Poker’s Critical Hour

Many poker insiders have been uneasy about the overall "direction" of poker. With all of the money flowing into the realm of poker from the online game, endorsement deals, television broadcasting rights, and unprecedented tournament entry fees, everyone and every business seems to be clamoring to get a piece of the available riches. In the past year or two, the light rumblings have begun to become an overwhelming upheaval. Some of poker's giants (such as Phil Gordon, Annie Duke, Howard Lederer, Greg Raymer, Joe Hachem, and Jesus Ferguson) have filed a lawsuit against the World Poker Tour. They claim that the WPT oversteps its boundaries by forcing players to sign player releases that give the company too much influence and power over the stars. The ex-darling of that same show, hostess Shana Hiatt, has also filed a lawsuit claiming injustices from the series and its producers. The World Series of Poker has gone through similar woes. Players have begun to openly complain that too much of the money coming into the WSOP via endorsements and TV contracts is pocketed directly by Harrah's Entertainment. Players wonder why they still must pay their own entries (and additional fee) when it is their image and play that is bringing in the huge audiences and huge monies. While poker is in its own internal battles, a political war looms as well. With elections approaching, a few upstart politicians are looking to solidify their re-election campaigns by tackling the topic of internet gambling. The effects of poker being actively policed in the USA would be devastating to the sport. Even the newest World Champion could not escape such legal heartache. Jamie Gold did not get to collect his $12 million check before an associate had slapped a suit against him demanding half of the winnings. In reaction to all of these hot-button issues (and more), poker players across the world are attempting to unite. The World Poker Organization has used the strong voice of popular player "Cowboy" Kenna James to become one of the best of these. With all of these opposing factions, we have to wonder where poker will be in 5 years.

When Harry Orenstein invented the hole card camera to make poker perfect for television, we thought that we had hit the preverbal lottery. We all enjoyed the "honeymoon" period when poker first hit the big-time. Well, folks, the honeymoon is over. We are at an amazingly important juncture. The future of poker hinges on what unravels over the next several months. Lawsuits and ill will against the most popular poker television programs threaten their image, their product, and their viewership.

If the government effectively kills the online game through tough legislation, the entire sport will take an undeniable hit. You see, online card rooms such as Party Poker and Ultimate Bet are a huge source of advertisement revenue for poker magazines, poker websites, live action tournaments, TV shows, and basically all things poker. The loss of that revenue alone would be enormous. In addition, the overall interest in poker would certainly drop if the online version of the game was taken offline. The appeal of poker is its universal accessibility. The average American had no chance to fall in love with the game when poker was mostly limited to Atlantic City, Las Vegas, and shady backstreet games. It is now in everyone's living room, a mouse click away from playing the great game.

Some of the biggest pros in the business recognize the important era that we have ventured into. They are using their fame and money to help propel the sport forward. Many casual players have followed their lead, writing letters to their politicians and joining poker players' associations. In five years from now, will poker's popularity have continued to swell to rival that of sports like NASCAR and the PGA? In five years from now, will poker's internal and external turmoil have decimated the game into a fad-like footnote from the past?

There is an odd mix of pessimism and reserved optimism in the world of poker. You see, a growing number of professional players and amateurs are beginning to feel that poker is facing an uphill battle. In true poker spirit, though, we will continue to fight. We all know that it only takes "a chip and a chair" to have a chance in a tournament. That same mentality rings true in the overall measurement of the future of the game. Although it feels as if some legislators and corporations have a large chip lead over the common player, we all know that the little guy can still com back to win!

John is a National Certified Counselor (NCC). He has a Master of Arts degree in Counseling from West Virginia University, and a Bachelor's degree in Psychology with a minor in Sociology from Lock Haven University. You can find out more about the psychology of poker from "the Poker Counselor" at carlisle14@hotmail.com.

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