The game of poker is “quintessentially” American, according to Casino Review Magazine deputy editor Hugh Sorrill. He claimed that the card game is American in “many ways”, including the imagery associated with it and the name of the most popular version, Texas hold’em.

A number of the poker mavericks synonymous with poker are also from the US, Mr Sorrill added. “Being able to make it as a poker player in America is always going to be more important to someone than making it as a poker player in Europe,” the deputy editor explained. However, he did indicate that European poker tournaments could match US events in terms of prize money but not “kudos”.

These views come after the World Series of Poker (WSOP) Europe got underway in London at the weekend. It follows the WSOP in Las Vegas earlier this year, which had more participants and a higher prize pool than ever before.  My feeling is that poker has become a world-wide sensation.