A typical poker game is not what you see in the movies. It isn’t what you see on TV, either, although you might think it is with the amount of poker tournament TV out these days. A typical poker games is neither a constant round robin of huge pots, clever banter, showing bluffs, and folks saying “read em’ and weep” while raking in piles of cash. Nor is it a hour of ten hands, each with big action and one player getting busted out every other hand. What you get when you watch poker on TV is a distilled version of the game, with the choicest moments cherry picked for your viewing enjoyment. What really happens is hours where one person bets and everyone folds, over and over and over again. So why on earth would anyone want to sit and watch live poker events?

For most people, the answer would be, “you wouldn’t.” Even many pro poker players, the ones sitting at the table doing all that folding, say they would rather watch paint dry than sit and watch a poker event. Playing it is one thing, they say, but watching? No thanks. Yet, inexplicably, the crowds at live events are growing larger and larger every year.

Part of the reason is that the playing fields are growing larger as well. There have always been a certain amount of spectators that come along with the players; family and friends come to cheer them on. With the growing field it makes sense that the spectators would grow as well. In addition, many of the new comers are seat-winners, and being in these events is quite a novelty, which means more family come along for the once-in-a-lifetime chance to see their loved one play pro poker.

But even still, there are the live poker fans. Folks that come in groups to socialize and cheer on their favorites, and also to star watch when the celebrities are in the game. For whatever reason, the added number of spectators is good for the sport of poker as a whole.