The Future of UK Poker

[Sunday8pm]

Where do you think the poker industry in the UK is heading?

is it going to continue growing rapidly or will there be a lull in the next few years?

Personally i think UK poker is only just getting started and i believe there is plenty more to come yet. There are some great young players now playing in the biggest tournamnets in the world as we know and i only think it can grow.

A lot of people think that the hype will die down sooner or later, i can't see how this could happen. The UK poker scene has nowhere near reached its peak yet and with all the young talent and oldguard to guide them through i only think its a matter of time before we become world beaters.

The festivals now are selling out in record time every week, the internet sites are signing up more players than ever, will the growth ever end?

i put it to you blondites

[Karabiner]

I would just like to know where all the money comes from.

To play a few toourneys at The Vic. this week, £200 rebuy(£600), £750 freezeout, and main event £1500 for example.

This comes to almost £3000 before expenses.

How big of a bankroll is needed to play these events regularly if one is not sponsored ?

Where does all the money come from ?

[Graham C]

It certainly is becoming more popular and I would imagine it can only get bigger in the UK, we are only just starting to play.

The money has to be coming from the internet mainly.  You can turn £1 into £5, that £5 into £25 and so on with STT's -  it's that hard to turn a really small amount into a half decent amount (although I'm still trying )  You can qualify for almost any major EPT/WSOP/WPT from as little as £1 sometimes even free.

Internet poker is the key, it can only continue to grow.  Party is still claiming to be the worlds largest with 80,000 players being reached.  I've seen nearly 100,000 on Stars (maybe Party need to rethink!)  and that's just one two sites.    The great thing is that you can play from anywhere in the world and everyone has a chance.

[Sunday8pm]

I would just like to know where all the money comes from.

To play a few toourneys at The Vic. this week, £200 rebuy(£600), £750 freezeout, and main event £1500 for example.

This comes to almost £3000 before expenses.

How big of a bankroll is needed to play these events regularly if one is not sponsored ?

Where does all the money come from ?

id say £100k but i'm sure some people would say more.

as for where the money comes from, i can only assume its been passed over online...

[Heid]

The poker economy concept is fascinating to me, the money comes form online undoubtedly, as to how long people will reload and allow their money to continue up the foodchain is another question entirely, but I think we are at the beginning of a long boom.

Interesting to watch, and revisit this topic in say a year's time.

[Gryffles]

I think the internet game will grow unabated, but the live game will never grow as long as the casino chains have their heads up their arses and treat poker players with respect rather than rules that just increase what the house brings in.

NL holdem rebuys 99% of UK tournies zzzzzzzz anyone know where you can play a regular game of Stud8b in the uk?
:/

[thediceman]

I think the internet game will grow unabated, but the live game will never grow as long as the casino chains have their heads up their arses and treat poker players with respect rather than rules that just increase what the house brings in.

NL holdem rebuys 99% of UK tournies zzzzzzzz anyone know where you can play a regular game of Stud8b in the uk?
:/

The growth of the live game in the UK will stop growing because it's growth is capped by the size of the venues. NB: there is only a certain number of day ones a comp can have. Our venues just don't match those in the USA. Yes I know DTD will provide a much larger venue but this is an exception to the norm. Casino's may lose a few customers because of he way they treat the poker player but these will always be quickly replaced by the ever expanding market of new players to the game.

I'm sure the internet will continue to experience tremendous growth but I see the greatest development in the UK market being the number of people who play on a recreational basis in regular home games or down the pub as the game becomes more socially acceptable.

[dik9]

The Future of UKPoker? Don't know about his future but last seen milling about in the Vic and the Western I believe

[I, Zimbra]

Are they not building a few new 'supercasinos' in the UK?

Or did that bill finally get quashed?

(I forget what the outcome was, but there was a bit of a turnaround if I remember aright)

If we get Vegas-style casinos in the UK, presumably it will mean further growth in the Live Tournament Poker world... ?

[stallyon]

imho, i think this is just the tip of the iceberg....i live in Lincoln and to be honest the nearest casino to me is either Nottingham or Hull - both of which are at least 40 miles away. There's plans to build one in Cleethorpes and Skegness but these wont happen for another couple of years. One would have thought that sooner or later (i'm guessing later), a city as large as Lincoln would be considered a good place also to find a casino in. There's the odd home game here or there, and small games in a couple of pubs but thats about it...once the gambling bill has been resolved you'll soon find casinos popping up in most of the larger towns and cities and that amusements in seaside towns will start to hold mini-style tournaments for people off the streets who've seen it on telly and think they can bluff with  and win massive pots and come away a winner

[b4matt]

Hopefully the gaming laws will change and we'll see big tournaments being held in hotels or conference centers... this will get rid of the casino only problem which stiffles the growth and development of the game and tourney sizes, and encourage proper game sponsors.

We need only need look at the current Irish success at holding games in Dublin, City West had over 400 runners in a hotel for a
€2000 buy in Boyles added money... the forthcoming paddypower game is being held in a hotel, thus the online room has the freedom to both advertise and sponsor the event adding €50,000... when does a uk casino ever add money?

[Sunday8pm]

Hopefully the gaming laws will change and we'll see big tournaments being held in hotels or conference centers... this will get rid of the casino only problem which stiffles the growth and development of the game and tourney sizes, and encourage proper game sponsors.

We need only need look at the current Irish success at holding games in Dublin, City West had over 400 runners in a hotel for a
€2000 buy in Boyles added money... the forthcoming paddypower game is being held in a hotel, thus the online room has the freedom to both advertise and sponsor the event adding €50,000... when does a uk casino ever add money?

good point matt, NEVER. unless its sponsored by willhills or blue square or something.

[AndrewT]

Hopefully the gaming laws will change and we'll see big tournaments being held in hotels or conference centers... this will get rid of the casino only problem which stiffles the growth and development of the game and tourney sizes, and encourage proper game sponsors.

We need only need look at the current Irish success at holding games in Dublin, City West had over 400 runners in a hotel for a
€2000 buy in Boyles added money... the forthcoming paddypower game is being held in a hotel, thus the online room has the freedom to both advertise and sponsor the event adding €50,000... when does a uk casino ever add money?

good point matt, NEVER. unless its sponsored by willhills or blue square or something.

Remember though, that the hotel itself will make money from the players attending the event (they have to sleep somewhere, eventually). Casinos don't actually make much money from a load of sensible, non-roulette obsessed, poker players who are only allowed to pay no more than £50 to enter a tournament, no matter what the buy-in. The casinos adding money out of their own pocket won't do them any good - their hands are tied until the legislation changes.

[Sunday8pm]

Hopefully the gaming laws will change and we'll see big tournaments being held in hotels or conference centers... this will get rid of the casino only problem which stiffles the growth and development of the game and tourney sizes, and encourage proper game sponsors.

We need only need look at the current Irish success at holding games in Dublin, City West had over 400 runners in a hotel for a
€2000 buy in Boyles added money... the forthcoming paddypower game is being held in a hotel, thus the online room has the freedom to both advertise and sponsor the event adding €50,000... when does a uk casino ever add money?

good point matt, NEVER. unless its sponsored by willhills or blue square or something.

Remember though, that the hotel itself will make money from the players attending the event (they have to sleep somewhere, eventually). Casinos don't actually make much money from a load of sensible, non-roulette obsessed, poker players who are only allowed to pay no more than £50 to enter a tournament, no matter what the buy-in. The casinos adding money out of their own pocket won't do them any good - their hands are tied until the legislation changes.

places like gutshot make a good chunk of their money from selling food and drink etc. The grub there aint too bad and i guess they make a nice bit of money on the side from it.

I see what you mean about casinos, very good point

[Royal Flush]

I see the greatest development in the UK market being the number of people who play on a recreational basis in regular home games or down the pub as the game becomes more socially acceptable.

I agree with that, a point so rarely made!