Casino gaming has been trending upwards during the past few years. Gaming as a whole is on the rise, but casino games in particular seem to have caught the imaginations of people in this era.
It is not just slot games, the simplest and most accessible form of casino gaming, that have seen that uptick in popularity either. A complex table game like poker has also been a part of it.
The rise is largely a digital phenomenon. Live streamed poker tournaments have produced a dedicated fan base and these fans then go on to play poker themselves at online sites.
What other factors could be driving the widespread embrace of poker though? Read on to find out.
Greater Availability
Poker games are more easily available now than at any time in the past. If people wanted to play poker in a professional setting before they would have to buy their way into a tournament or find their nearest bricks and mortar casino.
Now all they need to do is choose an online casino and create an account with it. It is human nature to not want to go out of your way to pursue a leisure activity, so ease and convenience in the digital age have made poker much more attractive.
The availability of poker online has also increased its appeal to new demographics. Research from three years ago showed a rise of 22% in the number of women players in the UK alone. It is seeing female pros compete and succeed online that is making other women feel that they can do the same and they then gain more confidence in their everyday lives from that.
Skilled Play
Slots are popular, but they are games of luck. By contrast, poker is a skill-based game where players can greatly influence the result through intelligent play.
The fact that it requires real knowledge and skill to play poker well is part of its appeal to enthusiasts. The most complex variant, Texas Hold’em, is also the most popular of all – so it is clear that people really like the demanding aspects of the game.
Poker is a game that is partly about thoughtful card strategy and partly about psychology and being able to read other players. That makes it an absorbing and challenging activity.
It also means poker players develop psychological skills and insights that can benefit them in other parts of life, such as the business world.
Social Pleasures
Poker is one of the more inherently sociable forms of casino gaming. Whereas slots and roulette are essentially solitary, in poker the gambler is competing against other players.
That makes it a fun way to spend an evening with friends, but it also means that social engagement is inevitable even if playing with strangers. Because being able to read opponents is essential to poker, it is not possible for interactions during a game to remain shallow and surface level.
Aside from being entertaining, this aspect has the benefit of improving the mental health of poker players. Socializing with others is proven to help prevent depression and other issues.
Natural Competitiveness
Some people are more naturally competitive than others and that is another reason why poker is so well-liked. It has an in-built appeal to those of us who really love to compete.
Although the ultimate aim of a poker game is to win the pot of money, it is often not what is driving serious poker enthusiasts. Instead it is the desire to win the game itself and best the other players that pushes these people on.
They get a surge of adrenaline from winning, having kept their emotions in check during the game itself. That ‘high’ is very important to its appeal, because it makes players feel great.
The competitive edge honed in poker can be useful in getting ahead in the career world too.
Pop Culture
The last big reason for the popularity of poker is the iconic status that pop culture has afforded the game. Poker has been at the center of so many celebrated movies and television shows over the years and they have given it a veneer of cool.
One great example is the tense poker game at the heart of the James Bond film Casino Royale. Who would not wish to imagine themselves as 007 defeating Le Chiffre in a high stakes game of Texas Hold’em?
From westerns to gangster films and shows, poker is always present. This pop culture has global appeal and has made poker into a game that people around the world want to play.
Poker is growing in popularity for all of these reasons and it will continue to do so, especially as it has so many benefits for players other parts of life.
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