A surge in interest has moved poker from kitchen tables, Knights of Columbus halls and other traditional venues to casinos around the state for precisely two reasons.

"TV and online, period," said Glenn Arana, poker manager at Detroit's Greektown Casino when questioned about the game's stupendous new popularity. "It's grown exponentially, with the biggest jump in the last year."

Although poker had been televised for several years, the games were not the stuff of compelling viewing. That is until ESPN, which held the TV rights to the World Series of Poker from Binion's Horseshoe casino in Las Vegas, placed lipstick cameras along the edge of the table in front of each player.

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The cameras allowed commentators and viewers to see what until then had been the hidden cards of players. Now viewers know which player has a big hand, which player is bluffing and which player is hoping to catch a particular card or cards.

Graphics showing the size of the pot, the chance of each player to win it and the amount of chips he or she has.

Ratings have skyrocketed.

ESPN, which had taped and broadcast only the no-limit Texas Hold'em tournament that caps the World Series, now televises all of the different games, from seven-card stud and Omaha variations to the women-only tournament.

In search of low-cost material, Bravo picked up "Celebrity Poker Showdown," the Travel channel aired "The World Poker Tour," and Fox Sports Net began the "Superstars of Poker" series.

The poker boom was on.

The game is not a large money maker for the casino, because players win and lose among themselves, with the casino supplying the dealer, chips and tables. To get some income, the casino either takes a small percentage of each pot or charges players an hourly fee.

For the casino, changing the poker room space to yet another slot machine area would generate much larger profits. But players are demanding poker.

So much so that Soaring Eagle Casino in Mount Pleasant returned poker to its floor after having closed its poker room a few years ago and Greektown Casino has doubled the size of its poker room, which today accommodates 16 tables with room for expansion. In particular, the poker room attracts a spirited, weekend crowd of younger players. But players of all ages regularly fill the space.

Some try their luck at Omaha and 7-Card Stud. However, Texas Hold'em is by far the most popular game.

Players sign up for their betting level of choice, with maximum bets set at ten times the minimum. On Fridays between 6 and 7 p.m., the game extends to no limit.

There's also a no-limit, sit 'n' go tournament held daily, when each of 10 players at one table buys in for $110.

Greektown's poker room is on second level of casino, in the portion of the facility that at one time was a fur trading warehouse. A illuminated sign reading "Poker Room" marks the area, which is up several solid-color, carpeted stairs.

The poker room is actually two adjacent rooms, each with eight tables. The first room allows smoking and offers games with generally lower stakes. The second room has no smoking and higher stakes. Players there are quite intent.

Both rooms have the trendy, recycled-industrial-building look, with raw brick walls and exposed trusses filling unusually high ceilings. The first room is brighter and livelier since it includes many wall-hugging, illuminated slot machines ("Deuces Wild Bonus Poker," "Hold' Em," "Multi-Denomination").

However, these machines are quieter than the 2,552 slots filling other areas of the casino's 75,000 square feet. No recorded music or electronic bleeps pollute the first poker room, which also includes a small bar. Wheeled min-carts hold players' drinks, snacks and ashtrays at the poker table.

Both rooms also have muted plasma screens showing sporting events, midway up the tall walls. Carpeting throughout has a busy medallion pattern.

Texas Hold'em players also have the opportunity to compete for a seat in the World Poker Series at the Rio Hotel in Las Vegas. Continuing through March 7, players receive a ticket for each hour of play in the poker room. At the end, a winning ticket will be drawn. There also are World Series seat-winning tournaments going on.

Source: M-Live