Vegas Dream Alive for Long Island Poker Player After Jamie Gold Poker Giveaway

Anthony Mattera, a longtime poker participant from Lengthy Island, New York, has gained his approach into the 2025 World Collection of Poker Predominant Occasion, due to a singular contest hosted by MyStandard in partnership with 2006 WSOP Champion Jamie Gold.

Mattera, 39, earned the coveted $10,000 seat via a giveaway hosted by MyStandard and supported by poker desk model BBO Poker Tables. Whereas this might be his first time enjoying the Predominant Occasion, Mattera is not any stranger to the WSOP felt, having competed in different collection occasions over time.

“I have been enjoying poker since I used to be about 19 years previous, so about 20 years now,” Mattera shared. A daily at MGM Springfield and Rivers On line casino, Mattera is primarily a money sport participant, usually sitting in at $5/$10 and $10/$20 no-limit maintain’em video games. “The most important pot I’ve gained within the final couple years was over $20,000,” he stated.

Profitable His Approach to Vegas

Mattera beforehand lived in Las Vegas in 2017, grinding professionally for a few 12 months. However it was an informal on-line second that set him on the trail to the WSOP Predominant Occasion.

“This previous couple of weeks, I had been simply enjoying some desk video games, after which simply occurred to look on-line for this giveaway, and I entered,” he stated. “I obtained an electronic mail that I gained. Swiftly, the e-mail become a telephone name and a textual content message, and Jamie referred to as me and I used to be like, ‘What the hell is happening?'”

Gold, who famously gained the 2006 WSOP Predominant Occasion for $12 million, hasn’t simply handed Mattera a ticket—he is supplied his mentorship as properly.

“Him and I’ve had about two teaching periods thus far, a few half hour every,” Mattera stated. “The knowledge he is been giving me has been actually, actually useful. He takes it very severely. I have been informed what to do, what to not do.”

Amongst Gold’s ideas? “Ensure that to get loads of sleep the night time earlier than to be mentally prepared for the Predominant,” Mattera stated.

What’s MyStandard?

The giveaway was a part of a broader promotional push by MyStandard, a platform aiming to merge poker and way of life branding. In accordance with MyStandard co-founder Josh Sklut, Jamie Gold joined the crew in a enterprise improvement and model ambassador function.

“We reached out to Jamie, he is now turn into a member of our crew,” Sklut stated. “He heard about our mission, we sat down and talked about it over dinner, and he was blown away with what we’re constructing.”

As a part of the competition, BBO Poker Tables additionally gave away a completely custom-made poker desk to a different fortunate winner, a prize valued at over $5,000. The customized desk, just like the Predominant Occasion seat, was a part of an effort to deliver extra gamers into the poker way of life via significant partnerships and real-world alternatives.

For Mattera, the chance means extra than simply the shot at tens of millions. It is an opportunity to check his expertise on the largest stage in poker.

“I am prepared,” he stated. “Let’s examine what occurs.”

Primarily based in the UK, Will began working for PokerNews as a contract stay reporter in 2015 and joined the full-time employees in 2019. He now works as Managing Editor.

He graduated from the College of Kent in 2017 with a B.A. in German. He additionally holds an NCTJ Diploma in Sports activities Journalism.