Antoine Saout gathered the 3rd place in the 2009 World Series of Poker. He brought home $3.5 million prize money and the admiration of his fellow countrymen. While, Joe Cada is noted as the youngest WSOP Poker Champion, Antoine Saout for himself held the record as the best French Poker player of all time. Antoine Saout therefore made the French public more admiring of poker.
In the past, poker was considered as a pastime or a marginal practice in the French society. Of late however, because of the wide spread of internet poker gaming and the eventual third place win of Antoine Saout, interest in poker grew. French media dedicated the front page of the daily newspaper to Saout as the best French Poker player of all time.
Likewise, because of his victory, interview of poker professional such as Barry Greenstein, Daniel Negreau and another French pride who plays online, David Benyamin was featured in the French dailies.
Never did poker was a buzz in France but because of the win by Antoine Saout and the popularity of online poker gaming in France, they have renewed their interest on poker.
Going back to the 2009 World Series of Poker, it was announced that over 2.1 million viewers watched the November Nine. It was a huge viewer base. It turned out to be an unprecedented success also for a young poker player who toppled over not just his opponents but he likewise break the record of the youngest poker Champion used to be held by the 2008 WSOP Poker Champion, Peter Eastgate.
While the television coverage was huge for the 2009 WSOP, it was mentioned as well that the rating of the coverage was lower than that of the 2008 WSOP. While the difference was one point, where last year’s rating was 1.9 and this year’s rating was 1.8, it was a puzzle how come there were more viewers but lower rating.
Anyway, we can probably equate the rating to the possible maturity of viewers and the many poker shows around the United States.
Speaking of maturity, in a report from South Africa, it was mentioned that in the latest survey, there are fewer South Africans who are spending their money on gambling.
In a report from the National Gambling Board (NGB), in the ten years of gambling legality in the country, the market must have matured.
If you compare the data from the 2002 and 2005, 2009 gaming results will be too low.
In the 2002, frequency of casino gambling in South Africa is about 19.3%. It lowered in 2005 to about 7.1% and in 2009; the record is only 6.3%.
While gambling spending was higher in 2009 as compared to 2002 from 1.3 to 1.34, the record in the between, which is in 2005 is 19.3.
We may possibly attribute this to the economic fluctuations. However, it may be noted that the record was only a reading from the casino gaming frequency and spending. Lotto and scratch cards are not part of the review. This is because they are part of the National Lotteries Board and the National Gaming Board may not have an accurate reading of them.
Are South African people having the same view as the French in poker, maybe not. They could probably have a renewed interest in poker if a player from them would be a top finisher in poker tournaments. It is possibly but of course it is not a guarantee.
This is because if you look at the case of Saout, even before the start of the November Nine, French public knows that whatever happens to his game, it will surely change the view of his fellow countrymen over poker. Indeed it changed, and Antoine is now a big name in the French poker industry.
