popularity of poker

[Dr1Gonzo]

With the popularity of online poker suddenly, isn't there the possibility that eventually everyone will go out, start reading poker theory books, checking out online strategy, etc. and then there won't be any fish left ?!

[Solami17]

There will always be fish...

People who havent played before will start playing (and losing), there are degenerates out there who will always gamble it up, and for the most part, many players are recreational, not pros. While recreational players can be good, most are not (especially true in live games). As long as people continue to drink and play live, there will always be fishy players

[cjx]

Yeah, they'll all stop buying lottery tickets and playing slots too.

cjx

[soko]

My concern was that instead of people slowly being turned on to poker and keeping a steady (but much smaller) stream of fish coming in slowly, we are just dumping all the fish in the ocean at once and soon everybody who ever would have tried to play poker has tried it, realized they suck or busted out and then we will enter an age where there will be no more fish.

[lozen]

Im sure if you ask the oldtimers they will sat there fish back when and will be fishing for a long time. I thought poker had peaked but lately it looks like it still has not peaked and more growth to come

[tomdemaine]

Luckily, there's one born every minute.

[hampi32]

There will always be fish, because the fish dont care. They dont want to read books or check out strategy. The are very happy gambling and having fun. And if they loose, thats fine. The ocean will never be empty. Life is sweet.

[Xellos]

Moneymaker didn't have to read any books and neither do they.

[Beachman42]

Variance would suggest otherwise. Good players win more over the long run, but a 200BB downswing WILL happen to even the best players. Therefore, fish will win when they shouldn't and the halo effect will keep them in the game. When poker no longer rates TV coverage, then the inflow of fish will slow, but I really don't think we will ever return to the pre-Moneymaker days.

[bernie]

[ QUOTE ]
With the popularity of online poker suddenly, isn't there the possibility that eventually everyone will go out, start reading poker theory books, checking out online strategy, etc. and then there won't be any fish left ?!

[/ QUOTE ]

Why didn't that happen before the poker boom? Wouldn't it have been more likely given the smaller player pool?

b