internet. The idea behind this endeavor was simple enough, inventions like rabbit cam and pocket cam, coupled with witty commentators ensured that the interest of the audience in the game remained and the viewership rate were increased to many times than ever before.
The year 2000 saw the popularity of poker game skyrocketing again. With the invention of an ingenious device called hole card camera it made possible for the audience behind their television sets to follow the game and be able to see the faced-down cards of the players which the real time audience is unable to. This also gave an additional source of entertainment and learning for poker professionals.
The idea behind televised not only heralded the arrival of a poker industry but also started a hall of fame for the poker stars. Today poker is shown on numerous TV channels across the world. The cameras zooming on the expressionless faces of the players as they go on with their game and the cameras peeking the inside of their cards to give a better picture of the game to the audience sitting and enjoying the show at the comfort of their homes.
With the still growing popularity of Poker, the game itself has developed a status of an industry, where existing as well as newly entrants are competing for the market share through extensive sponsoring and advertising, like one of the poker gaming giant Poker Party earning $500 million in 2004. While on one side the poker players reap the benefits of the game and sponsorships, like Daniel Negreanu who a native of Toronto, Canada, has total winnings of more than $14 Million; the entrepreneurs reap advertising revenue, increase in viewership ratings and earn profits to keep the poker industry energized. Various books on mastering the poker game have been written and the self-proclaimed writers who claim to be professionals and who know the art of the game entice the poker enthusiasts to buy these books, thus increasing the turnover in the industry. The poker game has never been this glamorous before.