The Intertwining of Worlds in the Poker Industry
23.04.2007The game of poker has always been one that has appealed to players. It has been a game that is portrayed as a tough man’s pastime – recalling old Western movies of brave cowboy types playing the game around a smoky table in the back of a saloon.
Today that image of poker has changed a lot. For starters, it appeals more to women than ever before and it is estimated that about a third of poker players on the internet are of ‘the fairer sex’. Also, poker is played by many more people today than it was, say, 20 years ago.
It has finally been acknowledged by gambling industry analysts that traditional poker and internet poker are not developing along separate paths, as was previously believed. It is a known fact today that one sector could probably not survive without the other and that both are feeding players into each other’s world. This can clearly be seen in events such as the popular World Series of Poker (WSOP) event. This competition is held annually and attracts thousands of participants. While it is a land-based event, the fact is that many of the winners of the competitions within this tournament are internet poker players.
While the advertising of internet poker rooms have not been allowed at the WSOP event, online gambling companies have nevertheless sponsored teams and offered entry tickets into the competition as prizes on their sites. This is a classic case of the internet world feeding the traditional world of poker.
On the other hand, many players have stated without a doubt that they would not have started internet poker playing had it not been for their background in traditional play. Belonging to a poker club, or even meeting friends on a casual basis to play the game is the first step for many before they discover the great and exciting world of online poker.
Since the passing of the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act (UIGEA) in the United States last year, the land-based and online poker worlds have joined forces to try and get the game excluded from being incorporated into this law. Their main call is to have poker recognized as a game of skill. In this way, betting on poker would therefore not be considered illegal as only betting on games of chance are included in the new legislation. The American Poker Alliance is doing its utmost to press the authorities to change the law and its forces are very much dependent on the pressure applied by internet poker players who are suddenly faced with an industry that has all but dried up in the past year. Many legitimate poker companies were forced to leave the U.S. market and block American players from their sites.
There are those who swear that nothing quite beats the vibe and atmosphere found around a live poker table, while others say that nothing can compare to the convenience of online poker. The fact is that one cannot work without the other and the worlds of both are intertwined – for better or for worse.
The Ultimate Internet Gambling Checklist
If your opinion about online gambling sites is: “You’ve tried one, you’ve tried them all”, then it is time for you to sit down and have a serious rethink. You might not be blamed for initially thinking that online gambling sites are all the same. “What,” you might think, “is the whole story all about? You have the internet. You have some games. You stick them all together and you get internet gambling. Right?” The answer of course is a big no.
There are so many online gambling sites out there that you can’t be expected to know on the outset what the main differences are. You also can’t be expected not to have your head spinning when you consider the world of sportsbetting, compared to the world of online casino games; or when you read about downloads, bonuses, payment options and payout times. The world of online gambling can be fun and intriguing, but it will be all that more entertaining if you approach this pastime knowing exactly what you are doing and choosing a site that is right for you. We provide the ultimate checklist.
Who is the software provider of the site? Every online gambling site uses software for its games and activities. This software is provided by individual companies such as Microgaming, CrytoLogic and Playtech. Of course, there are many software providers, however not all of them are top rate. Read the industry news to see who are the top players and then make a choice about an online site based on the software provider. These companies usually don’t deal with online casinos that have a bad reputation or are unlicensed, so this is a very good place to start.
Is the Customer Support up to Par? Most online casinos will claim to offer you 24/7 customer support and will promise to answer all your queries in ‘record time’. Check out these claims. Send a question to the site’s support desk and see how long it takes for them to reply. See whether the answer is satisfactory and professional. Also, see what means of communication you have to contact the site. You may want to avoid sites that only provide one landline number.
Does the Site have a Good Reputation? Thanks to the internet, word spreads fast regarding an online casino’s reputation – good or bad. There are countless gambling portals and message boards on the internet that provide you with the opportunity to let your gambling peers know when you’ve had a good or bad experience with a site. You can also use these boards to question the reputation of a particular site, before signing up.
What are the Games Like? Don’t lose sight of the fact that online gambling is all about having fun. You should be extremely satisfied with the games selection on the site and they should be suited to your level of play. If not, you should search elsewhere for a site where you will feel more comfortable.
