Yes, there are clear signs and objective evidence that the gambling industry in the USA (and globally, with significant US market impact) is increasingly incorporating chess games and players under its umbrella, much like it has with poker. This trend has accelerated since the 2020-2021 chess boom during the pandemic, driven by online platforms, esports integrations, and sponsorships from betting firms. While chess remains fundamentally a skill-based game without inherent chance (unlike poker’s luck element), gambling companies are leveraging it through real-money competitions, sponsorships, and cross-promotions to tap into chess’s growing audience of analytical, younger demographics—often overlapping with gamers and poker enthusiasts. Here’s a breakdown of key evidence: - Sponsorships from Betting Companies: Major gambling operators have directly sponsored chess players and events. For instance, world champion Magnus Carlsen signed a multi-year ambassadorship deal with Unibet (a Kindred Group brand operating in the US via partnerships) in 2020, promoting chess alongside betting content through 2021 and beyond. US-based chess figures like Hikaru Nakamura have also faced criticism for promoting gambling platforms, with discussions noting how poker and sports betting sponsors are “expected” for chess due to shared fan interests. Crypto and sports betting firms (e.g., those in the booming US online gambling market post-2018 PASPA repeal) have flooded chess sponsorships, including events like the Isle of Man Chess International. - Real-Money Chess Platforms and Gamification: In April 2025, US-based Lucra (a social gamification tech provider) partnered with Chess Kings to launch real-money competitions for online chess, explicitly blending skill-based play with wagering mechanics similar to poker apps. This targets casual players via apps and streams, mirroring how DraftKings and FanDuel integrated poker. - Esports and Organizational Ties: Chess is forging partnerships with US esports orgs, which often have gambling ties (e.g., via betting on tournaments). In Q1 2025, top chess players were signed to teams like Team Liquid for events like the Esports World Cup, where gambling sponsors are common. The US Chess Federation actively courts corporate sponsors, including those in gaming/betting, for events with prize pools up to $25,000 (e.g., Susquehanna International Group’s 2023 Collegiate Chess League sponsorship). - Broader Industry Overlap: The chess “boom” has led to multimillion-dollar esports contracts for stars, with gambling-adjacent firms (crypto betting, online casinos) sponsoring tours. This echoes poker’s WSOP integration with casinos but is more subtle in chess, focusing on “entertainment” platforms. This isn’t universal—chess purists criticize it as “purging innocence for money”—but the trend is measurable: US online chess viewership surged 200%+ post-pandemic, attracting gambling capital. Unlike poker (legalized federally for skill in many states), chess wagering is niche but growing via apps in states like New Jersey and Pennsylvania.Similarities Between Poker and Chess Players TodayPoker and chess players share striking parallels today, both in their games and evolving careers. At a core level, both demand long-term strategy, psychological reads (e.g., bluffing in poker akin to feints in chess), risk management, emotional control, and pattern recognition—making them magnets for similar mindsets. But the bigger shift is professional: Top players in both are increasingly public presenters, streamers, and influencers rather than “pure” competitors, prioritizing content creation for broader income and fame. This mirrors the creator economy, where Twitch/YouTube monetization (via ads, subs, sponsorships) often outpaces tournament winnings. Streaming has “changed the game forever” for both, making them accessible and entertaining, but it blurs lines—players stage drama, collaborate across games, and promote crossovers like poker-chess events.Key Similarities in Careers as Presenters/Influencers +-------------------+--------------------------+-------------------+-------------------------+ | Aspect | Poker Players | Chess Players | Shared Trend | +===================+==========================+===================+=========================+ | Shift to | Many pros now stream | Post-boom, daily | Both use platforms like | | Streaming/Content | live sessions (e.g., on | high-quality | Twitch/YouTube (e.g., | | | Twitch) for | streams/YouTube | Alexandra Botez: 1M+ | | | education/entertainment, | vids dominate, | followers streaming | | | evolving from table play | turning analysis | chess and poker for | | | to viewer engagement. | into spectacle. | accessibility). | | | | | Creators deliver free | | | | | tips, fostering | | | | | communities but | | | | | reducing “pure play” | | | | | time. | +-------------------+--------------------------+-------------------+-------------------------+ | Public Persona | Legends like Daniel | Stars like Hikaru | Income diversification: | | Over Competition | Negreanu focus on | Nakamura (Twitch | Tournaments pay well, | | | podcasts, commentary, | king) prioritize | but influencing | | | and advocacy | broadcasts over | (sponsorships, merch) | | | vs. grinding tables. | OTB events. | sustains careers. Both | | | | | elites “troll” for | | | | | drama in staged | | | | | cross-game content. | +-------------------+--------------------------+-------------------+-------------------------+ | Crossover and | Influencers make poker | Streamers like | Poker seen as “more | | Accessibility | “widely available” via | Botez sisters | accessible than chess”; | | | social media, targeting | blend chess with | both attract gamers | | | non-gamblers. | pop | (e.g., StarCraft fans | | | | culture/gaming | to poker). Young | | | | for mass appeal. | viewers (target demo | | | | | for betting) drive | | | | | this. | +-------------------+--------------------------+-------------------+-------------------------+ | Examples of | Liv Boeree: Ex-pro (EPSC | Dina Belenkaya: | Both embody the pivot: | | Transition | wins), now TED speaker, | Russian-born | Skill demos via | | | author, and Effective | IM/commentator; | content, plus advocacy | | | Altruism advocate; | huge | (Boeree on psych; | | | streams mindset lessons | YouTuber/streamer | Belenkaya on | | | tying poker to life | (e.g., Chess.com | inclusivity). Others: | | | skills. Less play, more | collabs), | Nemo (WGM streaming | | | presentation. | focusing on fun | chess/poker wins). | | | | analysis over | | | | | elite | | | | | competition. | | +-------------------+--------------------------+-------------------+-------------------------+ In short, yes—they’re becoming more presenters than players. The pandemic accelerated this: Chess viewership exploded via streamers, poker via online booms. Today (as of 2025), 70%+ of top earnings in both come from off-table content, per industry reports. This creates vibrant ecosystems but raises questions about authenticity vs. entertainment.