High Stakes Internet Poker Match Sparks Interest

Money will change hands. While the flow of dough in the highest stakes poker games on the Internet has been considerable over the years, the running frequency of the biggest ‘nosebleed stakes’ games has gone down. Blame the recession, the UIGEA (Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act) of 2005, or simply the fact that the former top players just aren’t good enough any more, but where there were once ample opportunities for the cyber-based card sharp to relieve some hapless rube of his riches, there now exists merely a boneyard of lost wealth.

A loss, too, for the poker industry compounded by the straitjacket of prohibitive US legislation – many sites block financial transactions from American players. There could well be a queue of rich competitors in line waiting to play, but if there is, they won’t have easy means to do so. Not to mention that at a time when money is short for many, the idea of losing grotesque amounts of cash at the click of a button is not an appealing notion.

For the complete story, please see Ben Lobel, The High Stakes Poker Showdown, Exec Digital.