Two Poker Rooms Pick Up Pro Representatives

It is not uncommon for an online poker room to have sponsored pros on their payroll. In the past, professional poker players vied for top spots at online poker rooms to be able to build a career in the industry. However, over the past few years, online poker sites have begun to cater to recreational players, leaving the pros with nothing but time on their hands. This is why it was interesting to see that two top sites have recently signed a pro each to be a representative of their brand.

Party Poker has signed Jackie Glazier to a two year contract as a representative of the site while 888Poker has signed Natalie Hof to their brand. Both sites are top operators of online poker gaming and have made moves to become a more recreational gaming site. Pros were used in the past as a way of promotion both online and in land based events. Professional players would wear garb representing the brand during live events and play online to bring in players to the site. These two poker sites seem to be signing both women to their brands to continue to invest in player sponsorships despite the recreational trend in poker.

Party Poker is investing in Jackie Glazier, a World Series of Poker bracelet winner and top player in the industry. As far as live tournament wins are concerned, Glazier has taken home more than $1.3 million. She has finished at the final table during the WSOP as well as WSOPE events. Party Poker announced Glazier’s appointment on Twitter stating they are delighted to be working with her as a brand ambassador. The site is currently marketing the pros as a new face of Party Poker for Australia.

As part of the two year deal, Glazier will play at Party Poker under the screen name JACKSTARPARTY. Players can watch her on partypokertv. Interestingly enough, Glazier was actually part of the 888Poker brand until June of this year. Now, the pro will be representing the brand during upcoming events such as the MILLIONS at Dusk Till Dawn and the World Poker Tour Caribbean.

At 888Poker, the brand has decided to ask Natalie Hof to join their team, a female of Germany who has worked as a presenter for poker events such as Eurpean Poker Tour. Hof will be playing online at 888Poker under the screenname 888NatalieH and will be making a live appearance starting this week as a representative of the brand during the 888Live Poker Festival. This series will take place in Stratford and will last for several days.

As far as her career, Hof has been more of a personality onscreen rather than at the poker table. However, she has competed and is close to $100,000 in tournament earnings on the live circuit. She has competed in ladies only events as well as main events of the European Poker Tour.

It will be interesting to watch as both ladies take part as representatives of their respective poker sites. It is also interesting to consider if the women signing contracts will spur other sites to look at poker sponsorships once again. In the past, it seems new pros were being signed almost every week. However, now sponsorships and representation has taken a back seat to other aspects of gaming. Perhaps we will see a resurgence of poker pro sponsorships at other sites due to the recent signing of the two women to Party Poker and 888poker.