Poker's TV Time Wars: Sponsorship Battles at WSOP

The World Series of Poker (WSOP) is a stage for intense competition, both at the poker tables and behind the scenes. Players vie for television time and lucrative sponsorship deals, making the event as much about business as it is about the game.

Sponsorship Deals and Television Time

During the WSOP 2010, Steve McLafflin earned $5,000 from PokerStars simply for being seated next to Johnny Chan, one of the most popular players in the USA. Johnny Chan's presence attracted constant camera attention, benefiting McLafflin with both television time and sponsorship money.

Phil Ivey, another high-profile player, declined to play at a TV table during WSOP, causing other players to lose potential sponsorship deals. Ivey's decision highlighted the high stakes involved in these sponsorship battles. In 2008, Ivan Demidov and his producer Sergey Rybachenko negotiated a higher sponsorship deal, showcasing the importance of skilled negotiation in securing better terms.

Player loyalty to sponsors is often fickle. Jared Ingles switched from UB.com to PokerStars mid-tournament, illustrating the fluid nature of these deals. Similarly, Joe Cada left UB.com for PokerStars just before the final table, with PokerStars offering a contract worth over $1,000,000. Darin Mun, known for his principled stance, was the only player without sponsorship stickers on the final table of WSOP 2009, but he considered a $25,000 offer in 2010, indicating a shift in his approach.