The 2011 WSOP has been drawing record participation. There is no doubt that interest in the game is growing. The online poker industry had been booming...until they were shutdown.
In what has come to be know as "Black Friday" the U.S. Department of Justice shut down the country's major online poker sites.
The decision has had a huge impact in the world of poker. Some players are packing up their bags and heading to Canada. Some are reevaluating the way they go at their poker career.
For many, the shutdown of online poker tournaments has stripped them of their dream in participating in the Texas Hold 'em Main Event at the World Series of Poker.
The event features a $10,000 buy-in and many of the online sites feature numerous satellite tournaments with $10,000 prizes. This is not only hurting newcomers chances of participating in the main event, but also stripping it of some of its legends.
The developments appear to be costing the Main Event some of pokers biggest names. Phil Ivey had announced over a year ago that he would be sitting out the event to protest Full Tilt Poker's recent struggles to pay members.
Now, poker Hall of Famer Doyle Brunson has announced he will be sitting out the Main Event as well. Brunson tweeted:
"no main event for me? this year ? unless ?the DOJ (Department of Justice) will stake me?.
Despite this tournament director Jack Effel is not concerned that participation in the Main Event will suffer. Effel:
There aren't empty tables this year. We're at capacity nearly all day, every day. We're seeing is a lot of the real poker players, the guys who play poker regularly, coming in and playing.
We're seeing those guys more prominently than we have in the past. I think the big thing is that people want to win a seat for the main event. They want to get in?they've got to have some way to do that.
He is refering to all the events leading up to the Main Event that feature much smaller buy-ins. Given the increased interest in poker. It seems unlikely that recent developments are going to take away any interest or participation in the Main Event.
With the Main Event less than one week away, tune to Bleacher Report's Poker Page to stay updated on everything happening at the 2011 WSOP.
Nicky Hilton Garcelle Beauvais Kristy Swanson Ali Campoverdi Giuliana DePandi
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