When the poker boom kicked off two decades ago, it seemed every player making a major final table was given a sponsorship deal. Players simply showed up to play, wore an online poker site patch, and appeared in commercials and advertisements.
Things have certainly changed, and many poker sites now look for players who have more to offer. That can range from pop culture recognition to large social media followings to sizable Twitch streaming audiences.
More Than Just Playing Poker
A few pros recently weighed in on the subject and offered a look inside this world. As a sponsored pro for more than 20 years, Chris Moneymaker brings deep insight on how things have changed.
“Back in the early days … they were giving out sponsorships like candy,” he recently told Card Player magazine. “If you lived in a foreign country or you were female or something unique, you would get a sponsorship.”
Moneymaker still brings plenty of name recognition, but is also now heavily involved in marketing decisions for his current sponsor and appears in poker tournaments around the world. He even streams his online play occasionally.
Connecting to Average Players
Longtime poker pro Barny Boatman also broached the subject of sponsorship after landing a deal this year after winning the European Poker Tour Paris main event for $1.4 million. He believes his name recognition, longevity as a pro, and connection with regular players helped secure the deal.
“I think I have a foot in both camps. I connect to recreational players and I kind of am one in many ways, but I also attempt to play the game at a level where I can compete in big events and make a life doing it,: he told PokerStrategy.com. “Yes, in business terms the silver dollar matters, but that’s for them to think about.
“I’ve always had a sense that not everyone uses solvers and elite groups that talk them through hands. I’ve got mates I discuss things with and I am not a luddite, but I don’t come from that tradition. It’s true the vast majority of players have lives and don’t have an ambition to be an elite pro, but seeing somebody having a major success is encouraging to people.”