At first it sounds like a bit of a weird idea, an electronic-live poker table? What’s the point? But the more you think about it the more intriguing it becomes.

One of the most interesting poker innovations of recent times has been the PokerTek table. Basically, it’s a normal poker table, but all the play is automated, and displayed on screens set within the table. It’s pitched primarily at casinos, although having one at home would be a nice touch.

The benefits for casinos are obvious – no need to pay a dealer, and the thing can deal as many hands an hour as you want, just plug it in and watch it go. It can also link in online players, which means more players and more action.

For players it’s a curiousity, worth a look, and if it’s there in a casino you’re probably going to play on it. No chances of misdeals or chip miscounts, so if you like your poker accurate it’s a winner.

Th original table, the PokerPro X seats ten players, and a heads-up two player version has just been launched.

According to the specs the “PokerPro X is the revolutionary poker table that shuffles, deals, splits pots and generates side pots instantly. It's the fastest and most accurate dealer in the world. And PokerPro increases poker room revenue by dealing 50-60% more hands per hour than a manual table.”

While the new heads-up version is now available to casinos for purchase and uses only 20% of the floor space of a traditional table.

“The idea is simple,” said James Crawford, President of PokerTek. “Poker players love to play heads-up poker and casino operators are constantly looking for new ways to meet their customers’ needs. In the past, it’s been hard to find a casino that would deal a heads-up game for regular players. Now, PokerPro Heads-Up offers casinos a profitable way to spread heads-up poker.”

"We believe there is strong player demand for heads-up poker in our casino," said Hashem Minaiy, CEO of The Bicycle Casino in Bell Gardens, California.

"Unfortunately, this form of poker is too costly to be hand-dealt. With the advent of PokerPro Heads-Up, we can now offer this great game to our players."