The online poker scene is dominated by four major companies: Pokerstars.com, FullTiltPoker.com, PartyPoker.com and UltimateBet.com. These four companies account for more than 85 percent of all business in the multimillion-dollar online poker industry. The big boys earned their heavy market share by being some of the first sites to hit the market, and they are generally trusted among players to be legitimate.

The other 15 percent of the business comes from the hundreds of rogue poker sites trying to break into the big-time. These sites try to attract customers with gimmicks and original ideas in hopes of building a large player base.

They can get awfully creative. Check out some of these:
 

REEFERPOKER.COM:
This site is exactly as it's billed. Reeferpoker proudly boasts that it's the first poker room in the world to cater to marijuana enthusiasts. The site has all the bells and whistles of any other poker room with a variety of tournaments and cash games, but with an added twist for all hands of herb. Players at Reeferpoker can win monthly trips to Jamaica and Amsterdam — the two vacation hot spots for marijuana enthusiasts.

NAKEDPOKER.COM:
Nakedpoker attempted an ambitious launch during the 2006 World Series of Poker by sponsoring porn legend Ron Jeremy in the main event. Jeremy made it almost three hours into the $10,000 buy-in tournament, but went all-in one too many times before getting the boot. The business model for Nakedpoker was to mix the chips with naked chicks, and players could even choose to strip the dealer of her cyber-clothes during a game. Shockingly, the site shut down in spring of 2007.

GREENTIEPOKER.COM:
 Similar to Nakedpoker, but with a little more class. The women of GreenTie keep their clothes on. The site also promises complimentary airport greetings and cab rides for all network players who visit Sin City.

POKERSHARE.COM:
Trying to add a little Wall Street to poker, Pokershare.com allows players the opportunity to earn slices of the company. The more you play, the more you own. Unfortunately, even though the site is still in operation, it's a cemetery with little player traffic. And spending $20 to earn a few 25-cent shares of the company isn't going to turn a player into Warren Buffett.

“I'M FAMOUS” POKER.COM:
The sites are no longer in operation, but celebrities such as Pamela Anderson, Cindy Margolis and Anna Benson released their own poker sites in the past three years. Considering none of these women even knew how to play poker before launching their sites, it wasn't a surprise that they didn't catch on.

Chuck Blount | 210SA contributor