Retailers Bets on Poker's Popularity

TOLEDO, Ohio – As reported by the Associated Press: "With poker's popularity growing because of televised tournaments, retailers are betting that playing cards and chips will be among the must-have items during the holiday shopping season.

"Stores are showcasing displays of casino-quality chips and gaming tables with holders for drinks and betting chips.

"…Walmart spokeswoman Karen Burk said the renewed interest in poker may make a deck of cards the top stocking stuffer of the holidays this year.

"Poker, which was introduced to much of the country by riverboats on the Mississippi and Ohio rivers in the 1800s, is now seeing another surge thanks to cable networks televising tournaments at all hours are fueling the poker craze.

"…Few networks were interested in poker until the World Poker Tour turned into an overnight success a year ago.

"PokerStars.com, a popular poker Web site that offers games online, estimates based on anecdotal research that from 50 million to 60 million people play poker at least once a month.

"Games range from high school students gathering in basements on weekend nights to organized tournaments…"