Media coverage of live poker tournaments has been around for almost two decades, however, it is the invention of hole card cameras which allow viewers to see players hands, that is credited with transforming live tournament poker into one of the world’s biggest spectator sports.
The live coverage of tournament poker by cable and satellite television providers has created a cycle of prosperity for the game. Increased exposure attracts greater numbers of players to major tournaments every year, and this in turn results in a proportional rise in prize money and media coverage.
While new multi-million dollar live poker tournaments are added to the international poker circuit on a yearly basis, it is the World Series of Poker which can take most of the credit for providing some of the most exciting live poker play in the world.
With the main event of the World Series of Poker offering in excess of $10 million in prize money, this live poker tournament attracts massive television audiences. The winner of the main event is guaranteed instant celebrity status.
The long-running success of the World Series of Poker has resulted in the creation of a host of televised live poker tournaments during the past decade. The live tournament that most successfully capitalised on the success of the World Series of Poker was the World Poker Tour. This collection of international poker tournaments boasts multi-million dollar prizes and some of the highest ratings on cable television.
The poker renaissance in the Unites States has been paralleled in Europe where the European Poker Tour provides Europe’s top players with the opportunity to contest in a collection of high profile live poker tournaments. The season finale in Monte Carlo each year offers the richest prize in European poker.
In Asia and the Pacific, the Aussie Millions and Asian Pacific Poker tournaments ensure that this region is not left behind. With the Aussie Millions enjoying exponential growth in recent years, and the Asia Pacific Poker Tour attracting the biggest playing fields in the region’s history, poker’s future in this region looks bright.
For more information on the above premium live tournaments, including tournament history and winners, visit the Gambling Guru Live Tournament poker pages.