Watch Interview With Former WSOP Commissioner Jeffrey Pollack Part 1 on RawVegas.tv
We caught up with
Jeffrey Pollack for what was supposed to be a final vlog but quickly turned into a
60 Minutes style interview. Turns out after four years as WSOP commish, there was a lot of ground to cover.
So we headed to the new home of the WSOP (breaking news here), the Pavilion Center in the Rio, where Pollack, who has always been good to the so-called poker “media,” was cool enough to give us his only video interview. Part I (above) covers why he decided to leave and what role (if any) new boss Mitch Garber played in that decision.
Parts II & III (coming soon) cover accomplishments, disappointments, wtf he would’ve done had both Shulman’s captured the Main Event crowns, and of course, what he’s going to do with all of this free time on his hands.
UPDATE: WITH PART II
Watch Interview With Former WSOP Commissioner Jeffrey Pollack Part 2 on RawVegas.tv
PART III
Watch Interview With Former WSOP Commissioner Jeffrey Pollack Part 3 on RawVegas.tv
Tagged as: featured, Harrah's, Jeffrey Pollack, Mitch Garber, WSOP
Jeffrey Pollack oversaw tremendous growth with the WSOP since he took over as commissioner in 2006.
Harrah’s announced today that
Jeffrey Pollack is “leaving [his] post” as
WSOP commissioner.
Prior to serving as WSOP commish, Pollack was Vice President of Marketing & Corporate Communications for the NBA and Managing Director of Broadcasting and New Media for NASCAR Digital Entertainment. He was hired by Harrah’s in 2005 as a VP of Marketing and was elevated to President and Commissioner of the WSOP in 2006.
Under Pollack’s guidance, WSOP attendance has grown 88%. He’s also overseen the launch of the WSOP Europe, Poker Hall of Fame induction ceremony, $50,000 H.O.R.S.E. championship, Ante Up for Africa charity event, and of course, the November NineTM.
Of course, Pollack was also a vlogging, blogging, twittering fiend who was always looking for new technological innovations to reach the poker audience.
Go below the fold for more detailed information on growth during Pollack’s tenure. Go to Pokerati here for other additional info.
We expect to do an exit vlog with Pollack later today. Check back this afternoon.
[click to continue…]
Tagged as: Harrah's, Jeffrey Pollack, WSOP
Phil Hellmuth, who will be making a Caesar-like WSOPE entrance as well, thinks Harrah's is dictating unfair practices on WSOP players.
We’ll get the audio files up soon, as we’re having some issues uploading them right now, but
Phil Hellmuth was on the
Hardcore Poker Show discussing what he feels are issues that
Harrah’s is creating for the
WSOP by (inevitably) launching their own online poker site.
Specifically, Hellmuth said that by starting their own online poker site and limiting logos at TV tables, Harrah’s could drive sponsored pros away, making the WSOP brand “worthless.” More broadly, he also said that the WSOP has been raking second place money in every tournament they provide, but are not giving enough back to the players. He’s spoken with WSOP Commish Jeffery Pollack about it, but he is not convinced yet that the WSOP will do enough to make this brewing situation acceptable.
UPDATE: Ok not sure what is up with audio file uploads today, so go here to listen to the interview clips.
Tagged as: Harrah's, Jeffrey Pollack, Phil Hellmuth, WSOP
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