“We are optimistic, or hopeful … somewhere between optimistic and hopeful.” That was how award-winning poker author Dara O’Kearney described the prospects for a new home for The Chip Race.
After 25 seasons and 3 Global Poker Index awards for best podcast under the green banner of Unibet Poker, The Chip Race was in danger of ending. With restructuring underway at Kindred, Relax, and Unibet, among the big recent changes was the end of sponsorship for the podcast, as well as the ambassadorships of O’Kearney and partner David Lappin.
That left The Chip Race, and its pandemic-inspired sister show, The Lock-In, without a sponsor and facing an uncertain future. The show recorded its final Unibet-sponsored episode recently as a walk down memory lane with previous guests and partners who have been heavily associated with the show and Unibet throughout its history.
Busted
At the moment, the show has no home. It has certainly recorded its final episode under the old format, and the pair are in a transitional phase in their careers.
As Unibet ambassadors for the last decade, the pair have been an integral part of the team, promoting the brand online and at live events, with The Chip Race as a large part of that. With those long-term partnerships coming to an end, the pair will be looking for new hands to play.
A New Stack?
In most industries, finding a home for content that has been industry-recognized for excellence three times in recent years would be largely a formality. Podcasters would likely be fielding offers from various interested parties with the luxury of choosing the best or most lucrative option.
But poker is a different beast — much of the media content, writing & news included, is heavily sponsored by various industry players, but in a way that is far less independent than other industries. Much of the content in the poker media comes off as thinly veiled paid advertising.
The Chip Race was different. While there was certainly advertising for Unibet baked into the format of the old show, there was always something different about the show. While many industry partners in the poker sphere apply extra pressure on content, topics, and especially criticism, one of the things that always set the show and its sponsor Unibet apart was the independence the pair seemed to demand and be afforded.
That won’t be easy to find in an industry accustomed to dictating content terms, and it’s worth shouting out the team at Unibet and their hands-off approach. What happens next for the dynamic duo is anybody’s guess at this point.
New Backer Incoming?
There are hints in the wind that a new backer could be in the wings, waiting to fund The Chip Race for another buy-in. Details are very sparse at the moment, but rumours abound.
One of the more outlandish theories is that arch-rival Daniel Negreanu and his sponsor GGPoker have floated an offer. If true, that would be a radical departure for ALL brands involved, so the poker world waits with bated breath.
