Poker World

Head to any poker tournament or card room and the odds are that the vast majority of players are male. Efforts to bring more women to the tables have been underway for several years, with mixed results.

Live cash game streaming has attracted plenty of viewers in recent years and adding a celebrity to the mix can mean even more interest from poker fans. However, a recent appearance by one NBA player drew some negative reactions.

One of poker’s most successful players recently offered insight into his entry into the game via a passion for other strategy games. Justin Bonomo, who has $64 million in live tournament winnings, grew up playing Magic: The Gathering and the immersive EverQuest online game.

Chris Moneymaker is having one of his best years in poker and scored his second tournament win and fourth final table appearance this week at an Enjoy Poke Tour event in Punta del Este, Uruguay. He came out on top in a $1,650 buy-in event for a $179,770 score.

Allen Kessler has been a mainstay on the tournament poker scene for years. He travels around the U.S. playing events and now has more than $4 million in live tournament winnings. Another type of gambling is also regularly on his agenda while on the roads – playing slots.

Caesars Entertainment announced the sale of the World Series of Poker brand last week for $500 million. As part of the agreement, however, the annual live series in Las Vegas will carry on in the coming years.

Rounders is the gold standard when it comes to films about poker and now some of those involved with the original are hoping to see a sequel.

Poker legend Doyle Brunson used to say that playing the game later in life kept his mind sharp. California’s Gene Bellar would probably agree with that notion. The 99-year-old poker player served in the U.S. Navy and is a veteran of World War II, the Korean War, and Vietnam.

It’s no secret that poker is popular with many professional athletes. From football greats like Cristiano Ronaldo and Neymar Jr. to baseball’s Jose Canseco and American football’s Richard Seymour, players enjoy mixing it up at the tables and competing on some of the game’s biggest stages.

Television viewers looking for a show that touches on the world of poker may want to check out the Peacock Network’s Poker Face, starring Natasha Lyonne.