WSOP.com Signals U-Turn And Signs Greg Merson

On the anniversary of its launch, online poker site WSOP.com has performed an about turn on its previous policy regarding sponsored pros and has now signed 2012 WSOP Main Event champion Greg Merson to be the site’s first ever ambassador. Previously, WSOP.com had said its preferred to let its brand name do the promoting, with Ty Stewart, Executive Director of WSOP, explaining last year:
“On the land based side of the WSOP, we’ve always shied away from signing personal endorsements with individual players. As an organizer who has a key role in.. the outcome of the game we see ourselves in the league function, aimed to be impartial and to have maximum trust and integrity.”
Despite breaking with tradition, however, WSOP.com couldn’t have found a more suitable person to represent the brand with the 26-year-old pro being one of the most popular players to win the prestigious WSOP Main Event in recent years, putting him in an exclusive group which includes Chris Moneymaker (2003), Greg Raymer (2004), Joe Hachem (2005), and Jonathan Duhamel (2010).
In addition to amassing $10,962,188 in earnings from live tournaments, Greg Merson has also won a further $361,374 online playing under the screen name “gregy20723.”
WSOP.com has a presence in both Nevada and New Jersey, with traffic numbers showing 90 cash game players and 120 cash players respectively, according to PokerScout. However, when Merson takes up his new duties as WSOP.com ambassador he will playing online at WSOP.com NJ from his home in Hoboken, New Jersey.
Following announcement of the site’s signing, WSOP.com Head of Online Poker, Bill Rini, said: “Greg is a terrific ambassador for the game of poker. He loves the game, is passionate and opinionated about its future, and he will help us spread the word about our offerings and ensure the poker playing community has a respected, experienced voice to help shape WSOP.com moving forward.”
WSOP.com celebrates its one year anniversary on September 19th, and in addition to Merson’s signing, the site has announced a range of promotions on offer to its customers, including a 100% reload bonus up to $400, double APPs, a Tournament Ticket Sale, and an Anniversary Tournament Series, which will feature nine events and a guaranteed prize pool of $70,000.