by Ben Stamos
Watching poker can come with a lot of perks. It offers an alternative to playing with real money, eliminating the personal risk, rookies can learn their best strategies from observing the actions of the pros and there are those who just appreciate the thrill and tactics of the game.
But where can you watch poker? It turns out you might have a lot more options than you were aware of. Read on for all the details.
Twitch
Twitch is the home of live streaming, which makes it attractive to sports lovers and gamers. When you combine that, you get live tables filled with poker players. Simply open Twitch, search for poker players and you will find loads all vying for your attention.
Some of the biggest and most popular games of poker on twitch involve the Yogscast with their annual Yogscast Poker Nights. Though these players are quite new and perhaps not the best to watch for pro players, their excellent casters are sure to bring you entertainment and a good laugh.
There are many smaller streamers looking to grow on Twitch too, and it is good to check out their streams to learn from other players at similar levels to you. It is well known that analysing another’s poker game is the best way to learn how to better yourself, so jumping onto some random streams and staying for a while will not only help them grow, but will also help you improve your own game.
GGPoker
The GGPoker website offers everything you could possibly want with poker. There are regular updates on all things poker, including winners of the World Series of Poker tournament, as well as a wealth of games and tournaments in which to take part.
Play Texas Hold’em, Omaha or 6+ Short Deck poker in online game rooms with SnapCam, Smart Betting, Poker Craft and Final Table Betting features. GGPoker also offers a wealth of themed slot games if you fancy a change from poker.
But if you’d rather just watch, there is so much available. Watch one of the GGTeam members compete, including Jason Koon, Daniel Negreanu and Dan Blizerian and maybe learn by observing. Or stream live coverage of one of the poker tournaments. The World Series of Poker is obviously covered, but also Road to Vegas and GGPoker’s own GGMasters.
ESPN
More and more poker is being accepted as a sport, rather than a “game”. The distinction is muddy, but the implication is clear: one is taken seriously, and one is not. However, since the 2003 World Series of Poker tournament and its winner Chris Moneymaker, poker has peaked in popularity due to the ongoing coverage by ESPN.
ESPN is of course the main authority on all things sport and had the ingenious idea of upping the tension in the room with a “hole card camera” allowing the audience to see a player’s cards when they are face down on the table.
Since 2003, the popularity of ESPN poker has only increased, with 2019’s ratings rising by 10-13% more than the previous years, with 1.16 million viewers tuning into the 2019 Main Event.
You can watch The World Series of Poker as it happens until November 22nd. It has plenty to serve up until that point, including the Main Event 2021 on the 7th of November, so be sure to check the schedule on the WSOP website to not miss a single moment. Witness all the tension, the moves, the strategies and falls from your television.
