Trivia nights and most other games are taking a back seat in clubs and hotels as the US-led craze takes over with the promise of big prizes instead of big cash wagers.

Forget trivia. Poker nights are taking pubs by storm as the new way for bar flies to while away the hours.

It could be the sight of the sexy desperate housewives playing a few rounds, or the increasing popularity of poker on the TV. Either way, poker nights are rapidly becoming a popular fixture in UK pubs and clubs.

The Amateur National Poker League (ANPL.co.uk) has more than doubled the number of participating pubs since it’s lauch on Monday 24th June, which now number 14, up from 7.

ANPL’s Managing Director Sarah Meehan said the popularity of the nights has taken off much quicker than expected and seems to be following a trend seen in Australia and the US for Poker in pubs.

"Poker nights have become the new trivia nights," Mrs Meehan said. "Both pubs and clubs have taken it by storm."

Participants do not play for money (which would be gambling and thus illegal), but for points and prizes.

The landlord at the Round of Beef in West Midlands Richard Fellows said “the craze was becoming increasingly popular. We started with our first night with 14 players which became 25 by the second week and due to the massive interest and I am sure we will be packed out soon”.

"It's staggering how it's taken off," Mr Fellows said.

The ANPL's Sarah Meehan said the league aimed to have 150 pubs participating in the UK by the end of its first season and were looking for new venues all the time.

"It's humungous in the United States," she said.

"It's the biggest craze over there and it has been for the past two years."

She said there were seven television channels dedicated to poker, adding that it was taking over from police detective shows as the new hot thing to watch.

"In the States it's the new forensic science of TV," she said.

ANPL in Association with USA Poker is a specialised entertainment company aiming to be a major brand in this sector.