The official WSOP schedule for 2025 was released two months ago, but before any cards have been dealt, a controversy has started brewing around one of the first events.
The $500 Casino Employees event has always been seen as a thanks to the hard-working dealers and other casino workers who make it possible for everyone else to enjoy a long WSOP. 25 years after it was first introduced in a different guise, it has now been renamed the Industry Employees event.
But what does that mean? Who’s eligible? Is it a skill thing? And whose job is it to police the line?
Casino Employees event origin story
The event began in 2000 to honor all casino employees. The inaugural event was the Dealers World Poker Championship, limited to poker dealers.
The first winner was Dave Alizadeh, who took home $21,800 after beating 108 other colleagues to the bracelet in a limit hold’em event.
The following year, the WSOP expanded the event to include all casino employees, not just the dealers. That boosted the numbers in the limit hold’em event to 224, with a first prize of $40,200 going to Travis Jonas. It wasn’t until 2004 that the Casino Employees event was played as no-limit hold’em.
Along the way, it’s been accepted that live reporters can play. One, Chad Holloway, even won it in 2013, with another of his colleagues finishing 12th.
Then the shape of media changed and brought new issues. Fast forward to last year and there was controversy when poker pros entered as ‘media people’ and ran deep.
As we wrote last year, “The 1,189 players who entered this year’s employee event marks the highest number since 2006. Over recent years the lines have blurred between casino employees and poker media, with this year’s event featuring numerous figures from the world of poker entertainment, who some might see as being more professional than the spirit of the competition should allow.
"Among those singled out on social media for their questionable ‘staff’ credentials were Mike Holtz, the reigning WSOP Online Player of the Year, as well as former Game of Gold contestants Kyna England and Lukas Robinson. And among those doing the singling-out was Allen ‘Chainsaw’ Kessler.”
Jose Garcia won the 2024 WSOP Employees Event. Lukas Robinson finished 9th and Mike Holtz 11th.
Name change but issues remain
In a bid to avoid the controversy this year, the WSOP has changed the name of the event. But all it’s done is create more issues. And it’s easy to sympathize with genuine casino employees, who now might have to get past any number of pro players who also work as content creators to win a bracelet. WSOP social media czar Kevin Mathers posted the expanded list of eligible participants three days ago.
We’re not expecting to see Daniel Negreanu enter the event, but should he even be considered eligible? Because under the updated stipulations, he clearly is.
Doug Polk would also be eligible to play but had a very clear point of view.
Matt Salsberg posted a view that a lot of other players would agree with, saying, "This seems pretty out of line with the spirit of what I believe it was intended to be."
2024 GPI Rising Star Award winner Abby Merk started a heated debate when she asked for all poker media to stay away.
Her plea that only ‘hard-working’ casino employees be permitted entry into this bracelet event set off a firestorm that continues to rage, with many pointing out that live reporters have played for many years without an issue – even after Holloway’s win in 2013. Abby did walk back from her original post in the replies, conceding that live reporters should still be allowed to play, but not "podcasters/social media teams."
Abby Merk doesn't want to see any media people playing the tournament. What do the dealers think?
As usual, it’s the media and content creators who are making the most noise. But, really, who better to ask than a dealer? Leyla Rogers is a professional dealer in Vegas and has worked at the WSOP, Bally Live Poker and other locations.
“I think this event is designed to be for fun, before a long, grueling summer of work, with a chance for life-changing money and a bracelet,” Rogers said. “It’s an event where we, as casino employees, don’t have to compete against poker pros.
“I think it’s fine if the field is expanded to allow for reporters or media, as they are involved in poker but clearly don’t play professionally.
“However, opening it up to bloggers/vloggers and content creators, who are often professional players, really toughens the field and is unfair for the rest of us.
“Perhaps in the future there could be a separate bracelet special event for them if the demand is high, but what’s happening now just seems wrong.”
PokerOrg's Terrance Reid wouldn't feel right playing the tournament. Live reporters – but where do you draw the line?
PokerOrg’s very own Terrance Reid — who’s worked previously as a live reporter — had this to say. “When I was mainly a live reporter, I played it, and I think they should still be able to. They work long, hard hours in casinos, and they should have the right.
“More recently, I don't think I belong there. Moreover, anyone who is taking advantage of unclear guidelines to play in a ‘softer’ field is going against the spirit of the day. Let the actual industry professionals have their one, exclusive event.
"The real problem is the lack of clear guidelines. No one should have to guess if they qualify, and those who can play shouldn't face criticism because WSOP won't define the rules clearly.”
What about the vloggers?
We reached out to vlogger Ryan Depaulo, who said, “I wouldn’t feel comfortable playing in an event that’s supposed to be for the fraternity of live workers. But I do feel part of the industry and do think we are certainly in the criteria of ‘industry people’ who are bad enough at poker to keep it in its spirit.
“If it’s meant to be just casino employees, I’d feel like a dick playing, but if it’s an ‘Industry Employees’ event, then literally Negreanu should be eligible with all he does to grow the game.”
Frankie C thinks some players might like to play with him but that casino staff should be polled for their opinions.Frankie C is a prominent YouTuber with 163,000+ subscribers and a member of the PokerOrg Player Advisory Board. Despite being eligible, he won’t be playing either. He told us, “I think that it's important we get feedback from the people that matter the most, the dealers.
“On one hand, I could see people really enjoying playing with me. But I can see how that might leave a sour taste in some people's mouths. I actually want to respect the event and give the dealers and people that work in the poker media the best chance to win a bracelet. I'm not looking for an edge.”
We also reached out to Women’s Poker Association founding member and X Spaces host Sherry Pluskota.
“Last year, the Casino Employees event came under fire because people noticed that a poker reporter ran deep. Fast forward to the 2025 Industry Employees event, and vloggers, bloggers, podcasters, and, dare I say, Spaces hosts have been told they can play.
"But how is this going to be policed? Employee ID would come to mind and is a solution for most. What about domestic and foreign freelance photographers, reporters, or media companies? What about the lighting, IT, and camera operators for live feed tables? What about the booth personalities covering the action?”
Long-time poker journalist and content producer Jesse Fullen said, “It’s a difficult ask to have verifiable credentials and keep the queue from taking ages and ages to get through,” said Fullen.
“Maybe it can become something where if you’ve requested a media badge and are approved through the media team, your name is on a list, and those players can play in it. But someone showing up trying to get in showing, ‘Oh hey, I have a YouTube channel and a short posted'… nah, that won’t fly.”
The conclusion? There is none, readers. It’s an issue that’s going to run and run, until reg closes in the event (at around 9.30pm on May 27), when we’re almost 100% sure that this will be a story again. And we’ll be there to report on it from outside the ropes!
What do you think? Let us know in the comments below.
