State of Poker Around the World

The game is the same around the world. Poker players in Hong Kong see the same flops as those visiting casinos in Mexico. From Australia to Austria and back, bets on the turn and the river still determine the fortunes of millions of dollars on a daily basis. Players worldwide can battle it out in front of a computer or from the comfort of a plush chair with live opponents. However, the degree to which the game has evolved and the skill level of the players who enjoy it vary drastically by region. Let’s take a trip around the world and look at the state of poker.

North America

The United States is ground zero for poker. From massive poker rooms in Atlantic City and Las Vegas to the world’s largest card room at Foxwoods in Connecticut, poker is alive and well in the United States, Canada, and Mexico. The World Poker Tour (WPT) and World Series of Poker (WSOP) Circuit traverse the continent with the largest games at the highest stakes. PokerStars has even gone so far as to sponsor the Latin American Poker Tour (LAPT), which branches into Central and South America with events in cities like San Jose (Costa Rica) and Nuevo Vallarta (Mexico).

The world’s most well-known poker players, by and large, are Americans: Doyle Brunson, Phil Hellmuth, Phil Ivey, Annie Duke, and Chris Ferguson, just to name a few. Players like Daniel Negreanu and Gavin Smith have made the country of Canada extremely proud, while the Brenes family has dominated the Costa Rican poker scene for several decades. Poker boomed in popularity in the United States when a Southern Tennessee accountant with an extremely quirky last name bested one of the game’s top pros in the world’s richest tournament. The “Moneymaker Boom” has its roots in the United States. Therefore, it’s no surprise that the game is so popular in surrounding nations.

Europe

During the first two installments of the WSOP Europe in London, only one American took home a bracelet, Full Tilt Poker pro John Juanda. That stat shows just how popular the game has become throughout the continent. However, its players are relatively different. In the United States, clientele at live poker rooms is quite diverse. However, an “old guard” aura still exists in European card rooms to this day. Some of the most famous poker establishments include the Casino at the Empire in London (home of the WSOP Europe) and the Aviation Club in Paris (which is the premier French poker room).

European card rooms are typically a lot smaller than their American counterparts. By the same token, casinos are a lot less glitzy. Expect a lower player skill level throughout Europe as compared to the United States and Canada. However, also expect a higher level of class. Jeans won’t cut it. Neither will a sweatshirt that just says “COLEGE.” You may ultimately need to don a sports jacket when you 3bet someone in Venice, so be wary of the dress code. However, know that the competition will be tough, but not as experienced, as what you’ll find in North America.

Oceania

The poker world is growing leaps and bounds in places like China, Australia, and New Zealand. In these countries and others in that part of the world, the early seasons of the WPT are finally being aired. Shows like “High Stakes Poker,” which makes its home on GSN in the United States, is finally seeing play in other parts of the world. As a result, the game has grown considerably. One poker player compared it to stepping into a time machine and going back about three years. Players may understand how to execute a proper check-raise, calculate the acceptable range to 3bet on the button, and even know equity calculations. It’s just a matter of time until Oceania catches up with the rest of the world. However, the game will have ultimately evolved elsewhere by then.

Worldwide

The internet is bringing players around the globe together to talk strategy and develop their skills. In essence, the internet is breaking down barriers between the skill level of a player in New York and the skill level of a player in New Delhi. Whether you’re in Auckland or Oakland, Moscow or Muscat, you can hop on your favorite online poker forum and discuss the world’s most popular games with others. The internet may ultimately bring the world up to speed on poker. For now, be aware of the differences when you play outside of your home region.