Poker - a New Era

Poker has definitely entered a new era. It's evolved from the saloon games of the Wild West to multimillion-dollar tournaments held in lavish casino properties that are televised worldwide. Fame and fortune go to those who are successful. Poker will never be the same as it once was, and players will never be the same, either.



I believe that part of the job of being a top poker player today (for example, one who has made a million dollars or more playing poker) is an obligation to be somewhat of a poker ambassador, with a responsibility to promote our industry and help take poker to a higher level. This includes doing interviews with the media (print, radio, and television), participating in charity events, signing autographs, and taking pictures with fans. Many players are very good at this, while others are not.



I recognize that a number of players are not interested in public recognition or promoting the game. They simply want to play poker. That's OK, but they need to understand that if they're going to play big buy-in tournaments and are successful on the poker circuit, they are going to be icons in the poker world, like it or not. And, certainly, they are going to attract media attention. If you're looking to stay out of the spotlight, perhaps you should forget about playing big-time tournaments.



Successful players today have become "rock stars." They are worshipped by poker players around the world, most of whom can only dream about becoming a millionaire from playing poker. Many of those people are like kids who fantasize about playing in the NBA or the NFL. It's very difficult to make it to the highest level of any profession, whether it's as a pro athlete or one of the top players in the poker world. But, hundreds of thousands, if not millions, sure dream about doing it. Those who have actually done it should appreciate it.



Players must recognize that poker has grown primarily because of media attention. If they stopped televising events and players quit talking to the media, the popularity of poker would drop dramatically. I believe we all have to do our part to keep poker popular and in the spotlight, especially the most successful players.



Top actors recognize that part of their job is dealing with the media. This takes time and, on many occasions, invades their privacy. That's unfortunate. Yet, they understand that being a Hollywood superstar who makes megabucks requires promoting their pictures and dealing with the media. Poker has now reached this level, although to a smaller degree.

Whoever thought poker players would need agents, personal secretaries, and PR firms to handle their affairs? And who knew they would make millions in endorsement and sponsorship deals? Well, this is what is happening to players who have been successful in big-time televised poker events. Opportunities exist for players today that very few ever would have dreamed possible.



With the good comes the bad, however. And with fame and fortune comes media attention. I'm sure that if asked, most rich people would rather be quietly rich than famous and rich, but that's not the way it is. You can't be a Michael Jordan or Tiger Woods and not be hounded by the media. You can't win an Academy Award and not be followed by the paparazzi. And you can't be a top poker player today and not expect media attention and being asked for autographs.



I don't sympathize with players who are getting a lot of media coverage. They should be thankful they are. I do sympathize with them when they get hounded by the public during breaks of a $10,000 buy-in tournament (and if you ever watch Doyle Brunson, Phil Ivey, Daniel Negreanu, Phil Hellmuth, Gus Hansen, Barry Greenstein, Scotty Nguyen, Men "The Master" Nguyen, Chris Moneymaker, Greg Raymer, Joe Hachem, and other top players during a break in a major event, you will see how bad it can get). The players are working at this time, and they want to focus on the job at hand. They don't have time to sign autographs, take pictures with fans, and do media interviews during tournament breaks – nor should they have to.



There's a time and a place for players to handle their media duties. During a tournament is not one of them. I would suggest to tournament and media directors that security areas be activated, where players will not be bothered by the public or the press during breaks. Set up a designated area (and time) where players can sign autographs, have photo shoots, and so on, but do it before or after they are finished working. Most players would appreciate this a great deal, and would likely accommodate any media requirements you might have for them if you protect them during tournaments.



Yes, poker's entered a new era, and players, if you want to play poker for a living and don't like media attention, my advice would be to stick to the cash games.



Mike Sexton is the host of PartyPoker.com, a commentator on the World Poker Tour, and the author of Shuffle Up and Deal (which made The New York Times best-seller list and can be purchased at http://www.cardplayer.com/). His e-mail address is [email protected].