Could Twitter Replace the Poker Media?

by , Apr 3, 2009 | 7:15 am

For those that like to follow the live updates at poker tournaments, it can be frustrating waiting for your favorite player’s status in a tournament. You could be someone who’s upset that some kid hired off Craig”s List who can’t tell the difference between a straight and a flush messing up your bustout hand and making you look like stupid. The best way to combat this would be to be your own live updates reporter to get your side of the story out there. During last year’s WSOP, there was a site called FT Sweat was available for those who wanted to provide updates, but it was rarely utilized. Pokerati has it’s own CSR which works within the Pokerati community, whenever it gets updated. The hot application these days is Twitter, and the poker community is following the millions who’ve discovered Twitter.

Want to follow the shortened ramblings of an egomaniac, your favorite poker tournament reporter or blogger, or follow Pokerati (just don’t expect any updates).


10 Comments to “Could Twitter Replace the Poker Media?”


  1. DanM
    says:

    FYI, we are working on a Twitter plug-in to expand the functionality and usability of CSR. We will have it ready before the WSOP for sure. However, you might notice some in the new media rules that twittering from inside the ropes is frowned upon.


  2. Kevin Mathers
    says:

    I assume that’s from the poker media itself

    21. Live Updates: No continuous live updates in the form of text messaging, podcasts, blogging or live remote audio or video feeds are permitted. Updates in these formats may be filed once an hour and may only include information preceding the update, not any action or event occurring while the update is in progress.

    I assume players could easily tweet their updates as long as they do it away from the table.


  3. DanM
    says:

    Yes, it creates a real dilemma for me, too. You see, my Mom wants me to update her every HALF hour … and she is insisting I use Twitter, because that’s the only newfangled social networking tool she understands.

    I tried to explain to her the way the rules work, but she just wouldn’t have it. “That’s crazy, son!”

    I know, mom, but …

    “Well, just don’t be media when you’re texting me … be a regular person”

    Yes, OK, but …

    “Isn’t that what the media is — just regular people sharing information with other regular people? I just trust your Twitters more because …”

    I’ve never sent a Twitter, mom, because I am afraid …

    “I swear, sometimes I wonder why we spent all that money to send you to journalism school if you can’t even Twitter! Your father and I would’ve been better off investing in Stanley Morgan”

    Um, it’s Morgan Stanley, mom

    “Don’t backtalk me! No how’s the weather? How’s Alley?”


  4. BJ Nemeth
    says:

    Private communications are not censored in any way. (Except calls/messages can’t be taken during the play of a hand, of course.) But if you are texting updates to your Mom so she can post them on Pokerati, then that *would* fall under WSOP rules.

    You’re free to text your Mom all you want, Dan. And Mrs. Michalski, if you’re reading this, I’d demand contact from your son at least every 10-15 minutes. Otherwise, he might get into trouble. 🙂


  5. Kevin Mathers
    says:

    Just to add that Jay “WhoJedi” Newnum wrote about this idea a couple weeks ago much better than I could ever do.


  6. BJ Nemeth
    says:

    Jay’s article was about as perfectly timed as possible. The WPT Live Updates team has been monitoring Twitter for both poker updates and players updating their own information during tournaments, and there seemed to be a tipping point on Day 1a of the WPT Bay 101 event, with star players @Phil_Hellmuth and @RealAnnieDuke both Twittering live updates for the first time.

    Jay Newnum’s article appeared online the next day.

    Since then, there has been a steady stream of poker players signing up for Twitter accounts, testing it out. By the WSOP, it’ll be huge. Jay’s article came at exactly the right time. (Though it won’t be the last on the subject.)


  7. Poker Shrink
    says:

    I want all the players at my table twittering away, anything that will distract them from the next hand.

    As far as using twitter at the WSOP, I think this year and next will tell but in my early opinion, too much information is not what the poker fans want and 77 twitters an hour from every ego-based pro is too much.


  8. Kevin Mathers
    says:

    While I can agree with that point Shrink, it’s always good for moments like this:

    allenkessler: Omg blind v blind flop A 10 8 2 clubs i raise with 10 8 they call turn j clubs river 9 clubs they have 2 of clubs 70k now

    And it’ll be good for those random people to let friends and family know how they’re doing instead of refreshing CardPlayer/Pokernews/etc. and seeing them being referred to as “random player”.


  9. Amy C
    says:

    I think I’d rather listen to Eskimo Clark fart that read a Twitter feed.


  10. DanM
    says:

    ***I think I’d rather listen to Eskimo Clark fart that read a Twitter feed.***

    We have a finalist … for best line of the year!