Celebrities Can Encourage Poker Participation

Being able to come face-to-face with a sporting legend may encourage the general public to play poker, says magazine editor.

The general public will never be able to compete on an even playing field with their sporting heroes in their favoured events, but it is a different story when it comes to poker.

It is for this reason that InsidePoker magazine editor Alan Bowden thinks celebrities playing poker is good for the game, as it may encourage people to enter tournaments that involve famous faces.

Coming face-to-face with a sporting icon at the poker table could be "a really inspiring thing", he remarked.

Poker is "open to everyone", said Mr Bowden, and people are keen to get involved "when they realise that they are playing on the same level playing field as [celebrities] and can play at the same tournaments as them".

Famous stars known to enjoy a game of poker include actor Ben Affleck, cricketer Shane Warne and ex-tennis player Yvegeny Kafelnikov.