Anecdotal evidence suggests that Greg Raymer is leaving PokerStars after 6 years of being one of the best and longest serving ambassadors for poker since his 2004 WSOP Main Event triumph.- Greg Raymer is no longer listed on the PokerStars' page and his bio has been removed by the site.
- PokerStars pro Pat Pezzin asked him at the PCA why there wasn't a star by his name. Raymer indicated it was a long story and that he could address it privately.
- Kathy Liebert tweeted today "I heard that Pokerstars was cutting many of their team pros compensation. Take it or leave it. Raymer left it"
- Liebert added "I think it's a bad business decision to cut their pay but most won't have a better offer so they stay. #notverified"
- Noted poker pro JohnnyBax added on a poker forum about this topic "I think it is pretty simple. I don't think it is anything personal against Greg as he has been a very good ambassador. Pokerstars has already saturated the USA, and they feel there are better places to put their marketing $ to work."
Zimba analysis:
While I appreciate that PokerStars can adjust its mix and compensation of the pros that represent, they have a reputation for having all the recent Main Event winners, with Peter Eastgate leaving last year and now Raymer, that impression could lesson in player's minds.
Raymer has been an upstanding ambassador for the game, giving tons of interviews and lobbying on behalf of poker in Washington D.C.
PokerStars may want to focus on a more international demographic, but they have a number of other pros that I would have suggested they cut before parting ways with Greg Raymer. He is one of the few who has actually had some results since his WSOP Main Event win, both online and live.
While I appreciate that PokerStars can adjust its mix and compensation of the pros that represent, they have a reputation for having all the recent Main Event winners, with Peter Eastgate leaving last year and now Raymer, that impression could lesson in player's minds.
Raymer has been an upstanding ambassador for the game, giving tons of interviews and lobbying on behalf of poker in Washington D.C.
PokerStars may want to focus on a more international demographic, but they have a number of other pros that I would have suggested they cut before parting ways with Greg Raymer. He is one of the few who has actually had some results since his WSOP Main Event win, both online and live.
