Alleging unpaid commissions and a broken promise of a 5% ownership stake in the company, former poker ambassador Bryn Kenney has sued GGPoker's parent companies and its chief executive.
The legal argument centers on a commercial relationship starting in 2018. Reportedly, Kenney asserts that Mansoo Kim, the company's chief executive, promised him a part of the company in return for his efforts to develop the online poker platform.
The lawsuit asks for financial damages and access to company records. In court, the accusations have not been substantiated.
Bryn Kenney claims he helped grow the platform by bringing players and agents into its network. He argues that his work contributed to the company's growth and that the promised 5% stake formed part of his agreement with its leadership.
However, the former GGPoker ambassador alleges that the ownership arrangement was never formally recognized. He is presently trying to assert his rights under the claimed contract.
The World Series of Poker (WSOP) brand's acquisition in 2024 and the growth of the company have helped to draw attention to the claim. Worth $500 million, the agreement signaled a significant change in the poker business.
The financial consequences might be great if a court determines a legitimate ownership agreement to have existed. However, the value of any potential claim would depend on the agreement's terms and the evidence presented during the proceedings.
The lawsuit also raises questions about commissions earned through player referrals through the GGPoker platform.
Gambling news and reports show Bryn Kenney made about $5 million in commission income in 2019. He claims the business later took players off his affiliate network, lowered commission rates, and made deductions he had not approved.
With the reported fall-back of more than $3 million from his prior income, he asserts these revisions drastically decreased his yearly income.
Online poker often uses affiliate agreements whereby partners get paid for bringing players to a platform. How operators count commissions, distribute player accounts, and apply changes to current contracts can cause issues.
In this case, the central issue is whether the company followed the terms of its arrangement with Kenney and whether the disputed payments were properly handled.
The lawsuit asks compensation for the supposed damages. Should there be any, the court's evaluation of the claims and related financial documents would determine the ultimate sum.
The legal complaint also reportedly raises concerns about cheating controls and the handling of game integrity issues.
Bryn Kenney claims Kim had promised him the site had strong safeguards against cheating. He claims he discovered methodical cheating later and adds he was then held accountable for issues related to games he oversaw.
These claims add another layer to the dispute, although they remain separate from the questions surrounding commissions and ownership.
The allegations also come against the backdrop of earlier public accusations involving Kenney. In 2022, former staking associate Martin Zamani made separate cheating allegations against him. These allegations are separate from the lawsuit currently pending and cannot be considered evidence of misconduct in this case.
The outcome of the proceedings will decide whether the allegations proceed and what evidence needs to be provided.
For GGPoker, the case raises questions about business agreements between ambassadors and relationships with professional players. For Kenney, the lawsuit represents an attempt to recover money he says he is owed and establish his rights under the alleged ownership deal.
Neither side has established its case in court. The court will decide the case after reviewing the evidence and applying the law.
