Poker and the Economy

Before the poker boom in 2003 tournament fields for $5000 and higher buy-ins could be as small as eighty players in some venues. Since then the fields have grown each year much to the chagrin of professional poker players as it decreases the skill factor and increases the element of luck in the game. Today, we may be seeing the beginning of a decline in live tournament play as the global effects of the economy hit pocket books around the world. Honestly I believe that online poker will not be as affected simply because of its convenience. People can deposit relatively small amounts of money at their discretion and they also do not have to travel anywhere to play which makes it a good deal compared to going out to a casino.

The real question is how the economy will affect professional poker players. How many of the well known professionals actually have the bankroll to endure these hard times? Seriously, many of the professional poker players we see play on TV each week on the various tours are flat broke. Sure, they may have won a tournament or even a few tournaments but a lot of them are being staked and / or borrowing money. Considering that it costs approximately $500,000 per year to participate on the professional poker tournament trail in all of the major $5000 and up buy-ins plus expenses there are very few players that can truly afford to play poker professionally at this level. With this economy there will be even fewer.

Ultimately, if things don’t get better it can begin to affect the poker tours and the shows that we enjoy on a weekly and even daily basis. That would be a travesty for all of the progress this great game has made over the past five years.

Let's hope that things get better soon for all of our sakes.