Online Poker's Flush With Success As More Folks Deal Themselves In; Discarding Legal Issues; Your telltale poker face won't cost you a penny, and a seat's always open.(INTERNET & TECHNOLOGY)

Byline: ANDREA ORR

For 40 years, Orrin Gowen turned to his weekly poker games for male bonding, relaxation and low-stakes gambling.

Recently, technology and retirement have changed that hallowed routine. Now when Gowen is off on an extended vacation, or if he just gets bored in the middle of the day, he grabs a few games with some strangers in cyberspace.

"It's very convenient," said the 63-year old retired lawyer from St. Petersburg, Fla. "There's always a game going."

Exactly how many games are going is difficult to say. The online poker "industry" is so fragmented that no one even knows how many poker sites exist. By any estimate, the numbers are large, suggesting that enthusiasts like Gowen and others who have never sat around an actual poker table or set foot in a casino are being swept up in the trend.

PokerPulse.com tracks hundreds of sites offering poker, in which players place bets for 25 cents up to hundreds of dollars or compete for play money. It estimates that more than $135 million is typically wagered in a 24-hour period.

50 Million Players