How did hole-card cameras change televised poker?

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Five playing cards showing a flush in clubs: king, ten, eight, seven, and five of clubs. — poker A poker hand containing five cards of the same suit but not in sequence is called a flush.

The development of the hole-card camera fundamentally transformed televised poker by allowing the television audience to see a player’s hidden cards.1

Prior to this innovation, viewers could only speculate about the strength of a player's hand based on their betting behavior. By revealing the hole cards, the technology turned the game into a more engaging spectator experience, significantly contributing to the surge in poker's popularity at the turn of the 21st century. This advancement helped pave the way for the regular televising of tournaments, such as the World Poker Tour, and complemented the rise of online play and amateur success stories like that of Chris Moneymaker.1