Poker pro announces deal signing
Prominent poker pro Daniel Negreanu has announced his signing of a deal to represent one of the newer sites in online poker, GGPoker. The deal, announced jointly by “Kid Poker” and GGPoker on social media, adds Negreanu to a small but prominent roster of pros representing the up-and-coming site.
Negreanu and Kenney will headline GGPoker’s promotional efforts around the globe.
Most notably, Negreanu joins leading pro Bryn Kenney in donning the GGPoker logo. Negreanu is one of the game’s most recognizable faces, having garnered six WSOP bracelets among other triumphs. He also amassed over $42 million in recorded tourney winnings, which sees him rank third on the all-time list. That career list is topped by Kenney, a feared high-stakes pro with more than $55 million in lifetime winnings.
Negreanu and Kenney will headline GGPoker’s promotional efforts around the globe. GGPoker is the flagship site of the 14-skin GGNetwork, which has grown rapidly in recent years to move into the top half-dozen online networks in overall traffic.
New deal follows long PokerStars representation
Negreanu signed his new deal with GGPoker only six months following his high-profile departure from PokerStars, the world’s largest online poker site. Negreanu signed with Stars back in 2007, in what industry observers speculated was the largest such sponsorship deal in poker history at the time.
arguably the most globally recognized poker pro during his years with PokerStars
Prior to his almost-12-year run with PokerStars, Negreanu was the face of and had ownership in a different US-facing site, Full Contact Poker (FCP). FCP still exists in forum form – with Negreanu also still on board – but its live-poker offerings ceased years ago due to the US’s UIGEA (Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act) legislation.
Negreanu, a Canadian native who has since obtained US citizenship, made the best of the opportunity created by FCP’s decline. He became arguably the most globally recognized poker pro during his years with PokerStars, even as market forces spelled doom for the lucrative deal.
Smaller horizons for GGPoker
Though GGPoker and its sister skins have shown significant growth, the network still has only a small fraction of PokerStars’ massive player base.
“In a very short time, GGPoker has really made a name for itself in the online space,” Negreanu said. “Their last GG Series, you’re talking about $50 million in guarantees, up from $3 million the year before.”
He added, “More than that, it’s really the software. The mobile client is super user-friendly, fun and engaging.” GGPoker is open to players in most parts of the world, but not in the United States, Negreanu’s home country.