By Scott Huff
PokerTek, a gaming technology company operating in Matthews, North Carolina, is offering casino and card room customers a new way to play poker.
PokerTek's PokerPro table system is a fully-automated poker table that allows players to play a full Texas Hold'em ring game, without the normal casino essentials: cards, chips, or a dealer.
Obviously a kin to online poker, the PokerPro system requires players to go to the casino cage and buy credits on a PokerPro system card. Players then take their card over to a large rectangular table fitted with individual screens where players can see their hole cards, and betting options. The obvious difference between PokerPro and online poker is the fact that with PokerPro players are still face to face with their opponents in the casino environment.
The major advantage for players with the PokerPro system, as with online poker, is that toking is not necessary. For the house, the advantage comes in their ability to run games without paid dealers.
Looking to further cash in on the poker boom, PokerTek is offering an IPO at $10-$12 a share. The expected date is still to be determined, but the company will be listed as PTEK on the Nasdaq.
