Poker in Asia?

[onev1sion]

Gday from Macau, where the closest thing to a good game of poker is 4 old ladies around a mahjong table.I'm an expat Aussie living in Asia for the past five years and hear little of a good game in this region. The casino industry is booming over here but it seems poker has not, or may not ever catch on. I recall a decade ago I was dealing to a great guy in Canberra, a Stud player named Jack. He mentioned underground games in Hong Kong. The first thing that popped into my mind was triads and loan sharks..arggh!! Can anybody tell me about games in Asia? Do they exist? Does anybody think poker can take off in this region? It's amazing what has happened in Oz while I've been away. What are the chances of an Asian WPT event in this century? Meanwhile, I'll stick to baccarat and pokerstars. Cheers for any input!

[PeepOnTheSly]

Most Asians are still stuck in the age of 5 card stud, thanks to the god of gamblers movies. Apparently there is now a poker room at the Genting casino in Malaysia. I will be heading there in a couple of weeks so check back then.Also, with the new casinos being built in Singapore, I'm fairly certain that poker will be part of their agenda given most of the tenders are from american companys.As for HK, I've heard stories about sporadic games in Kowloon usually set up in mahjong parlours. It's usually a impulsive thing and not a frequent occurence.

[JK.]

onev1sion,you are unlikely to find a poker game,unless it is the odd game of Five Card stud,for several resons.Firstly,there is no poker boom in Asia.In fact the only place where there is a huge poker boom is the States.To have a poker boom,the game has to be traditional and there has to be a large middle class to maintain the boom.The only country in the world which has these credentials is America.Asian countries do not have a middle class,majority of people are very poor.Not great breeding set up for a poker boom.The other major factor is that Asians are in love with games of sheer chance.They love playing with noumbers and luck.Poker is just not a game they find interesting.Apart from Johnny Chang and a few Vietnamese players in USA,you will not find many good Asian poker players.OK toss in Jack Lee and Stella,but that is about it.Poker is just not interesting to the general Asian gambling population.They love Baccarat,Roulette and MahJong.If you do find a game ,let us know.

[Blu3B3ar]

The trouble with poker in Asia is that it is viewed as a foreigners game and is generally not part of their culture (other than Vietnamese I think). Most casinos in Asia are content to have their high-rollers burn their hard-earned cash in baccarat. I would stay WAY clear from the underground/illegal triads and bookies (they do run on unlimited credit lines), every family in Asia has a gambling horror story to tell.

[Blu3B3ar]

JK: The other major factor is that Asians are in love with games of sheer chance.They love playing with noumbers and luck. Poker is just not a game they find interesting.I wholeheartedly agree. Poker requires a bit too much thought.

[PeepOnTheSly]

Also, asians are very impatient by nature. Thet's why they'll prefer horse racing and cock fighting to grinding it out on a poker table. They're usually blinded by the hope of one big payoff.

[onev1sion]

You make a good point JK, it is all about the numbers and luck. I do disagree that there is no middle class in Asia. The Chinese and Indian economy are powering along. An affluent middle class is emerging given this and the sheer size of the population. There is money all over this town which is currently just about at full employment and importing labour from China and Hong Kong. There is also an increasing number of European card players entering Macau, some on business/work visas. They have to settle for Caribbean Stud. This has all led me to wonder whether a poker room in one of the new casinos here could work. Peep I would be very interested to hear about your next trip to Genting. I have heard nothing about a room there. Thanks.

[baptist]

A question for onev1sion and PeepOnTheSly. With a growing middle class, particularly in China and India, I have heard that Pool is by far the dominant leisure pastime throughout Asia. Especially for young men. The current 8-Ball champion, I believe, is a 16 year old from Taiwan, and six of the top ten Pool players are thought to be Asians, some from the Philippines. Do either of you or any other posters have any comments to make about Pool in Asia, given that the latest authoritive figures are that there are over 1 billion regular Pool players throughout the world and it is believed to be slated for inclusion in future Olympics. Maybe as early as London in 2012, even if only as a demonstration sport.

[gaz]

Poker is in Genting casino now Peep? That's great. I love that place. Visit the monkeys on the way up the mountain!

[onev1sion]

Gday Baptist. In Taiwan and the Phillipines pool is a huge sport. I did not win a single game in Taipei when I was last there and the pool/snooker halls were very busy. On ESPN Asia I think pool is the most televised sport behind soccer. Most of the stars are from the Phillipines and southern Asian countries. In mainland China, the snooker halls I have visited are very seedy,smokey and sometimes unfriendly. Some of the tables are even set up outside on the street corners. Needless to say the ball doesn't usually roll in a straight line.Thats all i I can tell you, I'm not really an authority on the game.