Poker has never been more popular. Just ask the residents of Aruba. The World Poker Tour stopped for the fifth time in Aruba, and brought out a large crowd of gamblers and thrill seekers despite the raging Hurricane Jeanne nearby in the Caribbean.

Sponsored by UltimateBet.com, the tournament is now in its third season, exceeding the prize pool of last years tournament by over $2 million. Thanks in large part to the great success of the Travel Channels series on the World Poker Tour, more amateur gamblers are trying to get a share of the pot. This years players in Aruba had to either pay a $6,000 entry fee, or be one of the lucky ones who won their entrance to the tournament online.

Speaking of online, poker play has also seen a great rise in many an online casino. With online casinos, gambling portals and websites like UltimateBet.com advertising for the tournament and providing access to online poker rooms, (Ultimate Bet donated over $100,000 to the Aruba tournament to bring the total pool to $4 million) many gamblers are either taking advantage of online casino tournaments, or simply practicing their skills in an online poker room.

The next destination for the World Poker Tour will be at the Belagio Casino Resort in Las Vegas, which is expected to be pull in a large crowd of high-rollers, and consequently, a very large pot. One of the great things about the tournament is that a handful of average Joe’s are entered into the tournament, making it exciting to see the potential making of a millionaire – someone who could really use the money.