Late at night, cramped at a small table with close friends, college students are learning how to strategize, manage money, and solve problems.

"Poker is a challenge and I like the psychology involved," said Brian Reddinger, a fifth year Ohio State senior in communications, who has been playing poker for about a year. "Even if you lose money it's still fun because I'm real competitive. Obviously the possibility of winning money is enticing."

Reddinger, like many students at OSU and at other schools in Ohio, plays Texas Hold 'Em-style poker several days a week for a limited amount of money. Many students opt to play for the social interaction it provides and the possibility of winning some money.

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"I've met a ton of new people through playing poker," said Matt Vild, a senior in business at Kent State University. "If you're good, and somewhat consistent, the money is good too. I was able to carry rent a few times off poker winnings."

Vild, who has been playing poker for 3 years, started playing with a group of 5 to 6 friends. Their group has expanded through word of mouth, and now attracts around 50 people to their poker nights on Mondays and Wednesdays.

Several college students like Reddinger and Vild have said that their initial introduction to poker occurred at the same time as televised poker tournaments like ESPN's World Series of Poker, the Travel Channel's World Poker Tour, and Bravo's Celebrity Poker Showdown became popular.

"One day I was flipping through TV and I saw the World Series of Poker on ESPN," said Ian McClellan, a recent graduate of Ohio University. "I started watching the program and became instantly engrossed in the strategy of the game. The idea that even holding the worst cards possible, a clever person could win a hand, boggled my mind."

"Now poker is everywhere on TV," said Russ Sirochman, an OSU senior in aeronautical engineering. "A lot of people just play because of the television shows. It's bad when you see people trying to mimic the patterns of professional poker players."

Jackie Lapin, a spokeswoman for the Travel Channel's World Poker Tour, explained the popularity of prime time poker.

"People felt that they were sitting in the seat making the million dollar decisions for themselves," Lapin said. "People could see that poker is not an intimidating sport and easy to learn and they can play too."

Source: The Lantern