Gambling is one of the first industries to increase its market reach via the Internet. Poker is one of the most profitable games that the gambling industry has to offer. It has been estimated that in 2005 alone, online gamblers have spent more than $60 billion for such recreation. Experts on online gaming believe that in two to three years, online poker will be the most dominant game in gambling. At the same time, the annual commission for this game?globally?will be around $4 billion.
Online pokers have often used the Internet as a means to promote themselves. Whether through banner ads or pop-ups, gambling ads have been one of the most visible in online marketing. Even with the rise of pop-up blocking methods, these advertisements remain. In fact, online poker pop-up ads are one of the most resilient ads. Companies that design them have found ways to avoid the barring methods that security software companies use.
The impact of online poker has not been limited to the online market alone. The industry has increased its presence with successful TV shows that feature poker. Nowadays, the public is regularly exposed to these games. The hype about poker can even be attributed to the increased number of prominent television networks airing poker shows with celebrity players.
The involvement of worldwide financial powerhouses in the gaming industry has also added to the exposure of online poker. In gambling, the presence of large amounts of money has never failed to stir public interest.
With all these on the plate of the online gambling industry, it is safe to say that the growth of online poker will not be slowing down any time soon. In fact, many American investors are expanding onto European shores to produce online poker television programs in different languages.