The Poker Boom Era — 2003 to 2006
Between 2003 and 2006, poker experienced the most dramatic growth of any sport or game in modern history. Television deals multiplied. Online rooms went from novelty to necessity. The World Series of Poker Main Event swelled from 839 entries to 8,773. And then, almost as suddenly as it began, the legislative axe fell.
The Spark: 2003
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Television and the Hole Card Camera
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Online Poker Explodes
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The WSOP Transforms
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The UIGEA and the End of the Boom
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Frequently Asked Questions
When did the poker boom start and end?
The poker boom is generally dated from Chris Moneymaker's 2003 WSOP win to the passage of the UIGEA in October 2006, which banned US banks from processing online gambling transactions.
What is the UIGEA?
The Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act (UIGEA) was signed into law in 2006, making it illegal for US financial institutions to process payments to online gambling sites.
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