Player Interview: Jamie Gold

Amy: Hi Jamie, how are you?

Jamie: I am well, what about you?

Amy: Very well thank you. Have you enjoyed your trip to London for the World Series of Poker Europe (WSOPE) tournament?

Jamie: I really liked the people and the history here - we've had a great time!

Amy: What did you do after the WSOPE – I heard you were going to check out some of the Scandinavian countries? Any particular reason?

Jamie: My best friend that travels with me and I were going to some other countries: Spain, Italy, Denmark, Sweden, Greece. No particular reason, just places I have not been and am curious about.

Amy: Will you be coming back for the EPT?

Jamie: I want to come back and play as much as possible on the EPT, I am a big fan of John Duthie’s and really enjoy travelling. Right now though I have some professional and charitable commitments that won’t allow me to play as much as I would like. The plan is to change that so I can play as much as possible while giving back on a continuing basis.

Amy: How has the Last year and a bit been for you?

Jamie : Well, my father passed away from a horrible disease, and then my mother fell ill so that made it a very tough year. My mom is healthy now and that makes life much better. I was also sued for money I was offering to someone so that was kind of surreal and odd. It became distorted in the media and I was made out to be the bad guy, not the generous person that I am. That was certainly unfortunate that it had a negative impact on poker. We settled it the first time we sat down and both parties were satisfied...too bad the public can't understand that and get past the fact that I hadn't done anything wrong. I was just ignorant of the laws in place which allow a clean split of money won without tax implications on the other's behalf.

Amy : I'm very sorry to hear about your father and wish your mother a speedy recovery. It sounds like you've had a tough time. The controversy regarding your win in 2006 can't have helped - how did you feel about that? Would you like to tell us what happened with Bodog?

Jamie: People think it had to do with the lawsuit, which was simply not true. Bodog knew the truth from the start and even issued statements to that end. I delivered everything they asked of me and more, even helped them raise their customer base in poker substantially. It’s funny but people who don’t like me for whatever reasons they have want to play against me more than those that really like me or my play. So many people think they are better than me, and maybe they are, which makes me a target online and a lucrative player for a site. They have had recurring legal issues as do most of the online sites with regulations and decided after paying me a large sum of money that they didn’t want to continue if they couldn’t use me for promotion in America which they could no longer do. I have no ill will towards them - in fact, they were fun to work with.

Amy: Have you thought about signing up with another company?

Jamie: I will sign with another company when there is an offer that makes sense to me. I am always open to great opportunities, which is one of the reasons I have been successful in life. I have recently worked with www.texasholdem.com to offer educational services to players in a text format.

Amy: Since becoming World Champion in 2006 your life must have changed dramatically?

Jamie: Sure, it would change anyone’s life. More than that it has changed my friends and family’s life. I have taken care of a lot of people around me, which makes me happy.

Amy: You won the biggest cash amount in the history of poker - how did you feel? Did you buy anything nice for yourself?

Jamie: It was overwhelming, and I am not sure I have really embraced it the way one would imagine. No, I haven't spent alot of money on myself, just people I love are well taken care of now. I still live in the same place, drive the same car, and make an effort to be the same spirtual person I was before.

Amy: It's sounds like you've remained very grounded - are you still carrying on with your old life? Are you still an agent?

Jamie: I haven’t been an agent for a while. Before I played and won the main event we had created a television studio, Buzznation, which I am very much involved in. I am fortunate to have dual professional commitments, one as a TV producer, and the other as a poker player. I look forward to playing as much as I can in the future and becoming a great poker player. I learn something every time I play which is exciting.

Amy: Does this mean you're still living in Malibu? Have you thought about living in Vegas?

Jamie: I am not sure I ever want to live in Vegas permanently. It doesn’t have to be Malibu where I have been for over 15 years, but Vegas is not a place I like to stay for more than a couple of weeks at a time.

Amy: I agree! Three weeks in Vegas was long enough for me! How do you feel you fit in with the 'poker crowd' and the big names in poker? Do you feel like you have to prove yourself as a poker player to them?

Jamie: It has been such an honour to play with the legends of the game, and the new really solid up and coming players. I like people, and am very social by nature so it has been an easy transition. I was just a fan like everyone else, and now have the honour to spend time with some of the smartest, most successful people in the world. I am a very lucky guy.

Amy: Which player do you rate the most? Who do you fear most when sitting at the poker table?

Jamie : I have played enough poker now to know you can’t possibly rank players. On any given day, on any given hand it can be different. The best player one day will not play so well the next, and so on. There are so many that have earned the respect of their peers, I am still a fan really.

Amy: What would a second bracelet mean to you?

Jamie: It would be great, but that goal of a lifetime has been reached, so it doesn’t mean what it would if I hadn’t ever won. I want is to become a better player. You can’t control winning, you can control how well you play so that’s what is important to me - to be satisfied with my play. I have nothing to prove to anyone but myself.

Amy: So where from here? Do you envisage yourself always being a poker player? Your next accomplishment?

Jamie: I love the game and hope I can play for the rest of my life. Next I am in the process of creating a celebrity charity event that can raise a huge sum of money every year in my father’s and grandfather’s names. I have participated in over 10 major charity events this year already and am committed to these causes forever. I love giving back, my life has been so good - I am lucky to be able to do it.

Amy: I've just been dying to ask you. There were a few rumours flying around at the 2007 Main Event about you and Brandi Hawbaker - any truth to them?!!

Jamie: No, it’s funny that talking to someone for a few minutes would get people gossiping. I guess it’s interesting that two poker players are cordial or friendly with each other, but no, sorry to disappoint people there.

Amy: So, in that case, if you could play strip poker with any female professional poker player who would it be?

Jamie: It depends what qualifies as professional; there are some very attractive players that don’t necessarily qualify as professional because they have other things they do besides poker. Does Shannon Elizabeth qualify?

Amy: I guess it's a grey area - but if I bump into her I'll ask her and be sure to let you know :-) Thank you so much for being a great sport! It has been a real pleasure to meet you. I wish you all the best and hope that Poker Verdict and Jamie Gold will cross paths again soon!