I'd say it has to be a decline although not a sharp one. People will argue that the number of WSOP main event entrants not going down yet means that poker is still at its same level of popularity. But to me that's only one small part/world of poker.
The average guy finding something to do has already tried poker by now if wanted and either has stayed in it or not. I feel the only real growth left would be through guys in their college years or so getting a feel for it as they come of age.
You can also measure it by things like books/DVD's. I use to walk in Barnes and Noble and they'd have the huge shelf of poker books right in the front or so. Now they bury it within other cards/games books so there's got to be less interest than before.
I also feel the cast of main stars in poker did not grow enough to keep average people interested. Golf gained in popularity because of Tiger Woods and pretty much stayed where it is with him being on top. Tennis is now getting followed a lot more again because of Roger Federer when it was a little dead for a while as some stars were getting past their prime. Although it's hard to group poker with sports like that, it is kind of related feel. People can only watch Phil Hellmuth mouth off so many times. Most people don't even remember who won the WSOP main events before or after Chris Moneymaker did. There have been only so many stars that have gotten attention in poker and kept people interested.
And finally, the majority of people trying out poker have absolutely lost money at it - be at land poker rooms or online. Yeah, some top pros can do alright and you'll always hear a few people on here bragging about how it's easy money to win at it. But once the average loser finds the void of poker filled by another hobby they can spend money on, then that's another person the poker world has lost. More losers than winners equals an eventual decline in popularity.
The average guy finding something to do has already tried poker by now if wanted and either has stayed in it or not. I feel the only real growth left would be through guys in their college years or so getting a feel for it as they come of age.
You can also measure it by things like books/DVD's. I use to walk in Barnes and Noble and they'd have the huge shelf of poker books right in the front or so. Now they bury it within other cards/games books so there's got to be less interest than before.
I also feel the cast of main stars in poker did not grow enough to keep average people interested. Golf gained in popularity because of Tiger Woods and pretty much stayed where it is with him being on top. Tennis is now getting followed a lot more again because of Roger Federer when it was a little dead for a while as some stars were getting past their prime. Although it's hard to group poker with sports like that, it is kind of related feel. People can only watch Phil Hellmuth mouth off so many times. Most people don't even remember who won the WSOP main events before or after Chris Moneymaker did. There have been only so many stars that have gotten attention in poker and kept people interested.
And finally, the majority of people trying out poker have absolutely lost money at it - be at land poker rooms or online. Yeah, some top pros can do alright and you'll always hear a few people on here bragging about how it's easy money to win at it. But once the average loser finds the void of poker filled by another hobby they can spend money on, then that's another person the poker world has lost. More losers than winners equals an eventual decline in popularity.
El Jaffa has summed it up well enough. The biggest problem for books and casino people has always been how can they milk a mug without Him either losing all or losing Heart. Online Poker is new to this but the same thing will happen, Punters will give it a go until they find their losing Money quicker than their square Sports plays and return to the basic betting, perhaps playing a bit of Poker after a win on the conventional betting mediums. :drink:
The game is not declining at all. If you saw less people in the wsop this year I can tell you its because online poker rooms weren't allowed to buy people into the tournament when they ran their qualifiers. The only thing they could do was put the money into their online account, and then hope they showed up to play in the tournament, of which many kept the money and din't play the tournament.
People are finding new ways to deposit and it is starting to get to be just as easy as it was before. Look at the numbers of people online everynight between pokerstars, UB, fultilt (huge increase this year), and bodog, not to mention party still gets several thousand a night.
The game is not declining one bit.
People are finding new ways to deposit and it is starting to get to be just as easy as it was before. Look at the numbers of people online everynight between pokerstars, UB, fultilt (huge increase this year), and bodog, not to mention party still gets several thousand a night.
The game is not declining one bit.
Well you cant use the WSOP as a gauge of the popularity. Some of the early events of this WSOP set records.
Also, keep in mind that there are MANY more tournaments to choose from these days. You can play in $10,000-20000 events every month. Sometimes twice a month.
I think that poker is in a small decline, but not much. Other touraments are setting records each year for the amount of players
Also, keep in mind that there are MANY more tournaments to choose from these days. You can play in $10,000-20000 events every month. Sometimes twice a month.
I think that poker is in a small decline, but not much. Other touraments are setting records each year for the amount of players
Online poker took a hit when the legislation passed. Since then it has been slowly climbing month by month. The games are getting better and better.
Live poker is as big as it has ever been. Go to the borgata poker room on any friday or Saturday night and you will not argue that poker is on the decline.
Live poker is as big as it has ever been. Go to the borgata poker room on any friday or Saturday night and you will not argue that poker is on the decline.
