Electronic Poker Tables Threaten Dealer Jobs

A North Carolina company, PokerTek, is hoping to strike it big with fully electronic poker tables that eliminate the need of a dealer, or even chips and cards. These Poker tables have been well-received on Indian reservations and in cruise ships, but the question remains whether or not the diehard poker players in Las Vegas are going to be happy playing poker on a computer touch screen rather than on a felt table. According to PokerTek CEO Lou White, there are 50% more hands played per hour at one of the company's poker pro tables during a Texas Holdem game versus that of a dealer roundtable. This brings the number of hands played per hour closer to what is played online. Casinos might find these tables profitable as it would eliminate the need for a dealer and increase the amount of rakes taken per hour.