The Glamour that is Poker

Poker used to be a rusty game played by men aged forty or so in smoke filled rooms using worn out cards. The chips were dirty and torn. The game was dull and cheap compared to being glittery now.

During the early times it was set up in Las Vegas and was taught to become a hit. It was however overshadowed by more glamorous games such as roulette and blackjack. In the height of these games, playing poker was not on the mind of most casino goers.

The explosion of blackjack back then was poker's descent. The failed attempt of Las Vegas to be a family destination forced some poker rooms to stop operation

But now it seems that there has been a reverse of fortune for poker fever has exploded. Celebrities and students alike are into it. And has became even hotter when Ben Affleck won the California State Poker Championship.

The game's revival is attributed to TV exposure and it being able to touch individual lives. Affleck acknowledge poker was similar to life's cycle of defeat and victory.

Some blackjack players have moved to poker because of the strict regulations at the game table that leaves card counters little advantage. Such changes of rules has made it hard for millions of people to enjoy twenty-one.

With poker on the rise high spirits have returned to casinos; the winning maniacs are now swarming to poker tables. No one is scared to move chips and gamers rejoice after winning.

The first poker room opened in downtown Vegas at the Golden Nugget casino in 1949. When action shifted to the Strip in the 1960's, casinos such as Dunes and Stardust offered a poker variant called Razz.

With the rise of Internet gaming and much publicized television tournaments interest in the game soared again. Poker is seen more than just a gambling game, it is now a competition and sport. The Golden Nugget which had closed it's doors on poker in 1986 is riding the waves of poker fever by sponsoring tournaments every night of the week!

Casinos with no poker rooms are catching up with the craze by building poker rooms. Hard Rock is pushing for rooms with a theme with its rock 'n' roll room; neon cards and purple felt tables are new additions to the rock 'n' roll background music.

To Ben Affleck and Steve Kaufman, ranked third in the 2000 World Series of Poker, both agreed Sin City is the ultimate place to play poker. Vegas to them takes the game seriously and professionally. Las Vegas just has all the charm. The glamour and money that is Las Vegas Poker.