Thanks to sophisticated computer software and increasingly prevalent high-speed online connections, some of the biggest poker money is being made by companies hosting tables online.
In a recent 24-hour period, about $124 million was wagered in more than 100 online poker rooms, according to PokerPulse.com, a Canadian company that tracks the industry.
At peak playing times, the largest site, www.partypoker.com, has had more than 50,000 people playing at more than 5,000 tables.
Dennis Boyko, who runs PokerPulse, said that last month online sites were pulling in $3.2 million a day through "rakes," which are small portions of every hand played, depending on how much is being bet.
That number is up from $300,000 per day in January 2003.
All of the sites are based offshore, because of U.S. gambling laws, and nearly all are privately held, making it hard to pin down their profits.
An exception is PokerRoom.com, which operates as a public company in Sweden.
Chief executive Patrick Selin said that last year, the company reported profit of nearly $4 million on income of $16 million.
"This year it will be much, much, much, much more," Selin said. "You have to pinch yourself to make sure you are awake."
The largest site, www.partypoker.com, is estimated to be making $100 million to $200 million in profit a year.
