Roguish to rampant: poker's sudden allure | csmonitor.com

Roguish to rampant: poker's sudden allure | csmonitor.com: "Roguish to rampant: poker's sudden allure

Critics say it's a compulsive habit. Players call it a test of skill. Either way, the chips are flying.

By Sara B. Miller | Staff writer of The Christian Science Monitor

LACONIA, N.H. � American lore is steeped in it - from legendary games dealt in parlors in the Wild West to smoky backrooms in New York City.
Now, with reality TV, televised tournaments that draw millions of viewers, and an explosion of websites, poker has become America's latest craze, with an estimated 50 million people checking their cards and tossing their chips."