They call it "the poker boom" — the period of exponential, unprecedented growth that hit poker following the moment ESPN aired Chris Moneymaker clinching his 2003 World Series of Poker Main Event victory over Sam Farha. The boom refers not only to the explosion in popularity of the game as a whole, but the expansion of the industry in ways never seen before.
All of a sudden there were new tournaments, new poker rooms, new media, and of course, new business ideas. Companies popped up selling everything from poker accessories like sunglasses and card protectors to hooded onesies — remember that short-lived booth at the WSOP?