At times I have had as many as 15,000 watching me play poker live, and millions of people on video platforms. Its been quite a journey It has been nearly five years since Jaime Staples joined partypoker. While other ambassadors have come and gone, Jaime and his brother Matt remain the sole ambassadors representing partypoker today.
Originally from Alberta, Canada, Jaime has not only become one of pokers most beloved Twitch streamers but also a prominent voice in the online poker community. His passion for the game and his dedication to fostering community connections have earned him a huge following.
Jaime took time out of his schedule to answer some of our questions about his role at partypoker and share his thoughts on the rooms future. We also delved into topics such as the potential legalization of online poker in his native Alberta, his perspectives on Ontarios segregated player pool model, and addressed speculations surrounding partypokers potential sale.
Its a pleasure, Anuj. I started playing poker in 2010. In October of 2014, I saw a post on this 2+2 forums about streaming on Twitch which is the largest video game streaming website on the web. I had heard my brothers talk about Twitch before so I figured I would try out showcasing my poker there. It ended up becoming something much bigger than I imagined. In the 9 and half years since that day, I have worked with two of the largest poker companies in the world in PokerStars and now partypoker to try and tell the online poker story. At times I have had as many as 15 thousand people watching me play poker live, and millions of people on video platforms. So its been quite a journey that I count myself lucky to experience.
The majority of our job is about showcasing poker to the masses. What it is, how its played. We talk about some of the things people might not know about the game. etcetera. I think we are a guiding hand into understanding the poker world. We do that primarily through playing partypoker tournaments, cash games and Spins Overdrive while sharing our personal journeys along the way. Our secondary duties involve being a voice for players within the company, and a voice for the company to communicate out to players as well. We get to provide feedback on plans and do general consulting on things going on from within. We also produce explainer videos on promotions or tournament series, and provide the social media department with content in which to showcase partypoker on their pages.
Before I joined partypoker, there was very little social or internet media footprint. The focus was primarily on live poker and sponsoring existing large production type stuff. I like those types of productions as well but sometimes I feel as if online poker should do a better job of standing on its own. We arent primarily live poker companies. We are online poker companies. And there are some distinct advantages to a digital game that make it different to live. A good example is progressive knockout tournaments. A very difficult game to run live, that works perfectly online. There are all sorts of interesting formats waiting to be explored that only work digitally. Which gets more views CSGO esports or airsoft gun championships? The digital format is better in this example, and there is no reason why that cant be true of poker too.
I think Canadian regulators should look to the UK and the system they have developed for poker when moving forward with province-by-province legislation. So we have been able to start telling the online story of partypoker. Featuring our daily legend poker tournaments, streaming the story on Twitch. We had a great event called The Big Deal where we got around 50 streamers to come together and all stream 1 poker tournament at the same time. That was pretty cool.
I dont live in Alberta right now but I hope for the best for my home province. At its core, I think its important for poker players to be able to compete with people from around the world. This is the only game in a casino where that actually matters. Because poker is a competition, even when you play for fun, with an expectation of losing. Imagine not being able to play chess against someone outside of your home province. It would stunt the players from using those platforms and push them underground to non regulated options generating no tax revenue, and with no oversight. Im not sure regulators know that about poker specifically, or care. And for the parent companies lobbying to make this regulated market happen, poker revenue is an afterthought in comparison to their total portfolios. So Its a bit of a grim picture when it comes to our chances at shared liquidity which is so important.
I think Canadian regulators should look to the UK and the system they have developed for poker when moving forward with province by province legislation. They strike a great balance between consumer protection, tax revenue, protecting UK business interests while still allowing market forces to ensure the best product for consumers. They let the best operators do what they do, and everyone is happy. The Ontario model is not working for the game. For me, the answer is clear. Regulate poker, tax operators an amount (similar to the UK) where it is not prohibitive to run poker, have strict regulations on consumer protection, game integrity, and anti money laundering standards with periodic reviews, and license existing operators that want to play fair. Its a win for everyone. Adopting this model also respects First Nations, Metis, and Inuit autonomy within Canada which is important.
We have ceased to operate in many countries that do not have a clear road to regulation. Most of our competitors have a different approach. I am totally indifferent to ring fenced casino because it makes no difference to anyone. Just poker needs different treatment because its PvP.
Mystery Bounties are fun arent they! I have been in some discussions about that. I dont have anything to share beyond that but it definitely has been on our radar for quite some time.
We have a lot of fun tournament stuff happening right now. We have The Big Quarter which is a four times a year tournament with a $200K Gtd. Every Sunday there is an $11 flight and they all combine to make one big finale which is cool. We also have a micro series running starting Sunday March 24th featuring buyins from 0$ to a $22 main event. And last, my favorite, Millions Online is coming May 9th-June 4th. There will be $5 Million Gtd across the series and a $500K Main event. So that is my main focus coming up.
Partypoker was the first to pull out of the US after UIGEA, it is the first to pull out of grey markets as well. We do things by the book I dont have anything to share when it comes to live events. It has typically operated fairly separately from the online side of things so its not a part of the company I work with.
The goals of our parent company Entain shifted, and as such so have we. Entain wants to operate in regulated markets. As such we have ceased to operate in many countries that do not have a clear road to regulation. Most of our competitors have a different approach. When I joined partypoker 6 years ago, the focus was very much to compete to become the biggest. The goal now is to be the very best at what we do. Our strength is our name. Partypoker was the first to pull out of the US after UIGEA, it is the first to pull out of grey markets as well. We do things by the book which means we have a safe trusted fair place to play cards. Thats our strength. The people that play with us care about that.
Currently, my understanding, and that of the people I work closely with at partypoker, is that this is all speculation. Although it casts some uncertainty in terms of the long term direction, if anything like that happens I have no doubt whoever ends up guiding the ship in the future will find success.
In a macro sense, I think we will continue to see fragmentation of markets into ring fenced liquidity. And we will continue to see poker players take their action into unregulated environments and underground. From the micro view, we will continue to see passionate poker people at poker companies, innovate, and change the game for the better. I expect lots of security innovation as it is less and less optional to invest significant resources in that area. I have 100% faith in our approach at partypoker in that area as I also do with my former partner PokerStars. Poker will live on forever, but getting new players in seems a stretch in the current legal environment.
I want to do meaningful work in poker and make a difference in poker. Thats my north star at the moment. Meaningful work. So whenever those opportunities arise, I will jump at them. My next project with partypoker is to interview our head of Game Integrity about our approach with security. Another site reached out about doing something like that with them too so I may pursue it as a series where I could survey the whole industry. More stuff like this is what Im excited about.
And of course continuing to stream every week on Twitch, Youtube and Facebook.
Thanks for asking me the questions Anuj. I enjoyed the opportunity to talk about online poker.
Please play responsibly. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem and wants help, call 1-800 GAMBLER.
Originally posted here:
Mystery Bounties, Ontario Online Poker and the Sale: Q&A with Partypoker's Jaime Staples - Pokerfuse
- Podcast: Lexi Gavin-Mather talks about her life in poker and finding love on the circuit - PokerStars - April 24th, 2024 [April 24th, 2024]
- Crypto Whales Bet 300K USDT On A Crazy Hand Of Poker At CoinPoker - Cryptonews - April 24th, 2024 [April 24th, 2024]
- Two implicated in poker box theft | News - Jamaica Star Online - April 24th, 2024 [April 24th, 2024]
- Taxi driver and tattoo artist held after cops find poker boxes in car | Loop Jamaica - Loop News Jamaica - April 24th, 2024 [April 24th, 2024]
- Two charged after theft of poker boxes from St Elizabeth bar - Jamaica Observer - April 24th, 2024 [April 24th, 2024]
- Introducing Lukas "RobinPoker" Robinson's Poker on a Boat: The WPT Voyage Experience - PokerNews.com - April 24th, 2024 [April 24th, 2024]
- Support The Quad City Areas VFWs During This Poker Run - 97X - April 24th, 2024 [April 24th, 2024]
- Poker Player Ryan Garcia Upsets Heavily Favored Devin Haney in What Should Have Been a Title Fight - PokerNews.com - April 24th, 2024 [April 24th, 2024]
- Dustin Melanson Crushes Final Table to Become WSOPC Playground Main Event Champion - PokerNews.com - April 24th, 2024 [April 24th, 2024]
- Above the Felt's Poker Room Grand Opening in Wisconsin - World Casino Directory - April 24th, 2024 [April 24th, 2024]
- Poker in the Ears Episode 305: Lexy Gavin-Mather Tells Her Poker Story - PokerNews.com - April 24th, 2024 [April 24th, 2024]
- Poker Hall of Famer Crandell Addington Passes Away at 85 - PokerNews.com - April 24th, 2024 [April 24th, 2024]
- The best NBA poker players of all time - Dunkest - April 24th, 2024 [April 24th, 2024]
- Best Offshore Poker Sites for the US Players in 2024 - ReadWrite - April 24th, 2024 [April 24th, 2024]
- "Groundbreaking Ruling" Sees Poker Sites Ordered to Refund Losses to Players - PokerNews.com - April 24th, 2024 [April 24th, 2024]
- Josh Reichard Leads Final 16 in WPT SHRPS; Lonis, Linde & Tice in Contention - PokerNews.com - April 24th, 2024 [April 24th, 2024]
- BetMGM And Z4 Nevada Online Poker Rooms Expected In 2025 - PlayUSA - April 24th, 2024 [April 24th, 2024]
- BR Boat Club hosts 35th annual poker run to benefit Dreams Come True - Unfiltered with Kiran - April 24th, 2024 [April 24th, 2024]
- News: Poker player forfeits chip lead for birth of his son - pokerstrategy.com - April 24th, 2024 [April 24th, 2024]
- The 6 Best Tether Poker Sites in 2024 USDT Poker Sites Reviewed - Cryptonews - April 24th, 2024 [April 24th, 2024]
- Lorenz Schollhorn Wins the Biggest-Ever WPT Prime Gold Coast Championship - PokerNews.com - April 24th, 2024 [April 24th, 2024]
- World Series of Poker Broadcast Schedule Released - CardsChat.com - April 24th, 2024 [April 24th, 2024]
- Tarpon man used housemate's shotgun to ambush him after night of poker, police say - Tampa Bay Times - April 24th, 2024 [April 24th, 2024]
- Bubble Bursts on Day 2 of WPT SHRPS as 101 Players Advance; Josh Reichard Leads - PokerNews.com - April 24th, 2024 [April 24th, 2024]
- "Dirty Diaper" Comes Back to Haunt Rigby as Opponents Play it Back at WPT SHRPS - PokerNews.com - April 24th, 2024 [April 24th, 2024]
- "One of My Biggest Dreams": Reigning POY Bin Weng Reflects on WPT SHRPS Victory - PokerNews.com - April 24th, 2024 [April 24th, 2024]
- 'Like poker night for women': Younger generations are clicking with mahjong - The Jewish News of Northern California - April 24th, 2024 [April 24th, 2024]
- Robin Weigert ('We Were the Lucky Ones') reveals that tennis, poker and water parks helped the cast bond for the ... - WiscNews - April 24th, 2024 [April 24th, 2024]
- Millions of Dollars on the Table in This Week's High Stakes Poker Episode - PokerNews.com - April 2nd, 2024 [April 2nd, 2024]
- Ben Ludlow Riding Wave of Momentum onto WPT Voyage - World Poker Tour - April 2nd, 2024 [April 2nd, 2024]
- News: WSOP Mystery Millions to award the bracelet at random - pokerstrategy.com - April 2nd, 2024 [April 2nd, 2024]
- ACR Poker Guaranteeing Thousands Of Online Seats With Venom Fever - Poker News - CardPlayer.com - April 2nd, 2024 [April 2nd, 2024]
- Blind River Bar Reopening In Time For Tickfaw 200 Poker Run - SpeedontheWater - April 2nd, 2024 [April 2nd, 2024]
- News: Second half of 2024 WPT schedule is out - pokerstrategy.com - April 2nd, 2024 [April 2nd, 2024]
- Over $1500 Added Value in our PokerNews Home Games on PokerStars in April - PokerNews.com - April 2nd, 2024 [April 2nd, 2024]
- PokerNews Freerolls Every Weekend on WPT Global - PokerNews.com - April 2nd, 2024 [April 2nd, 2024]
- NFL Draft is poker season, and Michigan's J.J. McCarthy might simply be its latest QB bluff - Yahoo Sports - April 2nd, 2024 [April 2nd, 2024]
- Local goes all-in with poker club - Sandusky Register - April 2nd, 2024 [April 2nd, 2024]
- The Commerce Casino & Hotel and the World Series of Poker (WSOP) Forge Historic Partnership - PR Newswire - April 2nd, 2024 [April 2nd, 2024]
- World Series of Poker at Turning Stone awards record $6.2 million in winnings (See top players) - syracuse.com - April 2nd, 2024 [April 2nd, 2024]
- Jakub Michalak Puts on a Grand Performance in the Merit Poker Carmen Series High Roller - PokerNews.com - April 2nd, 2024 [April 2nd, 2024]
- Snake Helps Thief With Casino Robbery - Poker News - CardPlayer.com - April 2nd, 2024 [April 2nd, 2024]
- Life Outside Poker: Farah Galfond on Days of Our Lives, Balancing Poker & Family - PokerNews.com - April 2nd, 2024 [April 2nd, 2024]
- Commerce Casino Announced As New Home of The 2024 World Series of Poker Tournament of Champions - Poker ... - CardPlayer.com - April 2nd, 2024 [April 2nd, 2024]
- Attention, Ontario Poker Players: You Can Win a WSOP 2024 Main Event Seat for Just $20 - Pokerfuse - April 2nd, 2024 [April 2nd, 2024]
- Everygame Poker Launches Fast Fortune - Their Own Spin & Go Game! - Business Wire - April 2nd, 2024 [April 2nd, 2024]
- PokerStars UKIPT and ESPT Team Up for Spectacular Summer Stop in Spain - PokerNews.com - March 27th, 2024 [March 27th, 2024]
- How poker chips sparked Marquette to its 87-69 comeback win over Western Kentucky - Marquette Wire - March 27th, 2024 [March 27th, 2024]
- Brett Murray Embraces His Role as The God of Thunder - World Poker Tour - March 27th, 2024 [March 27th, 2024]
- $100000 Paid Out to Whistleblowers: How WPT Global Rewards "Integrity in Poker" - Pokerfuse - March 27th, 2024 [March 27th, 2024]
- Video Poker Takes Your Money In 10 Lines Of BASIC - Hackaday - March 27th, 2024 [March 27th, 2024]
- Plug Pulled 500 Hours Into Poker Bankroll Challenge: "We Just Take the L" - PokerNews.com - March 27th, 2024 [March 27th, 2024]
- Everygame Poker Offer Free Spins on Popular Slot Releases - World Casino Directory - March 27th, 2024 [March 27th, 2024]
- Everygame Poker's Easter Free Spins feature New Rockstar World Tour and No Deposit Bonus for Chinese Slot - WebWire - March 27th, 2024 [March 27th, 2024]
- Balatro's dev doesn't really care for Poker, almost named the game Joker Poker - GoNintendo - March 27th, 2024 [March 27th, 2024]
- Junglee Poker's Dhina Dhin Dha Tournament Series Wraps up with a Bang More Action-Packed Events Anticipated Ahead - The Week - March 27th, 2024 [March 27th, 2024]
- Fausto Tantillo Goes Runner-Runner to Snag the Chip Lead on Day 2 of the Merit Poker Carmen Series Main Event - PokerNews.com - March 27th, 2024 [March 27th, 2024]
- World Poker Tour turns to AI dubbing - Broadcast - March 27th, 2024 [March 27th, 2024]
- Fouad Rabahie Becomes the Maestro of ESPT Madrid Main Event - PokerNews.com - March 27th, 2024 [March 27th, 2024]
- John Malkovich Reflects on Iconic Rounders Role as Teddy KGB in GQ Interview - PokerNews.com - March 27th, 2024 [March 27th, 2024]
- This Week in Poker Podcasts for March 25, 2024 - Pokerfuse - March 27th, 2024 [March 27th, 2024]
- Rumored Ryan Garcia in Millions of Debt from Poker - HighstakesDB - March 12th, 2024 [March 12th, 2024]
- 'Pioneer Woman' Ree Drummond credits church and poker for family reunion - Yahoo Entertainment - March 12th, 2024 [March 12th, 2024]
- FRIESEN: Poker game pays off, as Jets join shootout in the 'Wild West' - Winnipeg Sun - March 12th, 2024 [March 12th, 2024]
- Sugen Singh Takes The Trophy in the 2024 Sunbet Poker Tour Time Square Main Event - PokerNews.com - March 12th, 2024 [March 12th, 2024]
- High Stakes Legend Tom Dwan Signs with ACR Poker As ACR Pro - PR Newswire - March 12th, 2024 [March 12th, 2024]
- DeSantis gave the Seminole Tribe exclusive rights to run online sports bettings in Florida. Now the states racetracks and poker rooms are fighting... - March 12th, 2024 [March 12th, 2024]
- Theres another run at opening Dallas poker houses - The Dallas Morning News - March 12th, 2024 [March 12th, 2024]
- Amidst Accusations, Tom Dwan Named Ambassador of Unregulated Poker Site - PokerNews.com - March 12th, 2024 [March 12th, 2024]
- Poker Returns to Potawatomi in Milwaukee on May 3 With Brand-New Room - PokerNews.com - March 12th, 2024 [March 12th, 2024]
- PokerStars Players in India Moved to Junglee Poker Platform - PokerNews.com - March 12th, 2024 [March 12th, 2024]
- Triton Poker: Holz Cracks Aces for Fourth Title; Rokita Comes Out on Top in Rollercoaster Heads-Up - PokerNews.com - March 12th, 2024 [March 12th, 2024]
- Poker roguelike sensation Balatro sells more than 500000 copies in just 10 days - PC Gamer - March 12th, 2024 [March 12th, 2024]
- News: Tomas Geleziunas goes back-to-back in the Dublin Poker Festival - pokerstrategy.com - March 12th, 2024 [March 12th, 2024]
- Top 10 Richest Poker Players Ever - Net Worth Rankings 2024 - Techopedia - March 12th, 2024 [March 12th, 2024]
- Your Questions About the Pennsylvania Online Poker Bill, Answered - Pokerfuse - March 12th, 2024 [March 12th, 2024]
- Virtue Poker (VPP) Do the Risks Outweigh the Rewards Monday? - InvestorsObserver - March 12th, 2024 [March 12th, 2024]
- Indie Poker-Like Game 'Balatro' Has Sold More Than 500,000 Copies in Two Weeks - Bloomberg - March 12th, 2024 [March 12th, 2024]
- This Week in Poker Podcasts for March 11, 2024 - Pokerfuse - March 12th, 2024 [March 12th, 2024]
- Tom Dwan A Deeper Dive into the Accusations - PokerNews.com - March 12th, 2024 [March 12th, 2024]