Online Poker Players: Today’s New Celebrities

September 3rd, 2009

If you believe what the new Celebrity Apprentice Joan Rivers says, professional poker players are “beyond white trash.” But I think there are millions of people who would beg to differ. As a matter of fact, poker is incredibly popular at the moment and so are those who play it professionally. This is evidenced by the fact that poker players like Annie Duke, Phil Gordon, Mike “The Mouth” Matusow and many others have achieved huge celebrity status in recent years.

This surge in popularity has caused many to try their hand, so to speak, at making a living playing on Internet poker sites. The results have been good for some and because of this many more people have become online poker millionaires. These poker successes are not always who you would expect them to be, because they’re often very young and not seasoned pros. Unfortunately, for every new batch of successful poker players, there are also those who have been victims of Internet poker scams. Mostly new players step into this trap, because they don’t know how to verify a poker site’s bona fides.

To make sure you don’t fall into this same trap, the following tips can help you assess whether a site has the potential to be a scam:

  • If the site doesn’t have professional-looking graphics and technology, go somewhere else. Low-quality construction could be the sign of a quick-buck artist at work or at the very least, a cash-strapped operator.
  • Check if the site or its owners are members of the Interactive Gaming Council (IGC). IGC members pledge to follow a code of ethics.
  • Make sure the site has 24-hour support with a toll-free phone number and e-mail.
  • If the site looks professional, is an IGC member and has good contact info, do several small transactions as tests before you do any major gambling. These should tell you a lot about the workings of the site.

Everyone has to start somewhere, so there’s no reason why with a little luck and a lot of practice you couldn’t become one of online poker’s stars. Just be sure to do your due diligence first, so any success you achieve won’t be spoiled by regret.

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