Clicking for Dollars: Our Perceptions of Online Poker

Author's note: Table Talk is intended to be an in-depth discussion of the most important issues in poker. My column will feature a wide range of perspectives designed to encourage debate and decisions on current topics within the poker industry.

This issue's poll questions were designed to measure attitudes toward online poker, and Internet poker sites' impact on the poker world. Judging by the diversity of attitudes about online poker, there are many different perceptions about this relatively new industry and its future. These perceptions come from a broad range of constituents including players, brick-and-mortar casino personnel, and industry leaders. More than 6,000 readers participated in this survey. Here are the results:

Question 1: Do you play poker online?

Yes – 84 percent

No – 16 percent

Comments: These numbers are almost certainly skewed higher than average, since it's hard to imagine that 84 percent of all poker players play online. The 5-to-1 ratio responding that they do play poker over the Internet may indicate the emerging reader demographics of Card Player more so than the playing habits of the poker community as a whole. Nevertheless, the poll results are interesting and do reflect a strong level of support for online poker, certainly amongst Card Player readers.

Question 2: How many online poker accounts do you have?

One account – 52 percent

Two or more accounts – 48 percent

Comments: If we judge the level of commitment to online poker sites by establishing multiple accounts, it's clear that about half of all online poker players are very serious about the game when they play it over their personal computers. Once again, this question may tell us more about Card Player readers than the habits of the general public, since there's no indication that half of all online poker players have multiple accounts. Judging by some e-mail responses I received, many players prefer one site explicitly for tournaments and another site (or two) for cash games. However, we can conclude from these percentages that the number of players who have multiple accounts is steadily increasing, and that the growing number of online poker rooms is providing more playing options than ever before for those who wish to play poker over the Internet.

Question 3: (For online players only) Do you usually play in one game at a time or multiple games?

One game – 52 percent

Multiple games – 48 percent

Comments: Nearly half of all online poker players play in more than one game at a time. This is not surprising, since this is one of the key advantages of online poker – being able to play in multiple games, usually at a faster pace than in brick-and-mortar cardrooms. As online poker players become increasingly more comfortable with the format, it's expected these percentages of multiple-game players will increase. That, in turn, means online poker rooms will make more profits.

Question 4: Do you believe that the easy access of online poker to consumers helps or hurts regular brick-and-mortar cardrooms?

It helps – 79 percent

It hurts – 21 percent

Comments: This is a hotly debated topic in the poker industry – that is, does the proliferation of online poker detract from brick-and-mortar business or drive more players into real cardrooms? If we are to decide the issue based on the poker community's views, it's clear that online poker actually helps land-based poker rooms. By a nearly 4-to-1 margin, poker players are convinced that online poker is not a threat to brick-and-mortar games. One interesting side note relating to this question is recent developments in Europe that suggest that online poker is exploding amongst the European contingent of players, while relatively few new cardrooms are being built. Many of the biggest cash games played by Europeans are now online, instead of at the well-established cardrooms in Western Europe. Hence, the reality could be different for Europe than what is happening in North America, and elsewhere.

Question 5: There are questions as to the legality of playing poker online in some (U.S.) states. Assuming you knew that online playing is illegal in your state and you could be prosecuted if caught, would you play online?

Yes – 65 percent

No – 35 percent

Comments: This question was intended to measure the poker-playing public's attitude toward potential enforcement of gambling restrictions, which in turn measures our level of commitment to online poker. Even if it means risking prosecution, poker players by roughly a 2-to-1 margin are willing to continue playing poker over the Internet. These results also demonstrate a higher than expected level of defiance for public law, which some critics could use to suggest poker players are "different" from society at large. However, I believe that most poker players are law-abiding citizens and are simply saying they do not want the government enforcing anti-gambling restrictions when it comes to online activities. Furthermore, they are willing to technically "break the law" to be able to continue enjoying the freedom of playing poker over the Internet.

Question 6: In the last year, measures have been enacted that restrict financing of online poker accounts (such as major credit cards and PayPal policies that forbid money being used for "gambling purposes"). Have these restrictions ever dissuaded you from playing poker online?

Yes – 42 percent

No – 58 percent

Comments: Large numbers of online poker players have encountered difficulty funding offshore accounts. It appears that the efforts by some legislators to block channels of finance are having a definite impact, although it's difficult to determine if the same consumers who were "dissuaded" from playing online eventually found alternative means to finance their accounts. We can conclude from the percentages that these legal restrictions have had a negative impact on the online poker industry. However, with all the growth of online poker within the last year – even in the face of mounting financial restrictions – one has to ask, how much bigger would online poker be if the sites were easier to finance?

Question 7: (For online poker players only) Which is softer online – cash games or tournaments?

Cash games – 50 percent

Tournaments – 50 percent

Comments: Respondents were split right down the middle on the question of which is easier – cash games or tournaments. Frankly, a better question to ask would have been, which games are easier – online poker or brick-and-mortar games? I suspect the answer to that also would have been split about even.

Question 8: Assuming both are legal and available in your area – if you had to choose between online poker or brick-and-mortar games, which would you choose?

Online poker games – 23 percent

Brick-and-mortar games – 77 percent

Comments: I was stunned by these results. Given some of the obvious advantages of playing poker at home over the Internet, I expected the numbers of players who favored online poker over live games to be significantly higher. However, these poll results show that most players still prefer the traditional poker game – with real players and cards. Even when both forms of poker are available to the players in their immediate area, the overwhelming majority still favors the brick-and-mortar experience. These poll results go a long way to dispel the notion that online poker is now "more popular" than regular brick-and-mortar cardrooms. I suspect that most players go to public cardrooms for reasons other than financial incentives. The brick-and-mortar cardroom still gives players a greater sense of social interaction that cannot be duplicated over a personal computer.

Question 9: Should online poker be regulated by an impartial U.S.-based agency or gaming commission?

Yes – 67 percent

No – 33 percent

Comments: By a 2-to-1 margin, respondents favor establishing a U.S.-based gaming commission to oversee online poker games. It's unclear whether the one-third of voters who were against this proposal live outside the United States (the poll was open worldwide via the CardPlayer.com website) or were simply opposed to the notion based on relatively few complaints with the current (mostly unregulated) system.

Question 10: Should online poker in all of its forms – that is, playing, operating, and owning an Internet poker site – be legalized in the United States?

Yes – 98 percent

No – 2 percent

Comments: These numbers paint a very clear picture. Poker players want online poker to be legalized in the Unites States. Furthermore, these same players also favor allowing U.S.-based operators to own and operate Internet sites. Even with some legitimate concerns about online poker, and other forms of gambling over the Internet, a staggering majority of respondents want online poker to be legal in the United States. Given this landslide of support, how is it possible that critics of online gambling are making progress at both the state and federal level, and continue to wage attacks on an activity that is clearly supported by millions of people?

Online poker is very important to me. I am a professional player, living in the Maine woods (lifestyle choice). Fifteen years ago I could scurry about and find enough small home games to keep me going much of the time. But I also had to travel: Las Vegas, California, Atlantic City, and, finally, Foxwoods. Now, I no longer have to travel. I have all the action I want, playing at home online.

Of course, I give up some things, but the only significant items are the loss of tells and, at times, seat choice. However, I gain much more. My overhead is not increased by travel. I can play when I want and for as long as I want. My sessions now average less than two hours. I can sign off, pick up the chain saw and continue with the endless enjoyment of doing timber-stand-improvement on my woodland, spend time with my family, or whatever I choose.

Of particular importance is the lack of pressure when playing online at home. On the road, I felt that I had to come home a winner. The stakes were always higher than at home, and because the trips were relatively infrequent, I could offset long-term gains made at home in a relatively short time. As soon as I walked through the door of a cardroom, I was totally focused. However, I had to acclimate to the standard cardroom games, because my road trips were relatively infrequent. Unfortunately, if I got stuck early and deep, it was sometimes difficult to maintain a good game plan of limiting my hours, playing at optimal times of the day, and so on. The worst result was that I played too many hours and thus lost some edge and opportunity to take advantage of the best games. Consequently, I sometimes came home a loser.

Now, I always play under full control and am never tired. I don't have to play stakes as high as I used to in live away games, due largely to the quality of play and the number of hands dealt per hour.

- Dale M. Richardson

Online poker is absolutely fabulous … it sure beats (given my lack of a Humvee and automatic weapon) dealing with the L.A. freeways.

- Joe Holmes

I believe online poker is a welcome addition to the world of poker. However, there is no way it can substitute for the real thing. It must be a boon to the players who do not have real poker available to them. They must be itching to get to the casinos to try their newly acquired skills.

- Tony in Colorado

I'll tell you why online poker has to be kept legal in this country. It's because some people like me are disabled. I have a very difficult time getting prepared and driving all the way down to my local casino here in San Diego, where the closeness of the tables makes it impossible for me to get to my seat. Don't get me wrong, I still like playing in the real thing, but online games are so much more convenient for me. I know three other physically challenged people who play poker online and never would have gone into real poker rooms. If they take away our right to play poker at home on our computers, we should sue them for violating the Americans With Disabilities Act.

- Paul S. K. Wilkens, California

Readers are encouraged to visit www.cardplayer.com, where all poll questions are posted. You also may e-mail your comments directly to [email protected].