Online poker has been growing faster than general online gambling or live action gaming. Poker online has become a big business with signs that users and revenues will continue to increase.

A report released last week by Dresdner Kleinwort Wasserstein estimated that there could be 7.7 million poker players worldwide by 2008. Total revenues from poker last year were $1.4 billion, but the firm is forecasting annual revenues of $5.9 billion by 2008, according to the Financial Times.

About 75% of revenue comes from the house's 3 percent to 5 percent take from the pot in cash games. The rest is made in tournaments, with the operator paid about 5 percent to 10 percent of the prize money.