The world’s largest online poker site is on board as a league sponsor, announced by the Global Poker League. This couldn’t come at a better time for the GPL in its quest to “sportify” poker but moreover its lack of buzz surrounding the league.
PokerStars will become the lead sponsor of the GPL, as announced by the League founder Alex Dreyfus in a press release. Details are hazy, which pretty much defines the GPL throughout is inaugural season.
When and where the PokerStars’ logo will be showcased hasn’t been decided on yet. PokerStars will however stream the GPL live.
Grudge with PokerStars
With PokerStars changing the player rewards program in 2016, it has created several poker players that now have a grudge with the online poker site. There may also be a number of 888poker pros that cannot be associated with a league that has PokerStars as their head sponsor. Of course, the GPL also includes a number of PokerStars Team Pros, such as Bertrand “ElkY” Grospellier, Jason Mercier, Liv Boeree and Vanessa Selbst.
Earlier this year Justin “ZEEJUSTIN” Bonomo discovered that he had to do promotional work for PokerStars and EPT as part of the requirements for the winner of an EPT Event. He had some pretty harsh words about the poker site. Bonomo said the following:
“At this point in time, I see no reason to do unpaid promotional work for a company that has defrauded many thousands of players”, referring to the 2016 VIP changes.
In 2006 he was banned from poker for using multiple- accounts on PokerStars. His shaky history continues even though the ban was lifted in 2009.
The Global Poker League and Alex Dreyfus have their home run deal. This fact will not be changed by whether some of the players will bail on the GPL due to the PokerStars sponsorship.
In online poker history, PokerStars remains the most recognizable brand with 70% control of the online poker market. The GPL may not be seen prime time yet on ESPN but the sponsorship deal gives hope for the league’s future.
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