Author Note: This article and accompanying interview discuss the pursuit of poker in Kentucky and the Moneymaker experience with the man, the myth, the legend: Chris Moneymaker. The full live interview can be found on YouTube here.
More than a card game
Like many poker players who are getting ready to leap into senior events, I got into poker in no small part because of the poker boom that Chris Moneymaker had a hand in making. Jokingly, he apologizes for this any time a fan meets him and lets him know his part in bringing newcomers to the game. A joke which, by this point, must have been heard by countless listeners thanks to Chris’s charisma and influence.
When I travel, I always enjoy going to new rooms. It is a chance to meet people that have a common interest even though we come from different walks of life. A cardroom is the one place I get to meet and compete against lawyers, mayors, athletes, and Hall of Famers of poker. Not only do I get to speak with folks of all backgrounds and poker prestige, but I also have hopes of winning against them. Some of the best stories I have are meeting random people from all over just because I got the right seat at the right table at the right time. It’s a long-lasting and enticing feature of the game.
First encounter
Then came a poker trip I will always have a lot of great memories from. April 2025, I went to MGM National Harbor to play in the Moneymaker Main Event. But before I would get my opportunity in the tournament, there was a meet and greet with Chris Moneymaker followed by a $2/$5 meet up game that included some BetMGM ambassadors. Chris showed why he was the face of the poker boom and why he is still an ambassador of the game today. At the meet and greet, he listened and engaged as everyone who was there to see him, shared their stories with him. And as we asked him questions about past stories, he was very open and candid about tales of years gone by. This was my first chance to talk to him about his club and the scene in Kentucky. I got a taste of what had started to pique my interest a few years earlier. But I wanted to experience it firsthand more than ever.
What started as an idea was now turning into a full-blown plan
Chris Moneymaker opened his first social club in Paducah, KY in September 2022. Due to unfortunate circumstances that we discuss in the live interview, it ended up closing in 2023 but Chris has a location in Louisville, KY that has been growing since its opening in June 2024. Like any poker enthusiast looking for a good time, it entered my line of sight. To prepare myself for an amazing adventure and to learn more from the man himself, I reached out to Chris Moneymaker to see if he’d be willing to chat about his experience as a social club owner, the scene in Kentucky and a handful of other subjects. He was incredibly generous with his time and what you’ll find here is that interview.
Some highlights include:
1. Moneymaker’s Name and Brand Appeal
2. The Pursuit of a Great Player Experience
3. Regulation and Legal Durability of Poker in Kentucky
One place I haven’t been to yet is Kentucky. It’s less than a day’s drive from where I live, but up until the last couple of years, I haven’t had much of a reason to go. But now I do thanks to Chris Moneymaker.
In May 2026, I’ll be heading to Kentucky to get a taste of their poker scene. I’ll be playing at Moneymaker Social, filming, and making my first vlog. I’ll also go to The Barrel, another social club worth exploring, to share and compare my experiences at both establishments.
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