Jeff Gross, The Voice of GGPoker

As the dust settles on another World Series of Poker, the conversation inevitably turns to what’s next for the game we all love. This year marked a significant milestone – GGPoker’s first year running the WSOP after their landmark acquisition. The integration of digital innovation with poker’s most prestigious brand has been nothing short of remarkable, and who better to discuss this evolution than someone who’s been at the center of it all?

PLAY AT THE WSOP

Jeff Gross finished 513th in the 2025 Main Event, a solid result that speaks to his consistent approach to the game. But his real value to the poker community extends far beyond his tournament results. As the voice of GGPoker and host of the popular GGMillion$ stream, Jeff has had a front-row seat to witness how technology is reshaping tournament poker. His perspective carries weight – this is someone who’s navigated the online poker landscape for two decades, worked with multiple major brands, and now finds himself representing what many consider the future of the game.

When we sat down after his Main Event elimination, Jeff was eager to share his thoughts on GGPoker’s innovations, the global growth of the game, and what it means to be part of an organization that’s pushing boundaries. What emerged was a conversation that touches on everything from the practical benefits of app-based tournament registration to the rising poker prowess of Brazilian players.

The WSOP+ App Revolution

GGShawn: So, here we are sitting with Jeff Gross, the voice of GGPoker, who has unfortunately just busted from the Main Event in 2025, finishing 513th from the starting 9,735. Quite a good result, certainly compared to most, and nearly 1,000 spots into the money. We are very thankful that you were able to take time from your day to sit with us.

Jeff Gross: Not a problem. I’m just glad you caught me when I had some time. I would have liked to do this before the Main Event restarted, but this is good too.

GGS: Not a worry. You’ve been coming to the World Series for a while, and this is the first time that is being run under the ownership of GGPoker. Tell us your thoughts.

JG: Very impressed. I will say from all the feedback I’ve gotten, from friends and other poker players – both casual and professional – they are all saying the same thing. The app’s amazing, and it’s so convenient. Skip the lines, easy buy-ins, it’s just amazing. That was just a cog for tournament poker for so many years. Complete credit is owed to GGPoker, NSUS, and Michael Kim for these changes and how they are happening. You can see how it’s slowly all coming into place. It’s just gotten worlds better, just like a simulation. It just seems like it’s going to continue to improve.

GGS: Very high praise indeed. Speaking of the future, what could you see happening with the app?

JG: I think a staking option would be great to have integrated. Today, when you are sweating someone in the main event, or any tournament, it’s nice if you don’t have to worry. You’ll never have to think ‘Oh, is the person gonna pay me?’ If it’s done through the app, everything becomes seamless, and I see that’s going in that direction. Having everything automated makes everything easy. Plus, I think it will bring more money into the poker ecosystem.

GGS: Speaking of the WSOP+ app, what are, in your opinion, the biggest game changers?

JG: The WSOP+ app makes everything faster. Particularly the lines, that’s what I just keep hearing. It’s so easy to register. Re-entry too. Unlike previous years, if you bust in a 1K rebuy, you just open the app, hit rebuy, and you can get your seat almost immediately. You generally don’t even have to leave the room. Honestly, I can’t say enough about it. I think it is the most revolutionary thing to happen in poker in years.

Building Community Through GGMillion$

GGS: So, you became the voice of GGPoker two and a half years ago, and you’ve been doing the stream for the GG Millions. What are some of the highlights from that?

JG: I love it! Between the stream and my podcast, I get to meet so many people. I’ve been in poker for 20 years, so I have a lot of contacts from Phil Hellmuth to Brian Rast, as well as the new up-and-comers, the 21-year-olds who are playing and streaming. So I’m right in the middle, and because of that, I get to know everyone in poker. So it’s just fun. I feel like the guest quality is great, and there are so many people that I can reach out to anytime, anywhere. And when I ask them to join me, 99% of the time the response is, “Yeah, like, I’ll love to.” The players all want to do it. It’s always great when you get to have friends on the stream, or even sometimes players that I respect, but I don’t really know. It’s a great way to keep up with friends and acquaintances and meet new ones. Honestly, getting some of the biggest names in the game to talk for two-and-a-half to three hours about poker while doing the GGMillion$, that’s been a treat. I’ve probably done 120 to 130 episodes, and it has been a lot of fun. I thoroughly enjoy it.

GGS: I’ve watched all of them from near the beginning and can honestly tell you they get better and better every time, and it’s great to see. On to the most important question regarding the stream: how many dinner bets have you collected?

JG: Yeah, funny you should ask. I actually had to create a Google Sheet because it’s getting crazy. With so many bets, I don’t remember who wins and loses. But honestly, the people come on and give their time and insight, so generally, I will treat them. We’ll go out to dinner and have some fun. That’s what it’s really about. I think my record’s probably decent. I think when it comes to the bets, I may have a small advantage. I’m there watching every week. I see who’s there. I sort of know some of the players or their names, and I pay attention to their stats and their historical results. I’m probably winning around 60% on those, but really, they are for fun. It’s a good time.

GGPoker is the Future

GGS: So what does GG mean to you and what has it brought to your life?

JG: So, GG. I’ve been in poker for a long time. I was with UltimateBet when they were legalized in Nevada. Then I was with 888 briefly. Followed by PokerStars and PartyPoker under Rob Yong. So, it’s funny, I bounced around to many of the major brands and have seen a lot of different things. I like to be where the vision aligns with what I’m doing and where poker needs to go to keep growing. Sites will change ownership, similar to the NBA or any sports league, but in those leagues, there are 30 or so teams. In poker, there are four or five brands at any given time, in addition to some unregulated sites. And from what I have seen, GGPoker is the future of poker. I’m very happy to be here. I think that it’s clear that GG is the marquee brand, I mean, the numbers don’t lie, they’re the top site. With the addition of the World Series of Poker, you now have the biggest live brand and the biggest online brand coming together, and creating the biggest thing poker has ever seen.

GGS: And what is your opinion of what you have seen GGPoker do while you have been with them?

JG: I’ve been here for the last three years, and honestly, I love what they’re doing with everything. From the content to the software, the guarantees and promotions, everything across the board. It’s nice to see and leads me to believe I am absolutely in the right place. I came over from Stars after being there forever. I saw a shift in how things were done there over the years, and when I migrated over to GG, it really helped put everything into perspective. I like it when the owner, or whoever is making the decisions, doesn’t just listen, but hears what you have to say. It’s nice to feel like your feedback or opinion matters. Or when you have a new idea or concept that you want to try, they just say, ‘go for it. As opposed to some of these sites that a little bit more corporate, where you get lost in the shuffle and your voice is never heard.

The Brazilian Poker Boom

GGS: That’s great. And you’re gonna be joining us for the WSOP online, which is coming up shortly.

JG: When does it start?

GGS: I’m not sure if I can say, but I can confirm it is close. But the important thing is, now you’re down in Brazil, living there and raising a family, and all the amazing stuff that comes along with that. But twenty years ago, back when poker first started to boom, when you saw players from Brazil on the table, you knew it was gonna be a soft table. That’s not so much the case anymore. Why do you think that’s changed so much?

JG: Brazil basically has a reserved spot at the GG Million final table every week. It’s them and Austria every week. They are the two dominant countries for flags on there. As to why it’s changed so much, I would say it’s their passion. Brazil now has so many good groups of players and stables, and they put a lot of work into it. Felipe Mojave, who is with GG, Andre Akkari, Rafa Moraes, to name just a few of the amazing Brazilian poker players. There are many Brazilians I’m close with and enjoy spending time with. My wife’s Brazilian, and it was because of her that I live down there now. The poker scene down there is still growing very quickly. So, I think that’s just a function of so many people playing. They’re just getting better and better at it, putting in the time and effort. They are a very smart and passionate culture, definitely one of the strongest countries for poker right now.

GGS: Well, thank you very much, Jeffery. We appreciate your time and wish you all the best over the rest of the series. We will see you again on the GGMillion$ broadcast.

Article written by: Shawn Altbaum
Photographs by Tim Ash and are owned and are the exclusive property of GGPoker.