The phrase "poker revolution" is making the rounds. Part of the credit for the surge has to go to the Internet. Playing poker (legally) once meant a trip to a casino, which can be expensive, intimidating and a far piece to drive or fly for most of us. Now that almost all our living rooms are connected by cable and/or satellite signals, anyone can play anytime. In our underwear or less, if we want to. "Online cardrooms" also allow a player to play some free games and learn the nuances without losing his proverbial shirt.

Aindustry research group, reports online poker grew from a $300 million a year industry in 2003 to a projected $2.9 billion this year. The number of online players has reportedly increased to 1.8 million per month, with up to 100,000 people playing online during peak hours.

The year 2003 was a big one for both the online poker industry and the traditional casino game. That was the year an accountant and amateur poker player named Chris Moneymaker put $39 down to get into an online poker game and won the right to enter the World Series of Poker (WSOP) tournament against the best professionals out there. A Knoxville native, Moneymaker traveled to Binion's Casino in Las Vegas and won the entire tournament - a $2.5 million payday.

The World Series of Poker main event of No Limit Texas Hold 'em is a live-action tournament that welcomes anyone older than 21 who has valid proof of age (and money). The number of entrants in the event has grown 1,000 percent since 2000, when 512 hopefuls anted up. Moneymaker beat out 839 entrants in 2003.