Pokertek, a software development company, has released on the poker world “PokerPro”. PokerPro is a computerized poker table that is being used in casino ring games to help with the high demand for poker seats. With the never ending poker boom, casinos are scrambling to meet the demand for more tables on the floor. It isn’t a matter of space but a matter of logistics as a whole. More tables means more dealers, more chips, more cards, more security, more everything. Players flood casinos on weekends and throughout the week the floors are still finding themselves crowded as players look for a seat.

Pokertek points out three major advantages to the PokerPro table. First there is speed. With the majority of poker players becoming accustom to online poker, speed is becoming not only a normal function but one that players look for. With card distribution and chip play being computer generated, games run on an almost instant time frame. PokerPro operates a hand 60% faster than a manually dealt hand which is by comparison similar to the difference between dial up and broadband. This allows the players to play more hands in less amount of time. “Keep things moving” is the motto for the new generation of players that steal a few hands on their lunch break or at home to beat the daily grind.

The second feature is the elimination of mistakes. Anyone that has played poker at a live table knows that misdeals and errors happen. No dealer or casino is flawless and this has led to some very costly mistakes for players. When an error occurs at a ring table, the final decision is rested with someone that probably didn’t even witness the mistake. PokerPro eliminates the misdeal factor out of the game.

The third point Pokertek presents with PokerPro is money. When playing at ring games, it is customary to tip dealers. After all, when you just picked up a grand, you feel a little generous to the one that dealt you the cards. On an average between semi pro and pro players, a tip for a single hand ranges between 5 and 10% of the win. If you add that up, you are talking about a lot money after a 5 hour session. The money factor also affects the casinos themselves. Less expense to operate a table and with the speed more rakes from more hands means more profit.

PokerPro operates on a simple automated system. When a player arrives at the poker room, they check in and swipe your card. The card is used to track everything for you. Your table seating, your chips, the game you play, it’s all there. The card seats you at the table, contains your chips stack, it even puts on and alerts you to waiting lists for certain tables you want to play at.

The tables are a simple design that is engineered for player convenience and privacy. Each seat at the table has a tilted elevated screen that displays the player’s information such as hole cards and chip stack. Privacy is ensured but the hole cards being shown face down until the players cup their hands over the screen. The cards then reverse to allow the player’s to see them and when the contact with the screen is released the cards return to the face down position. The table’s center has a wide flat screen embedded that will show the pot and community cards. Each table is an individual game and not connected to any other table. It does not take away from the single table experience.

Another advantage to PokerPro is that games can be timed. At live ring games it is almost impossible to control a time game but PokerPro allows the casinos this option. The new rise in poker is “Speed” poker. In on line rooms, turbo tournaments and tables are gaining popularity but in land based casinos it is just not been offered. The “Speed” craze is growing and the casinos are looking to capitalize on this and any other way to attract new players and keep the game refreshed and new for veterans.

Currently PokerPro has 21 tables operating in 6 land based casinos located in Florida and Oklahoma. Pokertek is expecting to see growth this year to more then 400% and feel that within the next few years there will be thousands of PokerPro tables running through out the world. Endorsements for PokerPro have come from poker pros such as Johnny Chan and the legendary Doyle Brunson. Everyone is cheering the speed and infallibility of the PokerPro table. The future of poker could very well be found in this system and as PokerPro spreads new developments in the table are sure to follow.