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The sport of poker has taken off in recent years, becoming one of the most popular games being played at parties, gatherings and more. No longer just part of the casino, poker is more popular than ever, and nowhere was this more evident than at the 2004 World Series of Poker. There were a record number of entries in the 2004 World Series of Poker, with what was estimated at around 2,576 players.

The advent of online betting has fueled some of the popularity surrounding poker and the celebrity poker shows making rounds on primetime television are also part of the phenomenon. Many of the people who participated in the 2004 World Series of Poker qualified for the tournament online, after learning how to play in online poker rooms. The number of players who participated in the 2004 World Series of Poker had more than tripled in comparison to the 2003 WSOP, which hosted only 839 players.

Space was somewhat of an issue at the 2004 World Series of Poker, as there was only enough room and material to accommodate 1,200 players at the outset. However, they ended up stretching the 2004 World Series of Poker over two weekend days with half the players playing in the first part of the day, and half playing in the latter part. This added to the excitement and made it feel more than ever like an event instead of just a game.

After whittling down some of the players over the weekend, the 2004 World Series of Poker extended into the following Monday. About half of those players ended up being cut that day. However, the competition was fierce and fans of poker watched with bated breath to see what the next move would be.

The 2004 World Series of Poker also saw higher stakes than ever being wagered on the games. This had to do with the number of people who were able to pay the $10,000 entry fee. In fact, the 2004 World Series of Poker winner, Greg Raymer, won $5 million, which is a World Series of Poker record.

In addition to being broadcast on ESPN into homes worldwide, the 2004 World Series of Poker tournament saw many amateurs enter the professional poker realm. The popularity of the sport has never been higher and each year as the time for the World Series of Poker rolls around again, players (both professional and amateur) gear up for more high stakes and big fun.