Poker Pro Wants To Raise Profile Of Hometown

Watching people play poker on television was the motivation needed for one player to take up the game on a professional level.

American gambler Steve Justice wants to play poker in order to put his hometown of Rowlett, Texas, on the map.

Having turned professional in August 2007, Justice wants to boost his own profile, as well as that of the area where he grew up, reports the Rowlett Lakeshore Times.

"My goal is to be number one and to make my community known, because I love the place I'm at," he told the newspaper.

He also claimed that he "can't get enough" of the card game and was fascinated by poker after watching tournaments on the television.

Since starting on the poker scene, Justice has picked up more than $100,000 (£51,000) at events in Las Vegas and other gambling centres across the US.

The World Series of Poker recently got underway in Vegas, bringing some of the world's best card players to Sin City. A win for Justice in the tournament would certainly raise his profile in the poker community.