What do people think of online poker right now? It’s certainly had a few facelifts since bursting on the scene in the late 1990s. Is it a fantastic idea lauded by the Gen Z demographic, or should it be a taboo that should not be discussed publicly?
90s Nerds and Recluses
When the internet became readily available, many cultures saw it as a novelty. Windows ’95 might have been available for home use, but not everyone felt the need to purchase one. When the internet started popping up, it appealed to the masses light-heartedly; people might email their cousins living on the other side of the world instead of paying the exorbitant international call costs.
However, people who spent excessive time on the internet were seen as slightly strange. Nerds and social recluses who would hide away from the real world and indulge in this new online entity. Online poker got lumped in with that crowd because of his hatching in the late 1990s. Despite not necessarily having a direct correlation to the pre-existing internet user, they were roped in as, at the time, they were the only ones using the web.
American Poker Boom in the 2000s
In the 2000s, there was a significant shift in how people perceived internet usage and poker. Technology became more widespread a few years into the new millennium, and everyone had or wanted a computer with access to the Internet. As one of the first outlets for online gaming, Poker grew as a result, with people who had never picked up a deck of cards getting pretty good at it.
The legend of Chris Moneymaker personified this. He is potentially the primary catalyst for the American Poker Boom in the early 2000s. Moneymaker became the World Series of Poker Champion in 2003 after qualifying for an online event! He was an average American who liked poker; now, every single American wanted a piece of the action, and the demand to play soared overnight.
This stemmed a new interest in poker, with multiple movies from the era having the card game at the heart of their narrative, poker being broadcast live on sports channels, and even a few reality TV shows following the lives of poker players. Of course, this was subject to a major roadblock when the FBI implemented the infamous Black Friday, shutting down all poker sites in the US.
Contemporary Standpoint
While poker doesn’t have the kind of media attention or traction it did in the 2000s, several metrics suggest the game is still growing. Since the COVID-19 pandemic, the customer base for many of the great real money picks found here for poker has risen year after year. People generally have more time with a hybrid working approach. Gambling has been ingrained into American culture with the Wild West and Las Vegas lights, meaning that many Americans have a soft spot for poker or other casino games.
In the contemporary era, online casinos often collaborate with well-known figures and celebrities to help improve the image of their product and the industry as a whole. Neymar Jr. famously started working with PokerStars as a cultural ambassador to stimulate the Brazilian market, where he is adored. Another footballer, Maya Yoshida, worked with Japanese gambling company Vera & John to try to make online gambling less intimidating to the Japanese marketplace, which has traditionally been adverse to the pastime.
Some issues around the contemporary standing of poker can be considered part of the problem gambling issue, especially in the United Kingdom. With the country's cost-of-living crisis, many people are turning to poker or online casinos to make ends meet, which can end up being a financial disaster. Problem gambling has become a relatively big problem in the country, and therefore, poker has become somewhat demonized in the public perception.
Religious and Cultural Barriers
While the Western world has a general take-it-or-leave attitude to gambling on a person-to-person basis, some belief systems categorically oppose gambling. Several religions outlaw it, and therefore, many belief-based governments and regimes prohibit poker from taking place within their borders. There are a few interesting points: Malaysia, a majority Islamic country, has a vast online poker community. They are suggesting that it is a guilty pleasure for many Malaysians. Other places like Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Bahrain are a lot less forgiving, and such gambling activity can be severely punished as it is seen as a sin against their beliefs.
