Posted by Andrew Feldman
He's one of the most recognizable men whose picture lands on the walls of the Amazon Room every summer at the World Series of Poker. He sits atop the list of highest money winners in WSOP history and has the ability to draw crowds by just entering a room. Sounds like a good time to me.
Jamie Gold won $12 million by winning the largest WSOP main event in history. With the title came a mountain of cash, a ton of responsibility and some troubles that many across the poker industry can't forget. But now as 2009's poker season gets rolling, Gold has taken a step in a new direction by signing an endorsement deal with previously little-known Aced.com.
Jeff Shaw/Icon SMI
Jamie Gold has signed to represent Aced.com and go back on the tournament circuit.
Over the past two years Gold has been busy playing poker tournaments -- but not for the typical causes. Instead of playing to win money, Gold's initiative has primarily been raising money for charities, something which he has done with great success. He's stayed out of the poker spotlight, working with poker in an innovative way. He's worked with the Poker Players Alliance with hopes to legalize the game and has attempted to share his overall passion with those who play. These days, however, Gold is ready to get back to the felt in a more competitive atmosphere. As part of his new endorsement deal, Gold will play in any tournament he chooses, across the world. Will the 2006 champ be ready for the tough fields of 2009?
"I think that my head is in the right place," Gold said. "I'm not sure where my game is. I think my game is in a cash game mode right now, but I'm excited to get back into it. It's an odd kind of thing. I know where my game is, but I don't know where my other players are at. The Internet players are so good and they have so much more experience … that I don't know how my competition will be."
If one thing is for certain, it will be that when Gold isn't participating in a live event, he'll be playing online as much as possible. Although approached with his deal just a few months ago, Gold's infatuation with the site is clear and he believes that any ordinary player will feel at home on Aced.com.
"I have a $1/$2 table … that I'll play," Gold said. "I love playing in that game. I love that game. My mom plays in that game. My friends play in that game. Most of my friends don't want to risk more than $100. We'll have tournaments that focus on the average poker player who plays a couple of times a week; I feel that some sites are forgetting about that.
"If you want to play the best players in the world, don't come to this site. If you want to play with people who are having fun with it and flashing a card now and then, talking and having fun at the table, and playing in a tournament against 50 people, not 5,000, … I know where to go. There's a niche for regular poker players who have $100 that needs to be filled."
Gold was integral in creating the some of the innovations that the site offers. One thing he really liked about the company is how his voice was heard and he wasn't just another name on an all-star poker roster.
"They were also willing to adjust to the kinds of things that I really wanted to see on the site," he said. "Simple little things like 24-hour live customer service people, run it twice, and flash one card. For people that aren't that experienced they give the percentages -- what percent is to make your hand or to win your hand. When you talk they put a bubble over your avatar so you don't have to read the chat in the bottom. They were just so supportive of everything that I wanted from an online site that the money was secondary, but they said they'd give me whatever I wanted because they wanted me that much. It's very flattering when someone believes in you that much that they want you on as part of your team."
The question remains, why now? Why after two and a half years of barely making a splash in live tournaments is Gold ready to get back into the poker industry full steam ahead?
"Once I decided I wanted to go back and play on the circuit, I was itching to get back into it," he said. "Now that I've spent the last couple of years just focused on charity events, raising awareness for the causes I believe in, I feel that I've done that and I'll never stop that, but there are other things I want to make a priority equally as much. Getting back into player poker was one of the things I decided in January -- that it was time to maybe look at some of these [endorsement] offers. It had to be a company that shared my same sensibility and [Aced.com] did decide to give a percentage of their income to charity and they would support the [Jamie Gold] foundation I created."
Gold's first tournament back was going to be the L.A. Poker Classic this weekend, but one more item needed his attention -- he had to host the Children Uniting Nations fundraiser at the Oscars.
"Some things are more important than trying to win $7 million dollars! These kids need our help," Gold said.
Poker fans typically hold split opinions on Gold and his playing abilities. He's been seen on ESPN's coverage of the WSOP and on High Stakes Poker. He'll admit freely that many people don't respect his game, but he also knows that no matter where he is playing, he'll attract a crowd.
"I have a good way of drawing players to poker games," he said. "Whether they'll think I'm giving my money away, whether they like me or not, most poker players have an interest in playing poker with me. Whatever the reason is, if I walk into a casino, they've never seen anything like it. A lot of other players get more respect, but [players] don't want to play with them so badly. There are enough people who believe that I don't know how to play at all, but people like playing with me good or bad."
Gold's image is something he cherishes. He's a man who loves the game and understands where he falls in the poker food chain. He knows he isn't the best and that it's the variety of players that makes the game what it is today. He holds a positive outlook that says if people beat him, so be it. Through all of his charitable efforts, Gold is doing his part to make the world a better place and while winning tournaments would be great, he'll always remain focused on what really matters.
"I want the world to understand that this is an amazing game," he said. "I want to raise as much money through charity events. I just want to be known as someone who helped the world and helped poker go mainstream. If there's an all-time list, I want to be the all-time leader of helping the world. If I'm not, then dream come true. If people do more than I do, what an amazing world we'd be living in."
A new deal. A new chance at the felt. And maybe, a fresh start. It's not often that world champions need one, but as Gold heads back into action in 2009, it's time for all critics to take a step back. Stop looking back on your previous impression of the champ and simply do one thing: Try to beat him on the all-time charity list.
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