Long serving PokerStars pro Jason Mercier is leaving the brand in order to spend more time his new family.
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Jason Mercier waves goodbye to PokerStars to spend more time with his young son. (Image: PokerStars.com)
With his contract coming to an end at the close of 2017, Mercier has taken stock of his options and decided to play less poker. News of his decision to part ways with the world’s largest online poker site came via the company’s blog on January 7, 2018.
The Perfect Day to Say Goodbye
Mercier had pondered his decision for a while, but decided to write down his thoughts on January 6; a date which was significant for two reasons. In a professional sense, January 6 marked the start of the 2018 PokerStars Caribbean Adventure (PCA).
The popular festival was the first live event Mercier attended after building up his reputation and bankroll online. Since entering his first PCA events, Mercier has been a regular fixture at the Atlantis Resort in The Bahamas.
This year, however, is the first time he’s missed the action in a decade and it’s because of his young son, Marco. With Marco’s three-month birthday also falling on January 6, Mercier felt there was no better time to explain his decision to end an eight-and-a-half year working relationship.
Family Means More than Poker Titles
Unlike many that have left the poker community over the years, Mercier hasn’t found a new career. For him, the decision to not renew his PokerStars’ contract was down to his family and a commitment to travel less.
With a young son and a budding marriage, Mercier wants to spend more time with those closest to him and not have to endure the often-demanding travel schedule of a tournament pro.
“Do I even want to travel now? How much can I travel? Should I continue playing poker so much? How’s it going to be on the road with a baby?” Mercier pondered in his blog post.
As well as the practicalities of travelling with a young son causing, Mercier has also had a change of perspective in the last three months. Becoming a father, in his opinion, has caused him to think less about what he wants to achieve in life and more about his son’s future.
“I no longer let myself be so concerned with what I want, but more so the wellbeing of my wife and my child (and future children). Serving and leading my family is of utmost importance,” explained Mercier.
All things considered, the American pro decided to call time on his contract and reduce his playing schedule. Although he plans to play in this summer’s World Series of Poker (WSOP) and other select events, his time in the spotlight will be reduced considerably.
For its part, PokerStars thanked Mercier for his support over the years and paid tribute to a career that’s seen him amass numerous titles and more than $18.5 million in live tournament winnings.
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