ARD poker documentary: Poker flat-shares and Boris Becker as pioneers of online poker

Poker used to be shady and was often played in back rooms. Those days are now a thing of the past: the game has become almost mainstream thanks to TV broadcasts, regular reports in the general press and, last but not least, celebrities getting involved at the felt table or acting as advertising faces. Online poker has played a significant role in this development. A new ARD documentary takes a look at this structure, revealing interesting details.

Poker: a game that once had a reputation for only taking place in dark back rooms with smoky tables and shady characters. Today? Poker has long since arrived in the middle of society - stylish, cool and, above all, digital. Ever since a certain Chris Moneymaker won the Poker World Championship out of nowhere in 2003, the game has been the subject of global hype. His success was not only a fairytale story, but also the starting signal for a boom that continues to this day. Online poker platforms sprang up like mushrooms - and with the right internet connection, suddenly anyone could become a "poker star" without ever leaving their living room.

Poker has long been more than just a gimmick (or a game of chance?). Today, there is a generation of young professionals who play the classic card game like a high-performance sport. They take it as seriously as others take an athletics championship - only with chips and cards instead of "track and field".

The documentary "Poker Games - Who profits from the big bluff?" (available here in the ARD media library) from the ARD-Story series attempts to capture all of this. The journalists shed light on the history of the competition, talk to celebrities, show up-and-coming stars and (of course) let critics and authorities have their say. A glimpse into the world of poker, which can be as glamorous as it is merciless.

From smoky parlors to online champions: the history of poker

The documentary begins with a historical review: Poker used to be a game for real guys. Men with a cigar in the corner of their mouth, a whiskey glass in their hand and a poker face that perfected every bluff. Las Vegas was the stage, the tables covered in chips - and it was always about everything: win or lose, there was nothing in between. It was exclusive, almost elitist. Not for everyone. And that's exactly how the image of poker remains in the minds of many older generations.

But today? Poker is everywhere. Thousands of Germans log in from home every day to play their cards online. No more cigar-smoking image, but laptops, tablets and apps. Whether beginner or expert, access is easy. And the best are taking a really professional approach: with strategy, discipline and a clear vision of making big money. In 2025, we could actually be in the midst of a new poker revolution.

Formerly elitist, now open to all

• The starting signal for the modern poker era: Chris Moneymaker, an American amateur player, shook up the professional scene at the 2003 World Championship - and won. Suddenly it was clear that anyone could do it.
• What is unique about poker is that it is still the only game in which amateurs can compete against professionals in major tournaments. This "David versus Goliath" feeling inspires millions.
• The German-speaking scene: Boris Becker played a key role in popularizing poker in Germany. With slogans such as "Poker is great tennis" and celebrity appearances, he also brought the game into German living rooms.

The stars of today: Fedor Holz and Co.

Today, it is young players such as Fedor Holz, who recently broke the 40 million mark in wins, and Samuel Mullur who are considered (rising) stars of the German-speaking scene. They stand for modern, professional poker. No longer "just for fun", but well thought-out, strategic and success-oriented. It is no coincidence that many of them train like athletes: Mentally strong, analytical and with a clear plan - that's poker in 2025. This attitude is also evident in Quirin Heinz, who recently provided insights into the everyday life of a poker pro.

Convincing wins with tactics and a good business model

Cyprus is not just an island for sun worshippers, but also a real hotspot for poker. The European Poker Tour (EPT) makes a stop here - and what the ARD documentary shows is impressive: dozens of poker tables, hundreds of players from all over the world and prize money that will leave you speechless - 6 million euros await the best card strategists.

Right in the middle of it all: Felix Schneiders, German poker streamer and fan from the very beginning. The documentary accompanies him at the tournament, organized by PokerStars, one of the few providers licensed in Germany. Schneiders not only plays along, but also broadcasts the whole thing live on Twitch, where he shows his fans what it takes to succeed at the table. And he makes one thing clear: poker is more than just a game of chance.

• Nothing works here without tactics and a good business model: this applies to both the most ambitious players and the companies in the background.
• For Felix Schneiders, poker is also a business: he earns money through streaming and sponsoring. As an ally of PokerStars, he not only makes his money with chips, but also with clever marketing deals.

And then there's a very familiar face: Boris Becker, the former tennis star, is back as a brand ambassador in poker - now at GGPoker. The man with the rough edges is the ideal guy for Marketing Director Sven Stiel to sell the "cool game". His comeback could easily run under the slogan "I'm back", which was already used in his first advertising partnership in 2007. Becker is convinced that poker and tennis are not all that different - both disciplines depend on strategy, patience and timing.

Poker: More than just a game for young talents - a way of life

Poker is a hobby for many, but for today's young professionals it is a lifestyle that is anything but casual. The ARD documentary shows this impressively, in particular with the example of Austrian Samuel Mullur. At just 27 years old, he already has several million on the high side - not bad for someone whose job is gambling. But it's not just luck behind the wins: for Mullur, poker is a science, a strategy and - as he says himself - his whole life.

The documentary leaves no doubt that Mullur leaves nothing to chance. Sure, he studies the game down to the smallest detail, but his daily routine could just as easily belong to an Olympic athlete:

• Meditation and ice bathing: Every morning, Mullur starts with a round of meditation to clear his head. Then it's off to the ice water.
• Poker flat share in Vienna: Mullur lives with like-minded people in a real poker flat share. Here they gamble, analyze and - as the pros say - "sweep the pool". The strategy? "Sharks against fish", as Austrian poker player Jessica Teusl calls it: the amateurs push the bets up and the pros get the big pots in the end.

Multitasking at the poker table

When Mullur plays online, it's not at one table - but at several. Why? To minimize the luck factor. The more hands he plays, the more his strategy prevails. But this comes at a price: he invests up to 50,000 dollars in buy-ins every night. And yes, even professionals have dry spells when the wins don't come: The documentary makes that clear. Mullur will probably also come across the ever-increasing number of organized poker bots during his sessions.

The network counts

Mullur does not finance the big buy-ins alone. As can be seen in the documentary, investors are an important part of the business model. Professionals support each other, share strategies and build a network that sticks together through wins and losses.

Gambling or sport? The GlüStV 2021 and the poker debate

Poker in Germany - for very few players, this means glamor, big tournaments and impressive wins, as the ARD documentary shows. Since the State Treaty on Gambling (GlüStV) 2021, online poker has been strictly regulated in Germany. The aim: to protect players and minimize risks. But for many professionals, the rules are more like a full stop.

• A maximum of four tables at the same time: multitasking à la Samuel Mullur? Not in Germany. Professional strategies that bet on several rounds are almost impossible.
• Deposit limit of 1,000 euros: If you want to pay higher buy-ins, you're out of luck. For professionals, this means that Germany is not a country for high stakes.
• Criticism from the pros: Many players feel that their careers have been thwarted. What may sound sensible to amateurs makes professional poker strategies unfeasible in this country.

Authorities: Not yet strict enough

On the other side are the authorities - and they are even more critical. Jochen Kopelke, Federal Chairman of the Police Union (GDP), puts it in a nutshell in the documentary:

"Poker is not a great sport, poker is a game of chance - people are gambling away their money. Just because it's made to look pretty doesn't mean it's the reality of life."

The documentary leaves no doubt that poker has its downsides:

• Addiction problems: around 200,000 poker players in Germany are said to be struggling with a gambling problem. The low entry thresholds in online poker increase the risk.
• Crime: Players who are addicted to the next success after big wins could slip into illegal rounds. The conditions there are often dangerous.
• The reality for most players: Fast money at glamorous tournament tables is in the cards for very few. Instead, the danger of losing a lot lurks - financially and mentally.

Source of the image: Screenshot from https://www.ardmediathek.de/video/poker-games-wer-profitiert-vom-grossen-bluff/poker-games-wer-profitiert-vom-grossen-bluff/ndr/Y3JpZDovL25kci5kZS81ZmQ3YTMyZS05MTk5LTQ4NDQtOTgwZS04ODVhMTdjNmJlMWVfZ2FuemVTZW5kdW5n