Regardless of whether you play yourself or not, it’s hard to miss how hot poker has become over the last few years. No doubt the casinos have cashed in, as well as the likes of ESPN.

It would only seem normal that poker would start to develop it’s own “story culture.” By that I mean getting the stories behind the game itself, as well as getting to know the personalities involved.

While ESPN covers a lot tournaments – professional, celebrity, etc. – there seems to be nothing of note on regular TV about the culture of poker and its stars.

While some see dearth in such a situation, others, like RawVegas.tv, see an opportunity. Where the mainstream media and even cable have left a void for all those poker-hungry aficionados, vlogs have stepped in.

RawVegas.tv is a site that is ostensibly about everything Vegas (the visitor’s Vegas, that is). However it seems that their poker video blogs are what attract the most attention. While they have TV-like reports that give a rundown on celebrity news and whatnot, it’s the poker vlogs that consistently come up as the most popular content.

The vlogs are not simply a card-cam of yet another game, they are clips of the real life players themselves. As you might expect, some of the vlogs are straight-up interviews where poker champs hold forth on strategy and recount important moments (“I’ve got a donkey on my right. I’ve got control of the players on my left. Everything’s perfect. … ” – Phil Hellmuth).

Maybe because poker is such a staple on ESPN, comparisons to professional athletes automatically spring to mind. The professional poker players, on the whole, seem a lot more relaxed and natural in front of the camera than even seasoned pro athletes. They’re a lot more forthcoming as well. In the end, it makes the vlogs a very interesting watch, especially for poker fans.

But in addition to these informal glimpses of how players go about the game in general, as well as particular plays, there are vlogs about their more personal sides. One of the most popular at the moment is a clip of the above mentioned Hellmuth driving a race car around an open parking lot. He then proceeds to crash it. (no one injured)

Another follows Erick Lindgren around on the golf course as he attempts win a bet made with a host of other players. But this isn’t just any old golf bet. You’re dealing with professional gamblers here.

The challenge is for Lindgren to complete four rounds of golf in one day with each round’s score coming in under the 100 mark. Walking the whole time, carrying his own bag, in the vlog we see different players weigh in on the bet. We also see Erick out on the course.

It sounds simple enough, but watching the vlog you start to understand the challenge — 106 degree heat, 25 mph winds, the pressure of the money, the pressure of the cameras, 14 hours, over 20 miles of walking with the clubs on his back. Making a bet over a drink can turn into a grueling physical experience.

I’ll let you watch the clip to see how it comes out.

The important lesson here for the vlogger is that even though the culture may already seem saturated with a subject, with a well-done vlog there’s still an opportunity to take a fresh look at it.

Oh, I almost forgot – the amount of the bet? $340,000. Did you expect anything less? This IS Vegas, baby.

The RawVegas poker vlogs can be found in a section called The Toke. (In poker, a “toke” is a tip given to the dealer after winning the pot.)