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It seems like years ago poker appeared on television once every few months. Today, viewers can find poker on TV 3 to 4 times a week! Driving the poker craze in the USA is the World Poker Tour on the Travel Channel and the World Series Of Poker on ESPN. Already the Travel Channel's highest rated show, reruns of the WPT attract nearly 30% more viewers. Ratings for ESPN during the 2003 World Series Of Poker were unprecedented, garnering a 1.2 overall rating with an average share of more than 1 million viewing households

As a result, everyone now recognizes the name Chris Moneymaker. Moneymaker, from Spring Hill TN, was crowned the 2003 World Series Of Poker Champion and cashed in by winning 2.5 million dollars. After paying a $40 entry fee, Moneymaker won an online satellite tournament to qualify for the WSOP.

This year at the 2004 World Series Of Poker, after 22 hours of television coverage and more than 8,000 participants are eliminated, the grand finale will air September 14th on ESPN. It's estimated the winner of that event will receive over 5 million dollars!

David Sizemore, Co-Founder and Vice President of Crow View Productions, Inc. the parent company of the USAmateur Poker Tour, says poker's popularity and soaring interest is here to stay. Sizemore asserts, “In the past 1-2 years, poker has shed its seedy, back room image to become more mainstream and many friends and neighbors are now hosting poker nights at their homes.” He adds, “Since it's easy to learn how to play poker and it's such a social and fun game, more people than ever are playing in their own home game room or basement.”

Sizemore's company, the USAmateur Poker Tour recently launched a website where they offer their custom designed, high quality, Texas Hold'em Table, Vegas style poker chips, and accessories for the home poker player. For more information on the USAmateur Poker Tour, log onto their website at USAmateurPokerTour.com.