In the poker business, we all have witnessed an incredible increase in active players over the last few years. Entrepreneurs are cashing in on the poker surge. We will show you the ways creative business people are making money in the poker industry.

Before we look at that, let’s see why poker has taken off. We can look back and see three distinct events that have led to the growth in the popularity of poker. Alright, listed in order, this is what transpired that led to the poker boom.

We start in 1994 when poker player Henry Orenstein invented, and patented, the technology for the “hole card cam”. With this invention the audience gets to know the hole cards of all of the players while the hands are being played out. “Hole card cam’s” debut happened in 1997 on the british show late night poker.

Poker had been on TV since the 70’s, but no one was watching. The reason for this was that not knowing what cards the players were working with, you were guessing what the players were betting with. The pocket camera made viewing poker on TV very captivating.

The next thing that was integral in leading us to the rapid expansion of poker was the onset of poker on the world wide web. The first internet based poker room opened its “doors” in 1998. Players can now play poker in the relaxed surroundings of virtually any place they can imagine. The online poker rooms will see steady growth over the next few years.

Now we’re ready for the last development that ultimately led to the poker explosion. When Chris Moneymaker beats some of the top pros in the game to win the world series of poker Main Event in 2003, we see poker explode. Getting his seat by winning a $40 satellite at an online poker site, then winning the grand daddy of all poker tournaments, sets off this unique boom.

The combination of the pocket camera creating a large audience watching poker on TV, and the rise of online poker broadening the player base, prepared us for the “Moneymaker” effect. Everyone seeing an online, amateur rookie player, out duel some top pros to win the biggest poker tournament ever at the time, poker took off.

This dynamic event creates numerous possibilities for forward thinking business minds. There are many ways to get rich in this growing poker industry. Most of these possibilities are internet. Here are a few of the businesses you could start in this growing industry.

Those with the skill are now trying to be successful professional poker players. A good number of people have gotten very wealthy finding poker players for the online poker rooms. Poker strategy books can be great money makers.

Entrepreneurs are producing software programs that help online players to study their own play from the information gathered from their past play. Some business people have invested in their own online poker rooms. We have seen various poker leagues happening at bars and meeting rooms just about everywhere.

These are some, but by no means all, of the various opportunities that people have found to cash in on the poker boom. Operating a poker opportunity with an online presence appears to be the most promising. The future for poker still looks bright, and the potential for making money is there for those ambitious enough to get involved.