European e-wallet MuchBetter has inked globally-famed poker pro Chris Moneymaker to represent its growing brand as a provider of online banking services. The Lithuania-based MuchBetter announced the signing of 2003 WSOP Main Event champion Moneymaker earlier today.
It's the second such signing of a poker pro for MuchBetter, which was founded in 2017. The gambling-friendly e-wallet also has German pro and Team PokerStars member Felix Schneiders on its roster of brand ambassadors, along with a growing number of athletes and sports clubs.
MuchBetter announced its signing of Moneymaker on social media, along with a special promotion welcoming him to the brand:
The "US $10K tournament buy-in" likely refers to the WSOP main event in November. As with other unofficial third-party promotions, however, MuchBetter can't use specific phrasing connected to the Caesars-owned poker brand.
“When I deposited that original US$ 86, I had no idea where it would lead,” said Moneymaker, referring to his satellite path to the 2003 ME win. “I’m really looking forward to meeting our winners and working with them to write the next chapter of their poker story and excited to see where it takes them.”
The MuchBetter Moneymaker Poker Experience will also award smaller cash prizes and "MegaDraw" points. Those points can be used as entries toward one of four €12,500 packages to be awarded in a separate MuchBetter promotion. The MuchBetter Moneymaker Poker Experience runs through September 30.
MuchBetter focused on European market
Unfortunately for Moneymaker's American brethren however, MuchBetter does not currently allow signups from the United States. Online e-wallets have steered clear of the U.S. market since major post-UIGEA crackdowns in the late '00s that targeted leading e-wallets FirePay and NETeller.
Still, several e-wallets, including MuchBetter, have begun positioning themselves for an American market entry. The U.S.' increasing approval of online gambling on a state-by-state basis will result in increased opportunities for some of these companies. MuchBetter, for example, already enjoys a working partnership with Google Pay.
MuchBetter may also be looking to capitalize on the notoriety their new pro received after U.S.-based PayPal seized over $12,000 in fees collected for Moneymaker's private fantasy football league. Moneymaker then announced his plans to sue PayPal over the seizure. PayPal quickly reversed course and returned Moneymaker's funds, but the kerfuffle led to a planned class-action suit against PayPal from other aggrieved gamblers.
MuchBetter also benefits from some recent technological innovations, such as a dynamic debit-card CCV on its cards that's designed to foil card-number theft. The e-wallet also offers other modern enhancements including device pairing, touch ID, and a transaction review system.
Featured image source: muchbetter.com
