Poker, that growing behemoth that has swept through North America and the rest of the world is diversifying. It is not just the pros anymore and gambling enthusiasts that are playing the game, but- college students, grandmothers, mothers, fathers, and everything in between. Half the world is playing the game, the other half is watching the poker players play the game.



What is interesting is that this 200-year-old game, has finally caught the publics attention. People are playing poker due to the rise of the no limit Texas hold em format, but they are also playing other formats- omaha, stud, and strip poker. Now while these poker games are not new, a whole new audience has taken to them. These days, home poker games- usually of the hold em variety, but other forms of poker (omaha, stud, and strip poker) are catching on- charity poker tournaments, and government sanctioned casino poker are attracting huge audiences both online and off. In fact, poker in all its various forms is the fastest growing leisure activity worldwide. Who is in the game? Chances are, you are.









Television has been the greatest influence in the rise; or so people would like to believe. The argument can be made that the game itself without the help of television, had grown to proportions that television could no longer ignore. An argument can be made that the game could not have grown to these levels without television. Some day, some bright game theorist will resolve the question, just as some day, some bright biologist will resolve the "chicken or the egg" question- might be a mighty long wait.



The hottest form of the game, may well be strip poker, a game most of us (at least this writer, played as part of our high school and college initiation rites). Millions are now pointing the webcam, going all in, and paying the clothing price for their "nut" flush draw losing to the full house suck out. Oh well, off with the clothes, and on with the webcam party!



Either way, from the pros, to the amateurs, to the home gamers, to the strip poker enthusiasts online in front of a million plus web cams, this juggernaught, "poker" cannot be stopped. The poker genie has escaped, the bandwagon keeps filling up, and the poker train has left the station.

By: Rick Jones

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Rick Jones is a freelance writer and a member of U Strip Poker community.