When James Hartigan started working with PokerStars in May 2005, he never imagined it would become his full‑time career. “It was May 2005 that I did my first ever poker commentary gig for PokerStars, the World Cup of Poker,” he recalled. “I thought it was going to be a one‑off. I’d go back to my job in radio. I was a journalist by trade, and this was like a side hustle. I’d never done TV before…it just seemed fun. I never thought it would last.”
Fast forward two decades, and Hartigan has become the voice of the European Poker Tour. Since 2006 he has fronted the EPT TV broadcasts, bringing the thrill of PokerStars’ flagship tour to millions of fans worldwide. “I remember watching season one and two of the EPT shows religiously on Eurosport and thinking: wow, this is the best poker content Europe has ever had. Then a year later, they asked me to take it over. That’s when I realized, okay, this is getting serious now.”
Two Decades and Still Fresh
After 20 years, does it ever feel repetitive? Hartigan admits there are familiar rhythms — knowing how a Day 2 or Day 4 will play out — but he insists the game never loses its ability to surprise.
“Something unique happens every single year,” he said. “That’s one of the great things I love about poker. On paper, some situations look identical — but the personalities make them play out completely differently. Even identical poker hands don’t play the same way. And as long as I can bring that enthusiasm, then it’s worth doing. If I ever lose that passion, it’s time to move on, because you can’t fake it.”
Hartigan pointed to a quirky hand from the day before at EPT Barcelona that underscored why poker never runs out of surprises.
“We were approaching the bubble,” he said, “and there was this hand on the river where two players had gotten it all in. Now, as is standard procedure close to the bubble, the dealer told them: keep the cards turned face down, please — we’ll wait for the tournament director.
“But instead of waiting, the players kind of revealed their hands to each other. And the player who was behind just went, ‘Well, I’m out,’ and walked off. He literally left the room knowing he’d lost.”
When the tournament director came over to the table to make the formal call, he was met with a strange sight. “They’re like: okay, let’s see the cards, and then — where’s the player in seat six? Well, he knew he wasn’t going to win the hand, so he’s gone. So what we had on the stream was just this shot of an empty chair,” Hartigan laughed. “And that empty chair belonged to the guy who was the last person to leave the tournament with no money.
“It’s such a ridiculous image — that’s poker for you. Time and time again, it finds ways to throw up these random, unique moments.”
Balancing Sport and Entertainment
Hartigan says his philosophy has always been to present poker as entertainment first, competition second.
“Of course there’s a hardcore poker audience,” he explained. “Those players want detailed hand breakdowns, blockers, solvers, all of that. But those people will watch anyway. My job is to make it engaging for the wider group of people who play the game socially — the ones who play poker to unwind, as a hobby. That’s the broad church we want to reach.”
That means striking a balance between analysis and fun. “Yes, we break down the key hands, but we also make sure it’s entertaining over the course of a four‑ or five‑hour broadcast. If you want people to stick around that long, you’ve got to keep them laughing too. That’s why the partnership with Joe Stapleton is so important. He brings the humor, and then we have pros like Maria Ho, Griffin Benger, or Jason Koon stepping in for deep analysis. It’s about balance.”
Commentary Beyond the EPT: A Return to the WSOP
This summer Hartigan found himself back in Las Vegas commentating on the WSOP for the first time since 2010. “It was unexpected,” he said. “But it felt a little like unfinished business. Back in 2010, I was brought in because the WSOP was just starting to experiment with live streaming, and I already had three years of EPT Live under my belt. That year, I commentated six final tables, including the November Nine won by Jonathan Duhamel. So to come back in 2025 felt like round two.”
The biggest challenge? Covering mixed games like PLO and the $50K Poker Players Championship. “They’re games I’ve played before, so I know the rules, but I had to do some prep to make sure I didn’t sound like an idiot,” he said with a laugh.
While he enjoyed the chance to be part of poker’s biggest stage, Hartigan admitted he missed the EPT crew. “I’m hugely biased, but I think we have the best poker production team in the world. Coming back to Barcelona and seeing our camera angles and graphics again — it felt like coming home.”
A Partnership Built on Friendship
For more than 15 years, Hartigan has shared the booth with Joe Stapleton, forming one of poker broadcasting’s most beloved double acts. The chemistry, he insists, is no accident.
“I really believe in any double act — you have to be genuine friends, otherwise it won’t work long‑term,” he said. “Joe and I first worked together back in 2010 on the NAPT. I thought he was great, a breath of fresh air. When PokerStars pulled out of the U.S. market, I was one of the voices saying, let’s bring him to Europe, let’s bring him to the EPT. And I’m so glad we did.”
Their partnership has since become a cornerstone of PokerStars broadcasts. “We do spend time outside of work,” Hartigan said. “You can’t fake that friendship, and I think it comes across in the booth. For me, it’s crucial — if you don’t like each other, the audience will know.”
