Pool Action Declining Because of Poker?

vivalaraza

vivalaraza

<----Massey Ferguson 1100
Silver Member
has anyone noticed a decline in action at their local room because of this poker craze that has swept the nation like chubby checker's twist? i don't mean the pros, they will always be in action because that is their job. i am talking about the locals. there used to be a bunch of small-time action all around here but it seems that most of those young players that liked to bet have started playing more and more poker.

and speaking of poker.....

can someone explain to me how this got SO popular all of a sudden? hasn't poker been around for over 200 years or something like that? what is so special about it now that wasn't there then. or is this just another example of how americans are lemmings and will follow any trend as long as it is the "cool" thing to do at the time; look at all these motorcycle clubs.....
 
There has been much discussion on this already. IIRC, the general thought is that there is more $ in poker because of the success of marketing, combined wit hthe fact that your everyday person realizes that poker is more luck than pool is.
Snooze
 
vivalaraza said:
has anyone noticed a decline in action at their local room because of this poker craze that has swept the nation like chubby checker's twist? i don't mean the pros, they will always be in action because that is their job. i am talking about the locals. there used to be a bunch of small-time action all around here but it seems that most of those young players that liked to bet have started playing more and more poker.

and speaking of poker.....

can someone explain to me how this got SO popular all of a sudden? hasn't poker been around for over 200 years or something like that? what is so special about it now that wasn't there then. or is this just another example of how americans are lemmings and will follow any trend as long as it is the "cool" thing to do at the time; look at all these motorcycle clubs.....
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I think the decline in action has more to do with all the gambling (not just poker) in the casinos that are popping up all over the country. Yea the poker craze has swept the nation but the casinos killed the action before the poker craze hit. JMO :mad: :(
 
Black-Balled said:
There has been much discussion on this already. IIRC, the general thought is that there is more $ in poker because of the success of marketing, combined wit hthe fact that your everyday person realizes that poker is more luck than pool is.
Snooze
Click to expand...


Another reason I have for taking up poker is that I ran out of local people to play and gamble without giving up weight. Nobody ever asks for an EXTRA WILD CARD playing poker !!
 
Action hasnt stopped around here in VA well my neck of the woods. In fact you can walk in there any time and someone will play you.
 
It sure does seem like alot of the local shortstops here in South Florida are now playing poker and some are playing alot of online at night when they usually would have been in the pool hall stirring it up.
 
Especially online poker via internet has become very popular, also here in Finland. Now anyone can wear anything, eat & drink anything, listening to music and sitting in front of a computer and play some poker in spare time. No matter if you live in the neck of the woods, if you have an internet connection, you can always play 24/7.
 
1. PartyPoker.com (and alike)

2. Nobody ever complains when you quit as a winner.

3. Its alot easier to make a few hundred bucks a week playing poker than trying to make that playing pool (for most players).

4. No more arguing about bullshit fouls, sharking and all the other bs that goes with pool and loud music playing on the juke box. Any problems, call the Floor person!

5. FREE DRINKS in casinos!! (should be #1).

6. Better looking cocktail waitresses

7. Dont need a spot from the best in the world

8. Low buy-in tournaments $300 (or less) in most casinos give bigger payouts than most pool tournaments. And no need for "added money" all of the funds are provided by the poker players themselves.

9. Learning curve alot shorter than pool (years v weeks)

10. If Chris Moneymaker can win, so can you!

11. Most poker rooms are smoke free.

12. Most people seem to enjoy talking about there bad beats in poker then talking about their bad beats in pool.

13. Hey, its gambling!

15. Most casinos give poker players $1 per hour credit towards food in the casinos upto $10 per day. Nice when you have been playing all night!

16. No more blue chalk stains on your hands and no more complaints about long bathroom breaks from other players.

17. Doesn't matter if a player is "juiced" up or not. It doesn't affect his play, skills or the lack of..

18. Poker can be played anywhere with a deck of cards and some cash. Also, from any laptop computer with hotspots (to log onto the internet).

19. No more waiting around for hours to play a match or waiting for your "action" to show up (and sometimes they dont).

20. Cant play on credit or fire air barrels at anyone.

21. Don't have to travel across the country to get action.

These are just some of reasons why poker has attracted the attention of pool players, especially pool players less than A-player quality. Even at low limit poker, can produce more money in less time than trying to hustle cheap sets or games of pool and comes with less hostility. I enjoy pool at its best when played by the best, that will always be my favorite amongest anything else. But when it comes to making money, poker is much eaiser than pool and for that simple reason, is why alot of pool players switched to poker.

I had to add one other good reason, why pool players are starting to play poker than pool- They can actually have a regular job with health insurance and benefits and still play poker either online or in a brick and morter room and be more financially successful than most professional pool players. Then hanging out in a pool room for 12-16 hours a day in a pool room waiting for action. Poker is always instant action 24/7.
 
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Poker Popularity

I think there are 2 (maybe more) big reasons Poker has gotten huge.

1. The pocket cam. We can finally see the brilliant plays that these guys make...and the stupid ones too.

2. Poker personalities. Ferguson, Hellmuth, Nguyen, Laak, etc. There are so many unique individuals that everyone can find someone that they relate to/root for/emulate.

Also, the acceptance by celebrities has helped. Oh yeah, and the MONEY! Bring on the IPT baby! (BTW pool needs cooler celebrity proponents than Paul Sorvino. Why can't Tom Cruise rekindle his stroke and go on Oprah?)
 
vivalaraza said:
and speaking of poker.....

can someone explain to me how this got SO popular all of a sudden? hasn't poker been around for over 200 years or something like that?
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I think several thing happened that all together, they made for a poker explosion:

The 2002 Champion for the Main Event at the WSOP was Robert Varkonyi, an amateur player and a mild-mannered MIT graduate that busted out Phil Helmuth and ended up beating the final table with Q-10.

The 2003 Champion for the Main Event of the WSOP Chris Moneymaker. He had the perfect name, and again, another amateur player who won via an online satellite for $40.

These two back-to-back amateur World Champions, coupled with the low cost entry fee that Moneymaker put in made all amateur take notice.

At the same time these two guys were winning, the World Poker Tour was starting out on the Travel Channel, putting more effort into the production portion of the show with more coordinated camera work, excellent knowledgeable commentary, and a hot hostess.

The ESPN crew followed suit by upping their production prowess in the following 2004 WSOP. ESPN has been airing the final table of the WSOP for about 15-20 years, but the lipstick camera didn't always catch the cards, and the commentary was less than spectacular.

It wasn't live broadcasting nor was it the money. I think people came first, so the money went up, not the other way around. The game became, dare I say, exciting not boring.

Fred <~~~ thinks that's why
 
Fred Agnir said:
I think several thing happened that all together, they made for a poker explosion:..............




........At the same time these two guys were winning, the World Poker Tour was starting out on the Travel Channel, putting more effort into the production portion of the show with more coordinated camera work, excellent knowledgeable commentary, and a hot hostess.

The ESPN crew followed suit by upping their production prowess in the following 2004 WSOP. ESPN has been airing the final table of the WSOP for about 15-20 years, but the lipstick camera didn't always catch the cards, and the commentary was less than spectacular.

It wasn't live broadcasting nor was it the money. I think people came first, so the money went up, not the other way around. The game became, dare I say, exciting not boring.

Fred <~~~ thinks that's why
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Fred,
You really touched upon a real good point. Commentary. Poker has the best commentators around. They alone are great advocates for noteing that anyone can play poker. Norman Chad and Lon McCarren who host the WSOP are like Grady Mathews and Billy Incardona is to Accu stats. Fun, exciting and knowledgeable. These are the kind of commentators pool needs when its on espn.

The commentators are really the sales persons for any game or sport...
 
NaClBandit said:
I think there are 2 (maybe more) big reasons Poker has gotten huge.
...........

.......2. Poker personalities. Ferguson, Hellmuth, Nguyen, Laak, etc. There are so many unique individuals that everyone can find someone that they relate to/root for/emulate.

QUOTE]


Yea, if Phil Hellmuth played pool, they would call him Earl Strickland.
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Just the dramatics of two players going all in and the river card pulls through for one player....its the equalivalent of a hill hill match in pool, but only it happens more often...
 
Fred Agnir said:
The 2002 Champion for the Main Event at the WSOP was Robert Varkonyi, an amateur player and a mild-mannered MIT graduate that busted out Phil Helmuth and ended up beating the final table with Q-10.

The 2003 Champion for the Main Event of the WSOP Chris Moneymaker. He had the perfect name, and again, another amateur player who won via an online satellite for $40.

These two back-to-back amateur World Champions, coupled with the low cost entry fee that Moneymaker put in made all amateur take notice.
Click to expand...

True. In poker anyone can get lucky and learning the basics of poker isn't really difficult. In pool, getting lucky does not happen really often. Varkonyi, Raymer... all names to forget for the public. But "Moneymaker" will definitely stick with them. Perfect name for a poker player. And if someone is getting interested in poker, they always have someone to look up to, to imitate or at least to admire. It's easier to get drawn into poker if you know the players already.

Maybe I'll change my name into Mikko Breakandrun/Mikko Chokinghill/Mikko Flukingthenine/Mikko Rackemsausage, eh ? :cool:
 
mjantti said:
True. In poker anyone can get lucky and learning the basics of poker isn't really difficult. In pool, getting lucky does not happen really often. Varkonyi, Raymer... all names to forget for the public. But "Moneymaker" will definitely stick with them. Perfect name for a poker player. And if someone is getting interested in poker, they always have someone to look up to, to imitate or at least to admire. It's easier to get drawn into poker if you know the players already.

Maybe I'll change my name into Mikko Breakandrun/Mikko Chokinghill/Mikko Flukingthenine/Mikko Rackemsausage, eh ? :cool:
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How bout Mikko totheatmformoremoney?:)


I think it comes down to instant action gratification. I don't have a problem comparing poker and pool on a mental gambling level, but pool does have a pretty large physical need (hand eye coordination, stamina, flexibility) which some people will never have to compete at a high level. Perfect timing, marketing and general public belief that they can be World champ has made poker the hot ticket I guess. So much for the boohooers saying "let's keep the gambling side of pool quiet, lets be like pro golf" what a crock, has anyone seen that (sorry to say) lame pool show where they are betting and junk. uhg! I almost puked in my cue case. Anyway, have a nice weekend! AND GO PLAY POOL!:)
 
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