all over Asia. Macau, a baccarat-dominated country, is slowly beginning to experience the thrill that is poker. In recent years, it has hosted numerous poker tournaments including the Asian Poker Tour Macau 2008. Incidentally, the APT now has its very own poker room at the Galaxy StarWorld Hotel and Casino.

Even in the Philippines, poker is growing faster than you can say, “All-In!” The country has hosted its fair share of tournaments not the least of which is the Asian Poker Tour. As a matter of fact, the success of last year’s APT tournament – which drew well over 316 poker players from all over the world – has resulted in the APT holding another tournament to kick off its 2009 season. The Asian Poker Tour Philippines 2009 will be held from January 27 to February 1, 2009 at the Dusit Thani Manila Hotel and it is widely expected that some of the best poker players from around the world will participate in the event.

Asian poker players have also become instrumental in the propagation of poker in Asia. Some of the best poker players in the world, including Johnny Chan, Men “The Master” Nguyen, JC Tran, Nam Le, Steve Sung, Quinn Do, David Rheem and Kwang Soo Lee all trace their roots in Asia and their impact in the world poker scene hasn’t gone unnoticed.

With the meteoric rise of poker in Asia, it only seems inevitable that more and more of the future top players of poker will come from the region. It’s a testament to a game that only ten years ago was not even an afterthought. From the darkness of obscurity, poker has risen to become one of the most popular games in Asia.

With the way things are going, it’s a safe bet that poker is far from reaching its peak popularity and that’s good news, not only for Asia, but for the entire world.

By: Rosette Siriban