Poker & Pokemon: Poker Players Crazy About Pokemon GO

If you have access to the internet and happen to have an account on any of social channels like Facebook or Twitter, there is basically no way you could have missed the latest craze known as Pokemon Go.

The mobile app gives its users an opportunity to catch these popular cartoon monsters, train them, help them evolve, and become stronger. Considering the popularity of the animated series with the famous “gotta catch ’em all” motto, it was no surprise the game quickly caught on with the younger generations who spend an inordinate amount of time on their cell phones.

And, speaking of cell phones, who spends more time using their mobile devices than poker players. Put two and two together, and you get…

Poker world goes crazy about Pokemon GO

The augmented reality game, Pokemon GO was launched earlier in July, with the WSOP 2016 in full swing. At first, it seemed as if it would go more or less unnoticed by the poker community, but then tweets started coming in and it became clear that professional and amateur players occupying seats in the Amazon Room were splitting their attention between the cards they were dealt and Pokemon running around, just waiting to be caught.

For example, we have a well known poker presenter Tatjana Pasalic, asking about the Pokemon situation in the Amazon Room and a well known pro quickly responding. Even after $2.5 million in poker winnings, it is apparently still exciting to chase those weird animated creatures.

@Tattytats @Pokemon downloading right now. We shall see ????

— Adam Levy (@Roothlus) July 8, 2016

Remko Rinkema, a poker journalist and content producer for numerous outlets, including PokerNews, certainly has an interesting perspective on the matter:

The release of Pokemon Go is making people go outside into the real world to play a video game. The future is now.

— Remko Rinkema (@RemkoMedia) July 8, 2016

And it is clearly the future he enjoys very much:

Walking with @RemkoMedia, and he says “got one” before stopping dead in his tracks. Thanks, Pokemon.

— Donnie Peters (@Donnie_Peters) July 12, 2016

Gavin Griffin could not resist the temptation, either:

I’ve never played Pokémon in my life but I just dl’d Pokémon Go

— Gavin Griffin (@nhgg) July 8, 2016

Always in a mood to joke, Joe Stapleton tried to share views somewhat opposite to the popular opinion. Suffices to say, it didn’t go to well.

More like Pokemon STOP, am I right?

— Joe Stapleton (@Stapes) July 10, 2016

And here we have Gavin again, fighting an on the felt battle he probaly did not expect this year.

These Pokémon are everywhere! Even playing the @WSOP main event pic.twitter.com/uYGzGhfZdi

— Gavin Griffin (@nhgg) July 11, 2016

Even Lance Bradely, Pocket Fives editor in chief, couldn’t stay away from all the craze. Although, I have to admit, he might be onto something here.

Anybody trademarked World Series of Pokemon Go yet? ASKING FOR A FRIEND WHO WANTS TO BE RICH.

— Lance Bradley (@Lance_Bradley) July 11, 2016

As for Timex, Pokemon GO made him ask some very important, existential questions:

How rare does a Pokémon have to be to justify having your camera out in line for the urinal?

— Mike McDonald (@MikeMcDonald89) July 13, 2016

Of course, it quickly became clear that McDonald knows nothing. Hi there, Pikachu! (Disregard the shadow, that’s not what this is about!)

@MikeMcDonald89 In the bathroom is best place to find Pokémon. I found this little guy earlier today! pic.twitter.com/96nlNwTr70

— Chad Allan Holloway (@ChadAHolloway) July 14, 2016

And there is Xuan Liu who just discovered that priorities in life can change quickly:

Busted all the @natural8dotcom overlay tournaments on stream but at least we caught a new #Pokemon pic.twitter.com/ToItwiYiSD

— Xuan Liu (@xxl23) July 24, 2016

Gotta Catch ‘Em All

There is no doubt that Pokemon GO is a very entertaining and addictive game so it is hardly any wonder that poker players, who spend long hours grinding away at home or at a local casino, picked up on this funny little pastime. One important thing to note about the app is that it has its very positive sides as well: to evolve and strengthen your Pokemon, you actually have to walk a certain distance.

Since most of us are lazy when it comes to exercising, those who pick up Pokemon GO will at least have an extra motivation to walk a couple of miles a day for the well-being of their beloved creatures. And in my books, anything that gets people outside and moving around in this time of computer, internet, and virtual socializing can only be a good thing.

So, although it is not a poker app, I’ll go ahead and give Poke(r)mon GO the rating of 4.25 stars!