Some San Diego State University students are part of a phenomenon hitting college campuses, high schools and middle schools across San Diego and the country.
They're playing poker. And, they say that they can find a game any night of the week. The game may be the same, but the players are younger.
Parents: does your son or daughter talk about:
The blind, bout the flop, the river. Are they spending more time shuffling than studying? Wheelin and dealin with their friends?
Television is directly responsible for poker's popularity today, with an estimated five million viewers on any given day.
"The popularity of TV, watching kids our age winning 100's of thousands of dollars on TV," said David.
Last week for example, 21-year-old poker champ John D'Agostino played for a half million dollars on ESPN's Tournament of Champions.
Television is definitely the calling card for the poker beginner.
"I started watching with my friend's dad on TV, then I started playing online," said Stephanie a novice poker player.
Stephanie, like millions of other young people, plays online. Today, there are more than 200 websites dedicated to poker. Many teens have abandoned video games in favor of online poker.
But is online poker just fun and games or is it putting teens at risk for getting hooked? The answer depends on whom you ask?
"I think it's good because when I was younger, you learn numbers and cards, you could take advantage of it," noted Amber who started playing poke when she was 15-years-old.
"If they're not playing for money it's probably like a video game to them," explained SDSU Graduate Phil.
But folks who know how gambling can destroy lives have a different opinion.
At a recent gamblers anonymous meeting, john, we're protecting his identity, says there's no doubt teens playing online can lead to trouble.
"Absolutely, there's a risk there of getting involved in a problems, you might not even be able to see," John said.
Joel has counseled gamblers for years and lectures teens about its dangers and described a gambler's cycle.
"If I win, I'm the greatest gambler there is, if I loose how dare they take my money. I'm going to get it," said Joel.
But no one always wins. Still that doesn't stop people from gambling.
"Is just the knowledge that gambling could be a problem and could destroy your life enough to stop somebody from starting..NO!" Joel exclaimed.
If you're concerned your child is spending too much time playing poker online, there are definite signs of addictive behavior:
Nervous and short tempered
Doesn't change clothes
Doesn't shower
Watches poker on TV
Spends hours online playing poker
Things are missing, such as video games, CD collections, bikes, stereo's. They're often sold for to get money.
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