Speed Poker: An Innovative Solution

It may not be a coincidence that an innovative solution to some of the challenges of poker addiction was developed in Australia, a nation that has grappled with the definition of gambling addiction with a nationally mandated attempt at defining the problem.The solution, as discussed at the Wikipedia post is Speed Poker.

Speed poker is a live variant of Texas hold 'em inspired by online poker. A relatively new variant, it is the format of two major televised tournaments, the World Speed Poker Open and the Poker Dome Challenge, as well as the Asia-Pacific Speed Poker Championship. Card Player Magazine credits Australian Keith "Bendigo" Sloan with developing the speed poker variant. Although theoretically any poker variant could be played in a speed format, to date only Texas hold 'em has been widely played.

Here is the official website of the game, Speed Poker with a description:

Speed Poker™ is quite simply the most exciting development in the game for 30 years. A perfect marriage between the fast action of online play and the adrenalin pumping atmosphere of a live tournament.The concept is simple, six players, two dealers and a hand-rate of over 70 hands an hour. Wave goodbye to the 10-minute wait while a player decides what to do - there's just 15 seconds to act or the hand is declared dead. With a much quicker hand rate, players are afforded greater hand selection.