MASHANTUCKET, Conn. – Who better to choose as the official spokesperson for a world famous-branded poker room than someone who has been wildly successful at the game?
Foxwoods Resort Casino has named Bernard Lee the official spokesman for the casino’s World Poker Tour-branded Poker Room.
Lee, a professional poker player, has won more than $1.35 million since becoming a professional poker player three years ago. He finished 13th in the 2005 World Series of Poker as New England’s top finisher.
“We’re thrilled to add Bernard Lee to the Foxwoods team,” said Michael Speller, president of Mashantucket Pequot Gaming Enterprises. The Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation owns Foxwoods and MGM Grand at Foxwoods.
“Bernard is such a compelling figure on the poker landscape, and we’re certain that his expertise and talent will bring even more excitement and energy to the poker experience at Foxwoods,” Speller said.
Lee will wear the Foxwoods logo at all participating tournaments. Additionally, Lee’s radio show, “The Bernard Lee Poker Show,” is now officially “Presented by Foxwoods Resort Casino.” The show, which debuted in May 2007, airs on 1120 AM in the Boston area and internationally on www.roundersradio.com.
“If there is such a thing as home-court advantage in poker, for me it’s at Foxwoods,” Lee said. “I’m proud and humbled that Foxwoods would choose me to be their official spokesperson among the millions of poker players in the world.”
Prior to his big winnings, Lee, a Harvard University and Babson College graduate, worked as a senior marketing/new business development manager at a Fortune 500 company. He lives in Wayland, Mass.
Since turning professional, Lee has become one of the busiest poker personalities in the world, hosting shows on television, radio and the Internet, and working as a columnist, commentator and author.
Recognized as “the voice of poker in New England” by Cardplayer, Lee is known nationally and worldwide.
Cardplayer attributed Lee’s success in poker in part to his educational background, which includes a bachelor’s and a master’s degree from Harvard University and a master’s degree in business administration from Babson College.
“He takes copious notes when he plays, and he also employs a poker version of a warm-up every time he plays a tournament. Many players have begun to seek Lee out for lessons about the discipline and analysis that have come from his Ivy League work ethic to improve their games as well,” Cardplayer said.
Lee is also co-host of ESPN’s weekly online poker show, “ESPN Inside Deal,” and is a poker columnist for the Boston Herald, ESPN, Poker Daily news, and other media outlets.
He has published two books, “The Final Table,” Volume I and Volume II, which are compilations of his Sunday Herald poker columns. He is also an instructor for the World Series of Poker Academy and a poker commentator for the WSOP and New England’s Eastern Poker Tour.
Foxwoods Resort Casino is an important part of Lee’s poker history. He was among the earliest players to visit the casino when it opened in 1992, and it was the first place he played in a poker tournament, participated in a poker main event, and won a tournament. Lee captured three tournament titles between 2006 and 2008, all at the Foxwoods World Poker Finals.
The World Poker Tour is a collection of Texas hold ’em tournaments held internationally, but mostly in the U.S. The tour started in 2002 and culminated its debut season with the WPT Championship in April 2003 at the Bellagio Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada.
The first season aired on the Travel Channel in the spring of 2003 and made its network debut the next year on NBC with a special “Battle Of Champions” tournament.
The televised tournaments since then have led to a surge in poker popularity and culture, and an expansion of poker playing in casinos, online and in American homes.
Foxwoods WPT World Poker Room is the largest poker room on the East Coast with 104 tables and 24 hours a day of continuous action. It has a selection of popular games, including Texas Hold ’em, 7-Card Stud and Omaha-8 or better.
As a charter member of the World Poker Tour, Foxwoods offers two major tournaments a year: the Foxwoods Poker Classic and the Foxwoods World Poker Finals.
For more information about Lee, visit his Web site.
