How the Live Stream has Revolutionized Gambling Education!
Before we dive into Twitch and poker, we need to talk Hollywood. Director John Lasseter was famously quoted as saying, “the art challenges the technology, and the technology inspires the art.” He was undoubtedly referencing one of his Hollywood blockbusters. A screenwriter, producer and voice actor, he is also the former creative officer of Walt Disney Animation Studios, Pixar and Disneytoon Studios. He has directed such hits as Toy Story, A Bug’s Life and Cars. No stranger to either art or technology, he’s had great success merging the two. I wonder if he’s a gambler? If so, he’d love what’s happening in the modern era.
How much has the gambling and casino experience changed in the past decade? A Buzz Lightyear! Games like blackjack, craps and roulette have been popular for centuries. But advancing technologies brought us slot machines, followed by online casinos and poker sites. Suddenly, you could wager from the comforts of your own living room. Then it morphed into automated dealers that can talk to players. You can even play from your cell phone using an app or the browser. Now, we’re seeing arcade style skill-based machines, smart TV gambling and even virtual reality gaming.
A prime example of technology inspiring art is evident on the educational front. Players now have easy access to a wide variety of learning tools, all available online. Name your game and there are programs and applications out there designed to help hone skills and devise winning strategies. Take poker for instance, with its tracking software, push/fold charts and heads-up displays (HUD). Programs like these make the learning process much easier and faster.
The Live Stream
One of the greatest learning tools available for recreational and aspiring gamblers is the live stream. The ability to watch, study and interact with your favourite players is invaluable and the best place to go for gambling-centric live streams is Twitch, poker in particular.
“I think it’s the best thing to happen in a long time,” said Randy @Nanonoko Lew, a professional poker player best known for playing 24 tables online at the same time. That’s a feat that requires quick thinking, hand-eye coordination and nerves of steel.
Poker Staples
“When I first started streaming there were a couple of ways I could have gone with it,” said Jaime Staples, a professional poker player from Lethbridge, Alberta. “One of the things you see on Twitch is produced reality shows, where people are actually putting on a show. I wanted to go for the approach, ‘Hey, this is me and this is what my life is.’ It’s actual reality. I just try to be open and honest about what it’s like to be me, a guy trying to get to the highest stakes in the world.”
The 28-year-old Staples is both a professional poker player, who’s quickly closing in on $1 million in online earnings, and one of the most popular live streamers in the world. More than 127,000 people follow his channel at www.twitch.tv/pokerstaples. He enters upwards of 40 tournaments a day, plays multiple games at once and spends roughly $3,000 a day in buy-ins. People tune in to watch and pick up pointers on his playing style and strategy. It’s a terrific viewing experience and a free how-to lesson all rolled into one.
“I kind of just took a leap of faith. I figured it was the right time to stop hedging my bets and just go for it. One of the things I wanted to do, if I was going to pursue my dream, was to become part of the actual poker industry. I thought that was important to ensure my viability in the game long term. That was the goal. Then, I found Twitch. I watched a few broadcasts, it looked fun and I thought I could do it. My goals aligned perfectly with the idea of live streaming, so I just went for it. Once I started, I just couldn’t stop and now the channel has grown exponentially.”
Other Top Gambling Streams
Ownerships & Responsibility
One of the reasons Twitch for poker is such a great learning tool, is the professionalism and quality of its hosts and their willingness to share knowledge and expertise. They are giving away their trade secrets for free but streamers like Staples understand the educational process runs both ways, with the audience and the host learning together, from one another.
Remember, as with any website, the search bar is your friend. on Twitch, if poker isn’t your game, blackjack, craps and slots are there too. Just type them in search and you’ll manage to find a stream perfectly suited to your needs!
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Derrick Oliver
Derrick Oliver Dewan is the founder of High Roller Radio and has interviewed a number of the world’s top poker players and gamblers. A former radio and television broadcaster, Derrick was brand manager for Poker Pro Canada magazine and has written for a variety of publications, including the Toronto Star & Windsor Life.
