A sponsorship deal takes your game to the next level in online poker. However, apart from the financial rewards that sponsorship gives, there are other advantages, such as networking with people in the industry and getting resources that will lead you to the peak of your career development. Interestingly, sponsorship is not just a matter of luck. It is a process that demands time, seriousness, and knowing what sponsors look for in a player. This piece will highlight the fundamental aspects of getting a sponsor in online poker.
Build Your Brand
First, create a personal brand that presents you as a professional and authoritative figure. Constantly engage with the online communities on the major social media outlets, forums, and streaming channels. Connect with the poker community and give way your insights and accomplishments. A strong brand can draw sponsors to invest and maintain a loyal fan base that is of great value to the sponsors.
Excel in Your Game
Great players who maintain a steadfast display of excellence in their game for an extended period usually get sponsorship opportunities. Be passionate about beating the game, perfect your strategies, continue analyzing hands, and keep practicing to sharpen your skills. Play online and live tournaments and aim to have good results. The better you do, the more appealing you become to sponsors who want to associate their brands with the best players.
Create Compelling Content
In this contemporary digital environment, content creation is one of the best ways to get sponsors. Create high-quality content demonstrating your ability, style, and exceptional views about poker. Such content may include:
● Live-streaming your gameplay on the Twitch platform,
● Writing blogs,
● Tutorials, as well as podcasts.
Continuous, captivating content manages to not only hold audiences but also attract the attention of even sponsors who wish to collaborate with key players in the industry.
Deliver Value
Acquiring a sponsorship is not the end; you need to bring value to the table for your sponsor to remain in a long-term partnership with them. Hold your contractual agreements with integrity and professionalism throughout, whether supporting the sponsor's logo on social media, wearing it during tournaments, or participating in promotional events. Constant communication and feedback are essential to achieve mutual satisfaction and gain the best outcomes in the partnership.
Seek the Right Partnerships
If you seek sponsorship, ensure you partner with companies consistent with your image, values, and followers. Look for sponsors whose products or services give your followers and the poker community real perks. Good partnerships bring you trust and credibility as a sponsored player.
Sites that Sponsor Poker Players
There was a period in the poker boom of the 2000s when every poker tournament winner got signed as a sponsored player. Nowadays, obtaining such sponsorships is harder and often calls for more than simply the outcomes of the live competition.
GG Poker
GGPoker stands out as one of the premier platforms for online poker, boasting substantial traffic and a wide variety of games. GG Poker has significantly broadened its team of sponsored players, gathering a handpicked selection of players worldwide who now represent the platform prominently. Undoubtedly, the most popular is Daniel Negreanu. Over his career, the Canadian Poker Hall of Fame inductee has broken several records.
Fedor Holz is another player whose outstanding success has made him a sponsored pro in GGPoker.
PokerStars
PokerStars has been a leading provider in the poker and gaming industry for a long time. Back in 2021, PokerStars PokerStars announced the addition of six sponsored players/ ambassadors to their roster, with many offering more than just impressive track records in the game. The top sponsored professionals were André Coimbra, Parker Talbot of Canada, and Englishman Sam Grafton. Three relatively known poker players, Lasse Jagd Lauristen, Keith Becker, and Mark Foresta, complete the roster.
PokerStars usually want to reach a wider audience when they sign sponsored pros. These signings help them improve their social media presence and attract amateur players worldwide.
Getting a sponsorship in online poker requires balancing strategic planning, personal image, and building professional relationships. Demonstrating your worth, networking, and delivering results allows you to access sponsorship opportunities and elevate your poker career to a new level. Whether there is sponsorship or not, the good thing is that you can play online poker at HighStakes Poker. That's right. Whether you and your friends are playing poker online for fun or you are an aspiring streamer trying to build your brand and following to get sponsors, HighStakes Poker is the place to be.