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Maryann Guberman has been a writer and editor with many gaming publications, including Sports Form, Card Player, Poker World, Player's Panorama and Systems and Methods. She also has written and edited numerous books on gambling.

Dec 27, 2008

The Poker New Year in Retrospect

Lest you think I've stepped into the twilight zone with a title like this one -- after all, a retrospect doesn't look ahead, does it -- let me explain from whence it came.

I subscribe to a number of blogs, podcasts and newsfeeds, some related to poker and gambling and others related to my other personal interests. One of my favorites is by a guy named Seth Godin. He's the founder of Squidoo.com, the author of several books and the guru of marketing via the net. I think he comes from outer space, or at least from outside the ordinary boxes most people live in.

This year he spoofed us with a six-year-old blog he says he found (on his hard drive, I presume). In it he listed his predictions for 2008. But then he never posted it.

So I've given credit where it's due and now steal it with my own long-buried predictions from six years ago.

I predict that Binion's will sell the last of its reputation, the World Series of Poker, to some big-name outfit, maybe Harrah's or MGM. If it's the latter, it will enjoy some decorum; if the former, it will deteriorate into something akin to wrestling with all the hoopla and fanfare.

I predict that no matter who gets hold of the name the World Series will become the biggest event of the poker year, possibly enticing thousands to play in the championship event, and the winner will be barely old enough to play in a U.S. casino.

I predict everybody will complain more and more about the Phil Hellmuth's childish behavior at major poker events, that he will be sanctioned but the penalty will be withdrawn, and the media will just love his antics.

I predict, in fact, that a lot of old timers will protest vociferously against the antics of a lot of younger players but their complaints will fall on deaf ears.

I predict that rounders heretofore known for their suspect skills of card handling will become heroes by virtue of their longevity in the game.

I predict the professional poker play will not be intimidated by his government and will continue to patronize online poker and even write about it.

I predict a major scandal from an important pro player accused of cheating online. (And for the future beyond 2008, perhaps 2009, while he's laughing at the fact that he's under no jurisdictional law, he'll stop laughing when the IRS catches up to him).

I predict every major casino in the U.S. will feature a poker room with no-limit hold'em as the focal point, and to a room they will be as active as the low-limit slot machines.

I predict poker will be so popular that at least a half dozen magazine will try to take over the ranking of Card Player but only one will affiliate with the World Series.

I could go on with my predictions but what's the point. We all know poker is a dead game that will never catch up to the glory of other gambling games. More and more casinos will close their rooms in favor of video poker and keno machines that take a whole lot less staffing. One by one real poker will be exchanged with computerized games.

Marybe. Maybe not. In any case, come the dawn 2009, let's look back at 2002 and see just how close to the mark we were.

(With my apologies to Seth who did it so much better.)