Third Season of High Stakes Poker Filmed - It's Currently the Hottest Poker Show on TV
By Lisa Wheeler

The Game Show Network filmed another season of the smash-hit series High Stakes Poker recently, and although the show has been running for less than a year, its success is phenomenal.

A reflection of the High Stakes Poker phenomenon can be witnessed through the popular video website YouTube, which currently hosts 69 versions of the program's short video uploads, with more than a million viewer hits.

This show has proven to be a breakout hit with poker fans, said President and CEO of GSN Rich Cronin. "We couldn't be more pleased by the response that we have gotten from viewers and television critics."

High Stakes Poker gives its audience a look into the biggest no-limit hold'em cash game on television. Players buy in for a minimum of $100,000, with stakes starting at $300-$600 with a $100 ante.

This season's roster of professional poker players include Daniel Negreanu, Antonio Esfandiari, Phil Laak, Mike Matusow, Chris Ferguson, David Williams, David Benyamine, John D'Agostino, Phil Ivey, Patrik Antonius, William Chen, Daniel Alaei, Doyle Brunson, Victor Ramdin, Sean Sheikhan, Erick Lindgren, Jennifer Harman, Sam Farha, Eli Elezra, Barry Greenstein, and Todd Brunson.

High Stakes Poker commentator Gabe Kaplan also took his turn at the felt this season, along with a few other faces the audience will easily recognize, including 2006 World Series of Poker Champion Jamie Gold and runner-up Paul Wasicka. Amateurs Dan Harmetz, Dan Shak, Illya Trincher, and Brian Townsend were also added to the cast.

"It was a nice experience," said Shak about his time at the High Stakes Poker table. "I just wish I would have played a couple of hands differently."

High Stakes Poker is enjoying its third venue change in Las Vegas. Premiere episodes that aired in January were taped at the Golden Nugget in 2005, while season two was recorded at the Palms. The cast and crew of season three have moved the set even further down the Strip to Las Vegas' newest hotel casino, the South Coast.

Now is a good time to catch up on season one and two High Stakes Poker episodes, as they're currently airing on GSN on Monday nights at 8 p.m. and 9 p.m. on the coasts, and 8 p.m. Central time. Encore showings air Fridays at 10 p.m.