Interesting SFGate Article

[M2d]

http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/g/a/2004/03/10/moneytales.DTL

[StevieG]

Thanks for the link. Interesting article, but this little bit, speculating on why Poker has grown in popularity, bugged me:

"But it may also be that poker is one of the last pure pursuits of the American Dream in an increasingly unequal world."

That's a fine thesis, but back it up with something about who plays poker and why.

The rest of the article does nothing but refute that idea. Based on the anecdotes of their interview subject, Poker is a way for upper middle class guys who have already achieved success in conventional means to emulate romantic rogue characters who live with more risk and excitement.

So doctors and lawyers playing in card rooms is the equivalent of NBA stars showing off big "Scarface" posters in their homes on "Cribs" episodes.

[wayabvpar]

[ QUOTE ]
. "The World Poker Tour," in which players place their cards face down on a glass table with a video camera under it,

[/ QUOTE ]

Huh? It looks to me like the lipstick camera is in the rail, and the cards have to be rolled up to see them. Minor point, but it would be nice if the reporter had actually, you know, seen the show.

[Greg (FossilMan)]

And one potential reason all of this didn't happen sooner is that somebody got a patent in the U.S. on putting the camera under the table. And his licensing fee was high enough that nobody was willing to pay it. Then, out comes the lipstick cameras, avoiding his patent, and it's off to the races with televised poker.

Later, Greg Raymer (FossilMan)

[wayabvpar]

Interesting- I hadn't heard that before. Bet he feels like dolt now /images/graemlins/grin.gif

[M.B.E.]

Here (http://www.cardplayer.com/?sec=afeature&art_id=12400)'s a link to an article by Barry Shulman about Henry Orenstein, who obtained the patent.

[M.B.E.]

[ QUOTE ]
It looks to me like the lipstick camera is in the rail, and the cards have to be rolled up to see them.

[/ QUOTE ]
No, I think WPT uses a camera under the table. ESPN uses the lipstick camera in the rail for the WSOP.

[Rushmore]

Maybe all those "smoke-filled casinos where poker is played" clouded his vision.