Video Poker Website a Labor of Love for the Game

Don't let Mike Fields' title fool you.

He may be the executive vice president of Action Gaming, a giant in the development of the world's most popular video poker machines, but that doesn't stop him from being an enthusiastic fan of the games his company creates.

In an industry in which many of the so-called "suits" of the executive sector of casino business appear to be stamped out of a cookie cutter and far removed from gambling from the players' perspective, Fields is a rare exception.

His enthusiasm for video poker inspired him three years ago to develop a website for fans of the game which today has nearly 170,000 members worldwide and is growing at the rate of 100 to 125 new members each day.

VideoPoker.com is a non-wagering site devoted entirely to one of the most popular games in casinos and its loyal legion of followers.

Basic membership is free and includes the ability to play real casino video poker games, advice and strategy from experts, and access to a video poker forum in which you can ask questions and share thoughts, ideas and comments with fellow video poker players from around the world.

You can also obtain information about video poker pay tables, plus there's a state-by-state locator to find in which casinos your favorite games are located.

Video poker contests for Action Gaming apparel and Las Vegas prize packages are also held on a regular basis.

There are also opportunities for people who love to play keno to try out their favorite games as well as new releases.

Recently a new training mode feature was introduced that creates a learning experience of value to all levels of players.

The driving force behind formulating a user-friendly online tool that translates complicated strategies into a simplified format was Fields.

He explained that the idea for the training module came about because the vast majority of people who play video poker are unable to devote the time and effort it takes to become an expert and maximize their chances of playing successfully.

"Our challenge was to help people gain the confidence they need to become better players," he said. "I think we've accomplished that with this module, which took us well over a year to develop."

The training mode, incorporated at the present time into 10 of Action Gaming's video poker formats, includes the following features:

"Stop Light" in which a light will turn green if you made the correct playing decision. If not, it turns red to let you know that you made a mistake. A yellow light indicates the call was acceptable but not the perfect way to play the hand.

"Pick" which allows the player to pre-select the five cards in a dealt hand and then use the stop light feature to determine if your decision was the correct one.

"Hand Tracking" gives players the opportunity to keep track of the hands they've played and the number and percentage of hands they played correctly.

There is also an exclusive VideoPoker.com Gold membership with additional features that costs $5.95 per month or $60.00 per year.

The new training module is a component of Gold membership, however the site is currently offering a 7-day free trial. Visit www.videopoker.com for complete details.