Some of poker’s biggest stars act as the faces of a new marketing agency with an eye on promoting poker in the business world.
Above the Felt Entertainment represents the latest project coming from Faded Spade founder Tom Wheaton. Wheaton brought in a team of poker pros that includes Poker Hall of Fame member Chris Moneymaker.
Moneymaker stands as an iconic figure in the modern era of poker. The Poker Hall of Fame member won the 2003 World Series of Poker Main Event, with ESPN coverage of that legendary run vaulting poker into the mainstream.
The Above the Felt team of poker pros also includes popular commentator and player Jamie Kerstetter. Matt Berkey, founder of the Solve for Why Poker Training Academy, and Darren Elias, four-time World Poker Tour champion, round out the Above the Felt promotional team.
Above the Felt looks to elevate poker’s visibility in the business world
Above the Felt announced the launch with a Monday press release. Wheaton launched Faded Spade in 2017, and in short time the company vaulted into a status as one of the most visible playing card companies in the world.
Wheaton’s new project advertises itself as a “new-age experiential talent and marketing agency focuses on connecting poker players, fans, and businesses across industries.”
“Above the Felt combines leading poker personalities and influencers with a specialized ability to elevate events, businesses, and more through innovative partnerships,” reads the press release.
Influencers in the poker economy don’t come much bigger than Moneymaker. The Americas Cardroom Team Pro stands as one of poker’s biggest stars and represents the face of the modern era of poker in many aspects.
Moneymaker, who signed with Americas Cardroom in February, now adds another role to his unmistakable public persona.
“As a person, I cannot wait to see what [Wheaton] does in this space with Above the Felt,” Moneymaker said in the press release. “The poker community has an enormous amount to offer, and I’m thrilled to be working with Tom and the team at Above the Felt to expand poker’s reach to companies around the world.”
Assessing the potential impact of Above the Felt
If Above the Felt can progress at a similar trajectory to Faded Spade, Wheaton’s new marketing project could make an enormous impact on poker’s mainstream viability.
Wheaton picked an all-star team of ambassadors as the faces of Above the Felt. Moneymaker, Kerstetter, Berkey, and Elias all stand among poker’s most approachable personalities, each with their own brand of star power.
Above the Felt potentially connects those poker personas with the business side of gaming, finance, and other facets of the corporate world. Seeing a figure like Moneymaker associated with the biggest names in the business world could make enormous positive strides for poker’s future.
“We recognize that there is an opportunity for the poker community to greatly benefit companies in and out of our industry through strategic partnerships, creative marketing services, unforgettable experiences, and more,” Wheaton said in the press release.
Featured image source: Twitter
