The debate on whether online poker is a game of a skill or a game of luck rages on, but what many people can agree on is that the game has a little bit of both. Poker has evolved into a game that more and more people are playing because of the talents that one needs to prosper in the game. However, just like any other form of gambling, the game is still tainted by a luck factor which, in a way, makes it in even more interesting.
Mike McDonald came up with the idea of PokerShares to allow avid poker players to enjoy the game from the comfort of their homes. Maureen McCarthy is one of the members of the online staking site and she is out to prove that a lot of effort was needed in order to be a profitable shareholder among poker players. Many people may have a ton of questions about the 57-year-old retiree’s post-employment decision. Well, after being introduced to Daily Fantasy Sports on Jason Sommerville’s Twitch channel, Maureen decided to translate the sort of gambling into something she was truly passionate about – poker.
McCarthy, who goes by ‘MoMac360’ online has made a name for herself in the southern Ontario poker community especially because she has found a new love in the incredibly skilled game. She was one of the pioneering members of PokerShares, something that was partially in relation to her history with McDonald – they grew up a close distance away from each other and she was a fan of his when he first got into the poker scene.
However, McCarthy’s love for poker begun way before that. She, like many other poker players, was introduced to the No-Limit Hold’em game the 2003 World Series of Poker Main Event which was won by Chris Moneymaker.
“I got into poker the same way a lot of people did; Chris Moneymaker, 2003. I didn’t start playing myself until 2009. I had some mediocre success but I really wasn’t that good. It was a lot of fun and I still love poker. My biggest thrill was that I played and cashed in the 2013 WSOP Seniors Tournament. I met Moneymaker that year and I told him that my best reference for the ranking of poker hands was Yahtzee. He looked horrified. I still play a bit but it’s usually with a glass of wine,” says McCarthy.
A lot of people are looking forward to the legalization of poker in Pennsylvania and other states as well. Maureen McCarthy is proof that with research and a little bit of hard work there is lots of money to be made in the online poker staking business. Furthermore, the online revolution has made it even easier to enjoy the games at the comfort of your home. Some of poker’s biggest stars have pointed out multiple times that the best way to learn poker is to watch how the best play. Fortunately, Twitch is one of the greatest platforms where highly-skilled players demonstrate their talents to broader audiences