As a player
I fell in love with poker because when I started in 2010/2011 there was an amazing poker tour called the UKIPT (the UK and Ireland Poker Tour) that was accessible in terms of buy-ins and had a core group of players who would come along to every stop.
That was probably a 30 or 40 core group of decent players who played all the satellites, got to know each other by our online screen names, had banter in the chat window online, and then all turned up at every UKIPT that was running. There were friendly, experienced players who made the newcomers feel welcome, were open to talking strategy with us, and would post about their adventures on social media, in blogs and vlogs, name-checking the friendly people they met along the way.
Time and familiarity meant these loose acquaintances with a shared passion became firm friends. We’d spend time together away from the table, taking part in activities, player parties, having beers after a long day’s play, and sharing hand histories.
When one of the regulars made a deep run, the whole satellite grinder family would be on the rail cheering on one of their own. That camaraderie and sense of shared purpose led to friendships that have lasted over a decade. Some of the stars of that community broke through to the big time and had tremendous success, always supported by the friends they made along the way. Even those who have left poker behind them stay in touch. It’s real thrill when we see each other at stops and get to catch up.
That sense of connection with each other, with that tour, I’ve also seen and felt in other tours with similar patterns of demographics. Sky Poker tour in the UK, a small tour but with an incredibly strong bond amongst the players. A brand loyalty that is worth its weight in gold. Unibet Open events, again boast a regular core bunch of players who would come to every stop and meet up with the friends they made, play cards, and have a few beers. All friendly, warm, welcoming tours with an atmosphere and sense of fun, always player experience-focused, organic communities that were able to form by good actors in the industry giving them a fun-friendly place to come and share their passion for poker.
As someone in the industry
The magic ingredients that drew me into poker and allowed me to feel a sense of being part of the UK and Ireland poker scene, the fun and friendships that formed when visiting a variety of great locations, offering a first-class poker experience (EPT standard dealers and floor staff at all of our lower buy-in regional tours) nicely complimented with fun activities to do away from the poker table. PokerStars had a very attractive offer back when I played, and I’ve tried to bring that same level of passion and fun I experienced to the players we take care of at our live events now.
Unless you win the tournament, every player busts out from an event. Having a fun and varied activity schedule for players to explore when they’re away from the tables, having world-class player parties for them to attend, having a player’s lounge at every stop with a relaxing atmosphere and fun things to do, to unwind and hang out with other players, having a dedicated team of friendly staff who have the same passion that our players have about poker – that is what makes our events the best in the world. A recruitment policy at PokerStars where all the public-facing roles are filled with staff who understand the player journey, from novice all the way through to the elite players in the world, having that same shared passion that our players have for poker. 'Passion for players' is literally one of the core principles we have at PokerStars.
In the player liaison team, we get to know our players, we care about them, we build ongoing relationships with them, and, dare I say, sometimes ‘friendships’ with them. We are part of their shared experience, consoling them when they suffer misfortune at the hands of the poker gods, and we get to celebrate with them when they win life-changing amounts of money. We are there for them in the good times and the bad, and we share the pain and pleasure they go through. If they are passionate about poker, we get them. And over time, by attending events regularly, we help foster that sense of belonging to this community and give them the opportunity and space to make friendships and form bonds with one another.
We’re especially keen to make sure someone coming to live events for the first time is made to feel welcome. Everyone in the poker world has their first time coming to a live event – their first time playing a major tournament; their first time playing for huge amounts of money; their first time running AA into a set and unable to lay it down; their first time getting to a final table and getting a decent payday. We want to make sure that win or lose, they leave a PokerStars event having had a great experience. That they will have met people and will want to meet them again when they come to our next event. That friendships form and they feel welcome in the poker world, that they feel part of a community we try to build with all the players who choose to play with us.
Poker is fun and we love it. Building communities in the game helps ensure live poker has longevity and our events go from strength to strength.
