Sports Then and Now

The World Series of Poker is the biggest and most prestigious poker tournament in the world, attracting almost 10,000 entrants to the main event each year. It’s broadcasted to poker fans around the world through a combination of TV rights deals and online streaming, just like most other professional sports.

In the US alone, more than half a million people watch the World Series of Poker on TV. The event has had a symbiotic relationship with the game of poker as a whole. They have both benefited from growth in each other’s popularity, both becoming mainstream from relative obscurity in the space of around 30 years.

Today, poker is a major sport enjoyed by millions of people around the world. The World Series of Poker helps to generate interest in the game at an amateur level, with players going online to practice. It is far easier to start playing there, as online poker sites publish useful guides to help new players learn the rules of poker and develop their strategies.

The World Series of Poker didn’t always enjoy such popularity though. Both the competition, and the game itself, have grown significantly since the first, relatively obscure competition was held in 1970.