Amateurs help grow poker's popularity

LAS VEGAS -- Chris Moneymaker is widely credited as the catalyst of the American poker boom, his rise from unknown amateur to unlikely World Series of Poker champion unleashing a flurry of interest in the game.

The former accountant from Nashville won his $10,000 buy-in to the 2003 Main Event by winning an online tournament with a $40 entry fee. He bested a field of 829 with a mix of bluffs, luck and unrefined skill, knocking out such poker luminaries as Phil Ivey and Dan Harrington at the final table on his way to the $2.5 million first-place prize and coveted bracelet.

ESPN cameras caught every moment of the drama.

The image of Moneymaker holding up wads of cash amid a frenzy of flashing camera bulbs and stunned spectators was etched into the memory of a viewing public that was mesmerized by both the story and the surname of its protagonist.

Then, ESPN aired the footage again. And again. At least one well-known pro has grown tired of seeing it. That would be Moneymaker.

"Poker really took off, obviously," Moneymaker said at the WSOP in Las Vegas last week. "But like anything else, you can only watch it so much."

Inevitably, the poker bubble had to burst -- at least temporarily. In the five years since Moneymaker's triumph, the novelty of televised poker has worn off somewhat. Players were spread thin from the overload of events that developed. What's more, government regulation of online poker limited opportunities for some would-be players and put a dent in poker's economy.

ESPN will introduce a new viewing format for the finals of this year's Main Event,

Even so, several industry executives and professional poker players say they see no cause for serious concern.

"We believe poker is as strong as ever, and has a healthy and bright future," WSOP Commissioner Jeffrey Pollack said, noting that several WSOP tournaments set participation records this year.

Moneymaker's story drew throes of new players to the game, leaving erstwhile half-empty poker rooms -- several in Reno had closed or had very little action -- struggling to find enough seats to meet demand for ring games and tournaments, and sending millions to the Internet to learn and play.

The evolution of the hole-card camera held the interest of the new breed of poker enthusiasts, and the World Poker Tour and ESPN poker broadcasts began to draw strong ratings. Other poker shows, as well as new tours and tournaments, started popping up in the United States and globally.

Following Moneymaker's win, participation in the Main Event skyrocketed to 2,576 in 2004 and continued a rapid rise until reaching a peak of 8,773 in 2006, which netted winner Jamie Gold $12 million.

The tournament's enormous growth prompted Harrah's to move the event from historic Binion's to a much bigger property, the Rio, in order to accommodate the masses. The "first day" also is now chopped into four separate starting days for practical and logistical purposes. A late surge in enrollment at this year's Main Event led to a final count of 6,844 players, up from 6,358 in 2007.

The reason for the downturn in Main Event participation largely can be attributed a law introduced last year that essentially outlawed online poker. Several poker sites, fearing repercussions, stopped accepting customers from the United States. Online poker sites award hundreds of seats to the championship through satellite tournaments. Attendance at other high buy-in events also has seen a decline.

These same Web-based poker outlets were eager to sponsor the countless poker shows and publications that evolved amid the poker craze, and their advertising dollars were pulled back after the legislation took effect. The WPT, which captivated viewers with the hole-card camera technology, this year moved to the Game Show Network from the Travel Channel, but does not have a network contract for next season.

Poker's television ratings are down, at least in part because of a market flooded with re-runs and a lack of original programming, to which Moneymaker alluded.

"Now when I watch a poker show, I don't know if it was filmed last week or two years ago," Moneymaker said. "Viewing is down because the market is saturated."

ESPN and Harrah's are trying to reignite interest in televised poker by changing the format for the Main Event. In years past, the tournament was played and filmed in July, but it reached the airwaves several months later. Those who followed poker knew who won the championship long before it aired.

This year, the Main Event will be whittled down to nine players on Monday. But the finalists will return to the Rio Nov. 9-10 to play for the title, where it will be filmed and broadcast immediately following its conclusion.

"It's a bold, controversial decision that we believe benefits all parties involved," Pollack said. "We're shifting the paradigm of televised poker. Instead of talking about who won, people will be talking about who will win."

The move initially drew a wave of criticism because of concerns about possible collusion, death or illness of a player during the four-month hiatus, the logistics of scheduling and traveling for the finalists and the advantage lesser-experienced players will gain by having the extra time to get practice and professional coaching. But several players who at first balked at the change have been persuaded that it's in the best interests of the game.

"I think it's a positive," pro Rafe Furst said. "Anything that brings more attention to the game, presumably, is a good thing. I guess poker has leveled off somewhat, but I don't feel like it's down too much. It probably could use a shot in the arm, and this might do it."

Written by Josh Nagel

rgj.com