Poker Million

Thoughts on the Poker Million
By Erik Seidel

Ladbrokes, "Poker Million", held last week on the Isle of Man was (IMO) the most important poker event in 30 years. I believe the future of poker will be radically changed as a result of the event & the live telecast, which was shown throughout Europe on Sunday. Sponsorship & endorsements are now an inevitable consequence of the attention poker is now getting in Europe & here in the US. The scene last week was truly unbelievable, poker players were treated like celebrity sports stars on the Isle. I saw literally dozens of autographs being signed, especially by the top European players. Even my cab driver, on the way to the airport, who told me he didn't play poker, had watched "Late Night Poker" on TV & was familiar with some of the players in attendance. Sky-TV went all out for this event, hiring one of the top sports directors in Europe for the telecast. I counted 14 cameras in use. 14 camera's for a poker tournament! How incredible is that? There were a few glitches, especially in the first 20 minutes of play, but once the show got rolling, the drama & excitement was truly unbelievable. I fully expect that those people who are able to catch this historic program will be riveted throughout.

Ladbrokes announced today, The viewing figures were 1.2 million. Sky have told us that this was the best live sports broadcast they have done outside football.

The way it has been received by the media has been phenomenal. Kelvin MacKenzie of the Wireless Group (and former editor of The Sun newspaper) said in a letter to Barry Hearn "The Poker Million is the best media idea I've seen since OK Magazine."

Good luck, Erik Seidel