Martin Harris is a Content Editor for Legal Sports Report. He lives in North Carolina and has reported on poker, gambling, and sports betting for various outlets since the mid-2000s. His career includes extensive experience reporting on online poker and from numerous poker tours, including the World Series of Poker, the World Poker Tour, the European Poker Tour, the Latin American Poker Tour, and the Asian Pacific Poker Tour.
In 2019, Martin’s book, Poker & Pop Culture: Telling the Story of America’s Favorite Card Game, was published by D&B Books. The book covers the history of poker in the United States with special emphasis on the game’s depiction in literature, film, music, and other mainstream contexts. In 2020, the book won a Global Poker Award for Written Media Content of the Year.
Martin has an English Ph.D. and has taught full- or part-time at multiple colleges and universities since the 1990s. He teaches courses on poker, politics, and film in the American Studies program at UNC Charlotte. He currently lives on a horse farm in North Carolina with his family, where he enjoys rooting for the Panthers, Hornets, and Tar Heels (and rooting against Duke).
Professional experience & education
- Catena Media — Content Editor, 2020-present
- PokerNews, PokerStars, World Poker Tour — Poker Reporter, 2008-2019
- UNC Charlotte — Adjunct Professor, American Studies program, 2011-present
- University of Indiana at Bloomington — Ph.D., English, 2000
- University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill — M.A., English, 1992
- University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill — B.A., English, 1990
Martin Harris around the web
Q & A with Martin Harris
What first drew you to write about poker and gambling?
I was swept up by the online poker “boom” of the early 2000s and the online subculture surrounding those early games. I love poker in particular for all the stories and characters it produces. I soon started a poker blog, began writing for various outlets about poker and other gambling topics, and before long, it became a full-time focus and career.
What is the most remarkable development you’ve witnessed in the gambling industry?
The rise of online poker in the US during the 2000s was followed by a dramatic fall starting in 2011 with “Black Friday.” By contrast, the rise of sports betting that followed PASPA’s fall in 2018 has taken a different direction, with broader mainstream acceptance of various forms of gambling. That’s a trajectory that remains fascinating to watch evolve.
What advice do you give to those curious about sports betting or other types of gambling?
My first recommendation is never to gamble with funds you cannot afford to lose. After that, I always advise learning as much as you can about whatever you are wagering on. Learn and understand the odds, and always know exactly how much you’re risking, how much the potential reward might be, and the expected value of every bet you make. Always keep accurate records of your play as well, which can be helpful in several ways.
What is your favorite type of sports wager?
I enjoy low-stakes “pick’em” contests that let me root for particular sides in lots of games without having to risk too much. Bracket pools are fun in a similar way.
What online casino games do you enjoy?
Poker will always be my first favorite game, but I also like playing blackjack while applying basic strategy. I usually gravitate toward the non-slots options at online casinos, especially those (like blackjack or video poker) that have a skill element, although I like roulette and baccarat, too.
