In less than ten years, a fresh breed of math whizzes and poker geeks who analyzed the figures and prevailed over the competition supplanted the narrow circle of traditional gamblers at the top of the poker game.

All of this has resulted in a certain amount of saturation in the online poker market, which has reenergized the live poker industry and led to a new boom in live poker games, many of which are now streamed to audiences around the world over the internet.

What precisely does poker’s future contain, and what trends can we anticipate will continue or emerge to influence the poker industry in the coming years?

Different Poker Formats and Games

Poker is a constantly changing game, and we can quickly see how much it has changed over the years, especially since the Poker Boom.

Texas Hold’em was the most popular game for a very long period, and players would choose between participating in cash games or tournaments.

But in recent years, everything has changed. A portion of the industry has been taken away by games like PLO and 6+ Hold’em, but exciting new formats like Spin and Goes and others are emerging and attracting the attention of young players looking for action.

We may anticipate that a significant part of players will switch to other game forms as time passes and Texas Hold’em gets harder and harder to beat.

The games must be action-packed and less mathematically solvable than Texas Hold’em to remain competitive and enjoyable for all players. Thus it is difficult to predict which ones will prevail.

Online market regulation

With several US states dividing player pools and establishing the foundation for the future, online poker is getting more and more controlled.

The Netherlands is another excellent illustration. When the “Remote Gambling Bill” was introduced in 2019, the previously uncontrolled nature of this sector and the number of players who continued to play online while remaining in the grey markets ended.

Poker is still allowed, but only on sites authorized by the authorities.

The pace of regulation is not expected to slow down soon, and it will undoubtedly influence poker’s future. After all the reforms, we might have another poker boom if we’re lucky and multiple nations and states share the same player pool.

Otherwise, there will be fewer and smaller games, which is terrible for everyone.

Play with Cryptocurrencies Around the World

While more and more nations and states will likely regulate online poker, there will also be a global gray market, and we believe cryptocurrencies will play a part in making that happen.

Since a few years ago, cryptocurrencies have significantly impacted the gambling industry, and this trend is likely to continue for many more.

Cryptocurrency’s widespread use for poker is only inevitable, given that millions of young people trade in it nowadays, and many of them become wealthy.

One of the finest aspects of playing at crypto-friendly poker sites is that they frequently accept players from all over the world, allowing everyone to compete like back in the day.

Of course, these sites are also associated with risks, but as cryptos become more widely used, some digital currencies may replace fiat money as the norm for playing online poker.

A virtual reality poker game

It won’t be long before many of the things we do in the real world today are converted to virtual reality thanks to the rapid advancement of VR technology.

Poker is undoubtedly a game that can be played in virtual reality (VR), as it is basic enough that no elaborate environments would need to be developed.

As a result, virtual poker rooms will probably be available before the end of the decade and have the potential to combine the online and live poker worlds properly.

Imagine playing in your preferred casino with other players nearby without having to make the virtual drive and losing time you could be using to play the game.

This will be achievable once VR poker rooms are fully functional, and many players will look forward to it.

As a Sport, Poker?

A segment of the poker community has long desired to make the game more of a sport and less of a game of chance, much like how chess is played worldwide.

That presents an issue because poker still heavily relies on luck, and it always will unless the game is fundamentally altered.

Although the PokerGO Tour and other competitions have demonstrated how poker can incorporate an athletic component, this trend is likely to continue as time goes on.

It is unclear whether poker will be recognized as a sport and included in prestigious sporting events like the Olympics. Still, there will undoubtedly be a rivalry for the title of highest lifetime earnings.

An Upward Poker Trend

Millions of people who would have never played poker entered the fold due to the first Poker Boom, which completely altered the game.

Now that online poker is gradually legalized in the US and is gaining popularity among millions of Asian players, a new poker boom may be on the horizon.

The setting is ready for a significant new revolution in everyone’s favorite card game, but when and whether it will occur is still up in the air.