Chris Moneymaker, as Poker.org reported yesterday, left PokerStars last month and became the newest ambassador the the U.S.-facing poker site, Americas Cardroom. In doing so, he instantly brings value to ACR.
You can hear the full audio interview with Moneymaker on Poker.org.
Chris Moneymaker spent 17 years as one of the most recognized PokerStars ambassadors. And that says a lot given the global poker brand had numerous top pros on staff for years such as Daniel Negreanu, Jason Mercier, Ike Haxton, and Barry Greenstein.
But PokerStars is the largest poker site in the world and has been for many years. So, although having prominent poker players represent the brand is valuable, it isn't a necessity for PokerStars anymore. As such, the high-profile pros have all left and moved on to other opportunities.
Moneymaker, however, brings great value to ACR, the top poker site in the U.S., and a site that is continuing to grow.
In signing Moneymaker, ACR brings on its first mainstream poker celebrity, and the attention the poker site will receive is invaluable.
Moneymaker, and yes that really is his last name, is one of poker's top ambassador's of all-time. His 2003 WSOP Main Event surprise victory helped the poker boom era in which millions of new players around the world began playing the game.
Casual observers have always related well to Moneymaker. He was an Average Joe who worked a regular day job as an accountant before winning the Main Event. Since becoming world champion, he's traveled around the world to hundreds of poker rooms promoting the game.
Chris Moneymaker is a game changer
Moneymaker doesn't shy away from taking selfies with fans and signing autographs. His stardom has never appeared to get to his head, which is the main reason he's so well respected within the poker community, especially by the recreational players.
That is exactly what Americas Cardroom needs to help grow its brand — a celebrity ambassador who works hard at promoting the game and the poker site.
CEO Phil Nagy saw an opportunity to hire on a game-changing ambassador. That's not to say ACR doesn't already have an impressive list of ambassadors. Popular poker vloggers Jeff Boski and Ryan Depaulo, a 2020 WSOP bracelet winner, are among those sporting the ACR patch.
But Moneymaker is a different animal. He's one of the most important and recognizable players in poker history. And he's a 2019 Poker Hall of Fame inductee.
One thing is certain, Moneymaker is all-in on ACR. And what that means is he's going to work hard to promote the site, much like he did at PokerStars. For Americas Cardroom, that will likely translate into a significant growth of American players, the exact reason any poker site would hire on a high-profile pro such as Chris Moneymaker.
There aren't many game-changing poker pros a poker site can hire. That is because most of the top pros either aren't all that popular among the casual audience or don't care enough to actually put in the effort to promote the site. They are more interested in collecting a check and playing poker.
There are only so many Daniel Negreanus out there. Chris Moneymaker is one of them, and it could pay off huge for Americas Cardroom.
Featured image source: Twitter
