Chris Moneymaker was an unemployed poker pro for all of four weeks. The ex-PokerStars ambassador has just announced a new sponsorship deal with Americas Cardroom.
CardsChat spoke to Moneymaker after his split from PokerStars. He told us that a “great new opportunity” had come his way, but he couldn’t say what it was.
Now, we know that opportunity was a partnership with Americas Cardroom. Fueling his decision to represent the US-facing poker site, Moneymaker said, is a desire to stay home and play online.
COVID and Time at Home Lead to Americas Cardroom Deal
COVID-19 restrictions forced Moneymaker to spend more time at home and reevaluate his position with PokerStars at the end of 2020. With international travel off the menu, and with traveling from his home in Mississippi to US states where PokerStars is active (e.g,. New Jersey) prohibitive, something had to give.
That meant online poker became his only real way to play, so when contract renegotiations came up, Moneymaker determined it was time to move on.
This change in dynamics coincided with Moneymaker meeting Winning Poker Network (WPN) CEO Phil Nagy. Talks developed and a deal was agreed upon. Moneymaker left PokerStars on positive terms and sees his new deal as the next chapter in his career.
As a US-facing poker site, Americas Cardroom gives him the chance to play online without having to travel.
In addition to representing ACR in live and online tournaments, Moneymaker will help shape some of the site’s promotions. Having a more hands-on role is something he’s looking forward to.
Moneymaker Starts a New Chapter
From the poker community’s perspective, ACR has pulled off an unexpected but welcome coup. Moneymaker has been an ambassador for poker ever since he won the Main Event in 2003, and remains a bastion of integrity to this day.
https://twitter.com/HeyItsMark275/status/1357141008455065602
His first order of business was to commentate on the final table of Venom. That event was won by PORKNOMAR, who clinched the title and $1,113,330 on Feb. 3.
Moneymaker’s latest announcement is actually only half of a two-parter. In addition to representing Americas Cardroom, Moneymaker’s has a side hustle.
Guaranteed Breaks is a new company offering instant liquidity options within the sports trading card industry. Moneymaker is an investor, and the company has just added a new affiliate to its ever-growing network.
With two ventures starting this month, the former PokerStars pro looks like he’ll be busier than ever in 2021.
