Poker's Resurgence: Is the Game Booming in 2023?

The poker world is abuzz with speculation about a resurgence in the game's popularity. The World Series of Poker Main Event in 2023 drew in a record 10,043 players, indicating a surge in interest. This boom is evident in both live and online poker scenes, although the live scene faces some challenges.

Since the beginning of the pandemic in 2020, 13 poker rooms have closed in Las Vegas. Mike Matusow noted that the live cash scene is becoming more cliquey at the higher stakes with game hosts preferring to run private games. Despite these closures and the shift towards private games, live tournaments are still doing well.

The online poker market is thriving. In 2022, the global online poker market size was valued at around $86.2 billion, and it is projected to reach $237.5 billion by 2030. Gitnux reports a 34% increase in new poker players worldwide every year, suggesting that poker is perpetually attracting a new generation of players.