Online
Poker a Popular Draw
As reported by the East Valley
Tribune: "Greg Powers opened his laptop
computer, logged on to an Internet poker site
and bellied up to a Texas hold-'em table. In
15 minutes, he was about $400 ahead.
"…Fresh
out of college and armed with a history degree,
the Scottsdale resident makes his living playing
online poker.
"At
first, the stakes were low — and strictly
for entertainment. He gradually started winning
a few hundred bucks here and there from poker
Web sites.
"Powers
began to take his luck seriously following successful
tournament finishes. He used the winnings to
pay out-of-state college tuition at the University
of California-Santa Barbara.
"…'I
don't think I'm a professional gambler,',' said
Powers, who credits his success to a competitive
personality. 'I call myself a strategic decision
specialist.'
"In
recent years, events such as the World Series
of Poker sparked a surge in poker's popularity,
both in the casinos and online.
"…Mesa
resident Randy Burger, 33, said he wins more
at online poker now that he plays for fun again.
"Burger
said he made a decent living from virtual casinos
during a four-year stretch. He estimated the
top professional online players earn between
$30,000 and $60,000 a year — and likely
more if they also win tournaments…"
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