Is a Poker Vlogger an Industry Employee? WSOP's New Rules Stir Controversy

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Apr 09, 2025 3 min read

New and loosened eligibility requirements for the World Series of Poker (WSOP) Industry Employees Event (formerly Casino Employees Event) are causing a stir among players, re-upping the debate on who should be considered a casino employee or poker media member.

So, who should be eligible to play in employee events? Dealers and tournament officials? Live reporters and broadcasters? Content creators and influencers? This question and the drama surrounding the new WSOP eligibility requirements make up the latest edition of The Muck.

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Vloggers, Streamers Eligible for This Year's Employee Event

Traditionally, the $500 buy-in WSOP Employees event has been open to casino employees like dealers, floor officials and cage workers, as well as poker media and industry members.

These restrictions keep poker pros from registering for the event, but there are some exceptions. Two-time WSOP.com Player of the Year Mike Holtz, co-host of the PokerNews Podcast, drew ire on social media when he made a deep run in last year's event.

The eligibility requirements will be broadened for this year's event, which was renamed this year to the "Industry Employees" event, as "poker bloggers, vloggers, streamers, etc are all eligible to play the Industry Employees Event," according to Global Poker Index (GPI) Poker Information Manager Kevin Mathers.

Several poker players voiced concern over the decision to loosen the eligibility requirements, including those who would seemingly benefit from it.

"Today I learned I'm an Industry Employee," wrote content creator Kevin Martin.

"Not a fan of this decision," added fellow creator Johnnie "Vibes" Moreno.

Those opposed to the change noted that the definitions of "content creator" and "blogger" are vague and, therefore, could be exploited by pros looking to play an event they otherwise wouldn't be able to.

"Let Casino/Cardroom employees have their own event," wrote Lodge owner and veteran poker content creator Doug Polk. "There are 100 other events for people to vlog about."

"I ran a WPT fan site for a couple of years. Does that count," asked bracelet winner Andy Bloch.

PokerNews' own Chad Holloway, who won the 2013 Employees Event for $84,915, also weighed in on X. Others who opposed the change include Poker Fraud Alert's Todd Witteles, high-stakes pro Lewis Spencer and 18-time WSOP Circuit ring winner Dan Lowery.

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"It's Going to Be a Mess"

There are also questions about how the new requirements will be enforced. In the past, entrants have been required to show a media badge or casino ID card.

"What’s the verification process for this? Sounds like it’s going to be a mess," wrote Mike Padula.

Mathers addressed the verification question in a later post where he shared a message from WSOP, though the message left poker players with as many questions as before.

The $500 Industry Employees No-Limit Hold'em is the second of 100 bracelet events on the WSOP summer schedule. The two-day event gets underway on May 27.

Connor Richards is an Editor & Live Reporter for PokerNews and host of the Life Outside Poker podcast. Connor has been nominated for two Global Poker Awards for his writing.

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