While gambling is illegal in Bermuda, it hasn?t stopped gamers from finding a way around the law all the way to the World Series of Poker in Las Vegas. Bermuda will be represented by six people at the international event which will see upwards of 5,000 people competing this year.

Last year?s winner walked away with a cool $7.8 million. Meanwhile, the man who placed 69th didn?t do so bad either, leaving the tournament with one million dollars in his pocket.

Keith Dunmore, a former Police officer who currently works for BF&M, is one of the six competing in the international competition. Mr. Dunmore actually won his entry to the tournament by competing in other tournaments. He also plays in the Bermuda Poker Tour from time to time.

The BPT is run by Chris Carpol, whose aim was to provide novice and seasoned poker enthusiasts an opportunity to play in No Limit Texas Hold ?Em tournaments. The BPTregular season is from October till June and during that time two tournaments are held nightly at various pubs across the Island.

BPT players do not pay any money for their chip allotments and monetary bets are strictly forbidden because that would be illegal. In order to enter they pay a $10 admission fee for each tournament.

Fun prizes such as gift certificates and T-shirts are handed out every night to the winners and two larger tournaments a year offer enticing prizes such as cruises and Video iPods.

Mr. Carpol founded BPT two years ago.

?I love the game myself and I wanted to bring it to more people,? he said. ?Plus it provides nightly entertainment other than just going out.

?I am from LA originally, my wife is Bermudian, and I realised that there is not to much to do here on winter nights. It?s quite popular and it?s a cheap night out ? $10.?

Mr. Dunmore won his $10,000 entry fee into World Series of Poker by winning a series of other tournaments. ?I qualified by winning a couple of satellite games,? he said. ?The other way to get in is that you come to Vegas during the month of July to the Rio All-Suite Hotel and Casino and bring along $10,000. That will get you included in the tournament.

?The only reason that I am here is because I won my ticket, there is no way that I would pay that kind of money to enter into the tournament.?

At first Mr. Dunmore was hesitant about entering the tournament because it was scheduled a week before he was moving house.

?My wife said ?You will probably never get a chance again and if you don?t go you will regret it for the rest of your life?. So here I am.?

He registered on Wednesday and said that all the famous TV poker personalities were already there. ?They are scattered around the tables and could easily be seated next any of us from Bermuda so we shall see.?

It is estimated that 50 to 80 million Americans play the game, The Washington Post reported. And many believe the recent popularity of the game owes much to televised games and the Internet.

?With the ingenious introduction of TV cameras set into the lip of these specially made poker tables the TV audiences are able to see what each player has in their hands which makes it much more intriguing even though the final production is on a delayed basis,? Mr. Dunmore said.

?With the introduction of the TV coverage this game of poker has come out of the closet, so to speak, and now it is played by all members of the public from film stars to politicians.?

He noted that Bermuda Industrial Union president Chris Furbert has been on the Travel Channel recently participating in a Texas Hold?Em tournament overseas.

Mr. Furbert walked away with $70,000 after making the final table.

Between the BPT, the Internet and friendly games at people?s homes, Mr. Dunmore said there are a variety of options for playing poker on Island.

?I do know that in certain levels of society in Bermuda poker dinner parties are held as a form of weekend entertainment where competent dealers are hired,? he said. ?This makes the game much more interesting and stakes are set very low so that the outcome is not very offensive.

?The evolution of poker has come a long way since it was depicted as the reason for a gun fight in the old western movies to mobsters in the 20s and 30s to now a game that is played in high social circles.?

The WSOP tournament started yesterday and will last 10 days. If you?re not one of the six lucky Bermuda residents who are playing in the international event but fancy a game visit www.bdapokertour.com to find out when and where the next tournament will take place. You can catch the World Series of Poker, and possibly one of the six Bermuda residents playing in it, every night on ESPN.

As for the Bermuda contingent playing abroad, Mr. Carpol reckons they have as good a shot as anyone to walk away with a nice cheque.

?I know five of the six players and they are very good players,? he said ?Anyone has a chance but these guys are good. They know what they are doing.?