Twitch Poker streamer Kevin Martin has said that he thinks a second poker boom is coming to the game. The Canadian reckons all the signs are there and it could be even bigger and better than last time!
Poker boom 2.0 is coming:
– on TV everywhere
– poker content peaking
– records at all live events
– people want skilled gamblingOperators, players and creators gear up it’s going to be wild!
— KMart (@KevinRobMartin) January 20, 2023
Is a Second Poker Boom Coming?
Martin says that he’s been playing for eight years now but the energy and growth around the poker industry is just different. Could he be right?
Phil Galfond replied to the tweet saying that he is cautiously optimistic and he’s a man who knows a thing or two about the poker industry.
Indicators that a New Poker Boom Is Coming
So why does Kevin Martin think that a new poker boom could be just over the horizon?
According to him, poker is all over TV schedules like in the first boom. It’s definitely still popular, that’s for sure. Poker content is peaking on multiple platforms, too.
He also says that field size records are being broken at all live events and there is a clamour for skilled gambling to be available.
The growth of social media and streaming platforms is allowing more people to watch and learn from professional players. Undoubtedly this is going to be a major driving force in any new poker boom.
It’s more about mainstream marketing to the masses.
We had big time poker campaigns from Full tilt and Pokerstars (like BetMGM and Draft Kings are currently doing). If that comes back poker will boom. Until then, most people aren’t thinking about poker.
— Abraham Mobley (@AbrahamMobley) January 21, 2023
Ultimately, it will always come down to the visibility of the game. Marketing will be key. The poster in the tweet above is right that Full Tilt Poker and PokerStars played a major role in popularising poker with mainstream marketing.
Disagree. Not organised enough, not professional enough, too many scandals, too many cheats, too many lowlifes. Lots of great people too of course but the points remain.
— Mikey_Mike (@Ship_of_Mike) January 21, 2023
Is a Boom Really Likely?
Not everybody in Kevin Martin’s Twitter thread was convinced a boom is likely to happen. Many think that without full legalisation in the United States it is impossible.
Others criticised the state of the game following multiple cheating scandals and the rise of the stereotypical GTO player wearing a hoodie and not having any fun.
Nobody wants to sit at a table with some GTO dude wrapped up in a scarf taking 2 hours to make every decision&then berating people who don’t play optimally. Even worse to watch it on TV. The 1st poker boom was fun b/c it was full of characters & really felt like anyone could win
— StinkieLinkie (@stinkie_linkie) January 21, 2023
Time will tell but the game is looking as healthy as it has done for a long time today.
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