Since when was Poker so popular?

[choc_a_holic]

Sometimes I wonder why there is a sudden Texas hold em Poker phase! Although, it's actually not just hold em. I am sure that a couple years ago nobody was going on about playing poker blah blah but now unexpectedly this year everybody I know is playing the game.

Now, I know it's not just me being older now and developing new interests because last year, or the year before, did BigFooty have a forum dedicated to Poker? Nope...and were there commercials on the t.v about going to the casino to play poker? Nup!

Well, I am glad I am in this phase of poker because it's damn fun

 

[London-Tavern-Is-Filth]

began when joe hachem won the WSOP, but i was into it before hand, WPT would have had an affect too

 

[Lajon]

began when joe hachem won the WSOP, but i was into it before hand, WPT would have had an affect too

The latest influx of poker fans was well before Hachem. It's happened over the last 2-3 years with the growing coverage of the WPT as you said.

 

[red+black]

began when joe hachem won the WSOP, but i was into it before hand, WPT would have had an affect too

it helped, but it was before then. i remember SBS having a poker show saturday night 10pm to midnight maybe 2-3 years ago, before the latest influx of tv shows.

 

[Crosby87]

I'd say poker initially gained some attention here through the WPT, but poker has only increased in mainstream popularity here since Hachem won the world series. I remember going into Crown before the WSOP, and I spoke to some dealers who said they were having a hard time recruiting new players (especially females) to the game. Man has that ever changed.

But, poker has been incredibly popular for at least 2-3 years now in the U.S. You really can't grasp how popular it is until you go over there. Poker pros are starting to become celebrities (well, sporting celebrities).

 

[jay_1972]

I've been playing for a few years now.
There was no talk about it before because very few people were aware of the game, so no use posting on a internet forum where people had no idea what you were talking about
Omaha , Razz , Stud ect will eventually becaome more popular aswell and people will start talking about these

 

[Crosby87]

Omaha , Razz , Stud ect will eventually becaome more popular aswell and people will start talking about these

I think they will amongst serious players, but not in the mainstream. To your normal average Joe, Omaha and Stud (razz and the hi/lo varients especially) are too complex. I mean, people want to come to the casino to play an easy game and gamble their money (granted, most fools don't know the game when they play, but for some hold'em is difficult enough), and I also think omaha and stud are perhaps too complex for television, and perhaps not as exciting for your average player.