WSOP Commissioner Resigns
It seems there’s one more piece of news left to report about the 2009 World Series of Poker. We guess it ain’t over until the Commissioner says it’s over. And that’s exactly what he’s done – called it quits.
After all the action at the 2009 WSOP Main Event was over, and Joe Cada started his yearlong stint as poker’s publicity darling, Jeffrey Pollack has resigned as Commissioner of the WSOP. It’s our loss, not his. He was apparently a good guy, and really good at his job, growing the WSOP by 88% since taking office in 2005, and being responsible for the creation of World Series of Poker Europe.
As for his reasons for going, we should all be happy for him, not sad, as he’s said that he’s off to “explore new business challenges”. You go, Jeff!
Others of Jeffrey Pollack’s accomplishments as WSOP Commissioner include:
- renovating the Poker Hall of Fame
- creating the Players Advisory Council
- inventing the November Nine meme
- starting the $50,000 HORSE Championship
- securing a 7-year deal with ESPN to broadcast the WSOP
- several corporate sponsorships (besides poker sites, we mean), such as Corum and Milwaukee Light
As it is Harrah’s who owns the WSOP, and as Harrah’s has recently taken on former PartyGaming (of PartyPoker) chairman Mitch Garber as CEO, the expectation is that he will be the one appointed to take Pollack’s place as the new Commissioner of the World Series of Poker. And to go by Garber’s CV, he looks to be the prime successor to Pollack’s prolific reign.
