Theories on poker's decline anyone?

[WiredKs]

Here's an excerpt from reporting here in Pennsylvania. Can anyone help me understand what's going on. Is it limited to PA or is this a broader issue. Anyone?

It was a very bad year for Pennsylvania poker. Even the debut of revamped poker rooms at Parx and Sands failed to have a positive impact. Revenue was up about a percentage point in 2017.

The contraction for poker accounted for about 30% of the state’s table game decline in 2018.

It wouldn’t be shocking if a brick-and-mortar poker room closes in the near future, with Presque Isle Downs Casino (seven tables) and Mohegan Sun Pocono(18 tables) likely being the most vulnerable given their relatively small sizes and that fact that neither filed for an online poker permit, unlike the other casinos.

 

[whosdaboss25]

It must be just in Penn. because in Florida my local poker room has over 40 tables and there all full usually at the dog track . I don't know how Tampa Bay Downs is doing? but I do know that Tampa Hardrock is always Full and they have loads of tables too so the poker sence is rocking around here in Florida. Mostly No Limit Holdem Limit Holdem has died out they do throw PLO and PLO8 no STUD or STUD8 games that I see.

 

[quick]

I mean I've been to some PA poker rooms lately and they've been booming and had bigger games running more often than past years. Granted some of them downsized the number of tables but before it was like 95% 1/2 and now it's been about 70% 1/2, rest are 2/5 and higher or PLO. Just recently I was at one of the more well known rooms and it was about a 90min wait to get a seat.

 

[WiredKs]

Anecdotally i'm inclined agree. What I've witnessed doesn't seem to Bear out the reporting. Maybe the casinos are playing with the numbers a little bit, or maybe we're just seeing what we want to see.

 

[MrPokerVerse]

You seem to have made a case for poker in Pennsylvania. That is not conclusive for a general decline across the board. We had huge surge with all the TV coverage that was destine to subside. It would depend on where the data starts and ends to accurately answer that question.

 

[MikeCarasone]

Poker may be down in Pennsylvania but it’s definitely not in decline world wide. The wsop and many other tournaments are seeing great numbers. The PCA had a record breaking 25k tournament that had over a thousand entrants. Seems to be fine in here in CT. as well. If the government ever gets the laws correct and online poker is giving proper approval we will see another influx of players if pokerstars is back in the states.

 

[WiredKs]

You seem to have made a case for poker in Pennsylvania. That is not conclusive for a general decline across the board. We had huge surge with all the TV coverage that was destine to subside. It would depend on where the data starts and ends to accurately answer that question.

Great point. The data set is year over year so maybe it's a return to sustainable levels and last year was boosted by all the talk of online gaming coming to the state. Thanks!

 

[AJantwan]

"Fads" fade. I'm not saying poker is a fad, but the introduction of hole card cameras helped create a surge in popularity. Hard for that to last.

 

[Nathan Smith]

When the economy is bad there are less people playing recreationally. But I think live poker is actually getting better and better every year.

 

[BriceNice]

SEVERAL but Id say the biggest two are, due to idiotic regulations, not allowing people to play legally in their area. And 2, with the influx of the internet wiz kids and emotionless Germans, a lot of the style and character has gone out of the game.

 

[NWPatriot]

I am in Washington state, and we have had many poker rooms close or reduce in size over the last 6 - 24 mos.

My opinion is that the few big rooms that are left will continue, mainly because that is where the remaining poker players have to go, and there is still plenty of interest. My gut tells me that the small rooms realized they could make more money per sq ft with 6 more slot machines (or so), rather than collecting rake on one or two live $1/$2 tables. I think their tournaments were held to keep players coming, not because they make profit on them.

My only personal data point is for all tournament buy-ins under $200 that i have played in, with 30 minute rounds at our best room (Muckleshoot), the average qty of players was >70 prior to 2018, and was only 59 last year.

 

[marcelo benavidez]

all the bets, because of the goverments are decline, its a global tendence.

 

[Inequitas]

The Great Game Of Poker!

It will be around for as long as Chess, Reversi, Dice Games and Monopoly Will be lol

The History Of Games

Game Playing is a Human necessity and a function of learning so its likely mankind will always have the game Poker around in many different forms... as for the Wire Act... hmmm it could drive Poker back in to the Live Play licensed Rooms or It could create Criminals of all those that try to loop hole the system, it's a shame!

 

[Viper ChipIt]

The game is definitely not recreational friendly anymore. People going to casinos and playing gto with headphones on and tinted sunglasses only socialising when a fun player makes a bad play to tell them how bad they are. More of these types are filling up the tables, it repels thoughs who just wanna have fun so they head to the blackjack table where everyones drinking and having a good time. Just my observations.

 

[playinggameswithu]

there aint no money in live cash game unless you got plenty of alcoholic donk fishs at the table. excluding that stay away from cash game.

 

[SPANKYSN]

Any industry has its ups and downs...poker is no exception. The reasons may vary from a decline in the general economic health to seasonal variances to the widespread startups of too many poker rooms.

 

[theRaven68]

i do not agree in general, i think that live poker is actually getting better and internet poker declined due to new regulations