Poker lures students for money, fun

A late night tradition of playing poker with close friends is no foreign situation to many UA students. Alex Chandler, a sophomore majoring in secondary education, enjoys the college pastime where friends can get together, put down $5 and play all night.

Some play for money and some for fun, but most students agree the game is gaining popularity among students. Chandler said that he has not played in any large tournaments but plays tournament-style with friends."

The largest I have been in was a $10 buy-in," Chandler said. "The cash prize was about $200, and that was a lot of fun just hanging out at a friend's apartment." Many students at the University said they enjoy the excitement of gambling and the game itself.

It seems to have gathered steam throughout the campus, they say, as students in dorms, apartments and online sites are either throwing down money or playing with chips. Over the past few years, poker has become popular all over the world and continues to gain popularity as students and celebrities have begun playing in tournaments such as the ones offered online.

We basically started out making bets online, and it escalated from there, many UA students said.