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Stores Cash in on Poker Craze

ILLINOIS – As reported by the Chicago Tribune: "To get his fledgling Chicago poker league off the ground, Gary Hazan bought 15 sets of chips from PokerChipMart.com and a dozen decks of cards from Costco Wholesale Corp.

"'We had 45 people sign up in the spring,' said Hazan, the owner of Players Sports Group, a social club.

"…A spate of card-playing television reality shows have dramatically raised the ante on poker's profile.

"…Now, a growing number of retailers are placing bets on poker products to lure shoppers and generate impulse sales. Crate & Barrel, Walgreen Co. and other merchants that don't exactly conjure up images of green-felt hobbies find poker to be a hot retail hand these days.

"…Last Christmas, poker products accounted for 10 percent of space in the men's gift department for May Department Stores Co., the St. Louis-based chain that recently bought Marshall Field's.

"'This year, it will be in the 25 percent to 30 percent range,' said May Vice Chairman Bill McNamara.

"…Poker leagues, an increase in weekly games among friends and people looking for a unique gift are translating into trickle-down sales for retailers…"

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