Bright Future Ahead for European Poker

What a fantastic 12 months it has been for poker. The hype that had taken America by storm has finally found its way to Europe. After a bit of a slow start, the European Poker Tour has established itself as a stable and successful part of European tournament poker.



Players all around the world seem to get younger and younger, providing a solid foundation not just for now, but – even more importantly – for the future of the game. Smart young men and women are earning more money by playing on the Internet than the prime ministers of their respective countries make. And despite the fact that there seems to be so many winning players, the quality of the games continues to be good – soft, that is. For years, I was skeptical about online play, but I too have made the transition, and have seen firsthand how much money can be made.



The boom, however, is still somewhat limited to just hold'em and online/tournament play. Brick-and-mortar (B&M) poker rooms don't do that well, unless they host major tournaments. So, for the people whose strength is B&M cash games, it actually may have become a bit harder to find a good game, especially at the higher stakes, and even more so when their game of choice is not hold'em.



Reasons for Success

For those who have been able to adjust to the changed circumstances, there has been a wealth of profitable games, and, in addition to that, lots of business opportunities away from the green felt. There are two major factors that have contributed to this current situation: fresh money and outside money. Any money pumped into the poker economy by young players who have not been playing very long is great for the overall health of the game. Just as importantly, lots of outside money has found its way into poker, mostly from sponsors attracted by the exposure that TV broadcasts provide. Five or six years ago, even the top tournament players were struggling to keep their heads above water, because of the overheads they faced: flights, accommodations, and other expenses. Add to that the huge swings that are part of tournament poker, and it was a real struggle, even for the very best players.



Nowadays, these tournament stars are shining. Most of them don't feel the slightest bit of money pressure, due to the sponsorship deals they have made, the larger-than-ever fields, and the potential fame, even for those who are only moderately successful. What's more, these people have chosen a profession that is now perceived by the public as young, fresh, exciting, and, yes, even sexy. Now, who would not want to be a part of that? With all of that in mind, I guess the future for poker looks bright – even though I will keep an eye open for any developments that may do harm to the game we all love.



The Magazine

We'll be following these developments, both good and bad, closely. In the next four or five months, you will see some new columnists, different types of feature stories, and more news and photos from where the action is. It is our goal to make Card Player Europe a magazine that will not just be a part of poker, but will increase the popularity of the game. Of course, we would be more than thankful for any input you may have, so thoughts and comments are always welcome at [email protected]. Take care, and good luck.