There have been recent whispers in the poker community. Players are somewhat concerned of catching the H1N1 Swine Flu, but more worried that fear of the virus will keep many players away.

The WSOP has seen dwindling numbers since the record turnout of 8773 entrants in 2006 – the 2007 Main Event had 6358 entrants, the 2008 Main Event had 6844 participants – and turnouts at major tournaments have decreased across the board this year. People have cited a few reasons for the drop in numbers: The current economic crisis, less access for U.S. players to online sites (which send numerous qualifiers to these events), and a decline in the popularity of poker.

The last thing the WSOP promoters needed was a major health scare!

The real poker players will turn out in force, since the WSOP is our Mardi gras, Super Bowl and Oscars all rolled into one. And after all, we are not averse to taking a few risks! The concern is with the recreational players and vacationing gamblers; will they buck the current downswing in tournament attendance for the most prestigious tournament? Or, will the economy and health concerns keep them away?

I can see why people might be concerned with the WSOP health risks. Poker is a very non-hygienic endeavor to begin with. Cramped tables, cards and chips changing hands, eating and drinking at the tables; and when you compound this with 5,000+ people mingling for up to 18 hours at a time you can see how a poker room is a breeding ground for germs.

This Swine flu thing is a total media over-reaction. Whether it affects the WSOP I don't know, but there is no reason why a virus which (according to the statistics) is less serious than "normal" flu should stop people going.

This is the MMR, bird flu, Sars thing all over again. Ignore the media basically.

I agree 100%

the media has gone from reporting the news, to creating news.

Fear leads to control

Originally Posted by Steve Ruddock

I agree 100%

the media has gone from reporting the news, to creating news.

Fear leads to control

i havent heard one damn thing about the swine flu in 2 days...hmm with the market going up i guess they have to find new ways to create hysteria

Has anyone noticed that for years all we heard about was the 1918 flu pandemic, now they talk about 1918, 1957, 1968, and 1976?????? Where did these other flu's come from, and why did we forget about them?

I was born in 76 and no one has ever said "ohhhhhh, that was the year of the flu pandemic!" I told my grandmother that swine flu happened in 1976, and she was like I never heard of that.

Give me a break, if the first thing that springs to your mind is anything other than pandemic, it wasn't a pandemic! There was one pandemic, it killed millions of people! Other than that it's just the flu!

the nurse at our school actually recalled the 76 one but thats the only person ive heard ever say anything about it

Also bear in mind that the common cold is a "stage 6 alert" on that scale they've been talking about. So, in contrast to what the media want you to believe, the world is in fact not going to end!

*cough cough*

omg, I think I have the swine flu.