UsE Your STUDENT L

Beth Lassaline Reporter

Major sports channels are cover- ing it. Bars and pubs are hosting it. Men and women ate doing it. It is intense, stimulating, and some- times it can last all night long. Texas Hold’em Poker ‘Tournaments are quickly becoming the past time of choice for many people, especially college and university students. Ev- ery year more and mote people are signing up to play in organized, local tournaments. But, more commonly, guys and girls are getting together with their small groups of friends for a casual night of gambling. “We usually get a few guys together and everybody puts up a five dollar buy- in.,” says Rick Steadman a second year Arts student. “Normally it’s about six or seven guys and you can play for maybe three, four hours... it’s cheaper than going out for wings and beer ‘cause you normally only lose five or ten dollars, or sometimes you might even win some money.” Steadman says, “It’s a good way to just relax, and have a few drinks with the guys.” Texas hold’em is not only to be played among friends with beers in hand, but is becoming amazingly popular on the internet.

Online poker is quickly attracting new, inexperienced players, as well as providing experienced players with opportunities to improve their com- petitive skills. Various poker sites like pokerstars.com and partypoker.

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THE UNIVERSITY OF PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND’S STUDENT VOICE| | : VOL 37 | NO 7|

com allow people to play for ‘fun’ or for real money...and you never even have to leave your home.

Patrick Turcott, a second year Arts major has been playing poker through various internet sites for over two years. Turcott says, “When you're playing online poker, the buy-ins are usually minimal, like ten cents, and over time, you can win real money. Once you earn enough money you can either cash out, or use it to keep on playing in more games.”

Students should be mildly cautious when joining an online poker site. Although it probably hasn’t been

proven, online poker has a certain

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addictive quality that appeals to the procrastinator in everyone.

“On average I might spend three, maybe four hours a night playing on- line poker,” Turcott said. “I watch TV and try to do some homework, so it’s not like I’m just sitting there for hours staring at the computer screen.” He adds, “Usually I play when it’s late at night when nobody wants to do anything.”

Online poker may seem a bit boring to some, but those who enjoy playing the game find that online poker actually does helps them im- prove their skill level.

“You're able to play against all

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levels of competition and you meet different people who are all using different playing strategies,” Turcott said.

So is this just a popular band- wagon movement? Probably not. “Even as a poor student you can play in satellite tournaments and win buy- ins to major real-life poker tourna- ments,” said Turcott. These real-life tournaments, like the World Series of Poker, are the ultimate goals for many average online poker players. Who knows, maybe you will be the next Chris Moneymaker, an average accountant who turned his $39 dollar buy-in into a $2.5 million dollar pay- out.