Joe Stapleton “Stapes ” Leaving PokerStars After 15 Years

Joe Stapleton “Stapes” announced over the weekend that he will be leaving PokerStars after over 15 years. The now legendary poker announcer has been a mainstay at EPT events since 2011.

Stapleton said on his X account that the upcoming EPT Monte Carlo series will be his final event as a PokerStars announcer. He said the decision was a mutual and amicable one, as it appears he wants to spend less time on the road due to “recent exciting personal life changes”.

Stapes’ Legacy on Poker Commentary

The 43-year-old Los Angeles stand-up comedian got his start in poker through a podcast, until PokerStars gave him the chance to go on television. As he put it:

15 years ago, they took a chance putting a snarky kid from a podcast onto actual television. And when that show was sunk by Black Friday, they had the absolute cheek to put me on European television.

After many years of working PokerStars EPT events with his primary co-host James Hartigan, who bemoaned the “end of an era“, “Stapes” has become a household name in the poker world as his voice has become synonymous with many viral moments from the EPT. He became known for a unique humorous approach to poker commentary, which many have emulated since on various poker streams.

He coined several catchphrases that many in poker repeat at the tables, most notably “Everyone loves a chop pot!” which is now repeated at every level of the game, almost every time a pot is split due to a tie.

A long-running comedy bit that Stapleton never missed a chance to bring up was the “hole cards” vs. “hold cards” debate when referring to the two down cards in Texas Hold’em.

Stapes on the Felt

Stapleton has been a fixture in poker commentary for a decade and a half. But he keeps his poker expertise to the booth as he has not been very active on the felt in those years. He has only 10 recorded cashes over the years, with the first one not coming until 2018, several years into his poker announcing career.

Most of his cashes have come in smaller, low-stakes events. which shows he plays poker just for fun, and competition from time to time.

Peers Heap Praise on Stapes

The reaction to the announcement was overwhelmingly positive toward Stapes, with almost everyone wishing him well and congratulating him for an impressive run from fellow poker media peers to players alike. Many provided a humorous quip or good-natured insult to emulate Stapes’ signature style.

Another poker commentary legend, Norman Chad joked that he is grateful to see Stapes leaving PokerStars and that he will now be taking his place on the EPT broadcasts.

For 15 years I have toiled on PokerStars’ non-English broadcasts, patiently waiting for Stapes to vacate their English broadcasts. That day finally has come. I look forward to joining James Hartigan on EPT streams later this year.

Stand-Up Comedian Career

Outside of poker, Stapes is a stand-up comic who goes on tour regularly. His tour dates are updated on his website, along with other ventures such as graphic novels. His next upcoming comedy tour is from June 14th to July 5th, promoting himself as “that one guy from poker”.

Stapes often tied his comedy to poker as he would routinely have stand-up comedy events for poker players at a variety of poker events.

Jeffrey McMillan

Poker Writer

Jeffrey is an Expert Sports and Poker Writer with poker being his specific scope for the better part of five years. He has worked in various capacities at the biggest poker events in the world, WSOP, EPT, local tournaments and more. He has worked with PokerNews, Poker.Org, 888poker and the WSOP itself through the years. Jeff is also a fervent follower of many sports, professional, collegiate and international, with a particular interest in tennis. He received a Master's in Sports Management from the University of the Incarnate Word (UIW) and a Bachelors in the same field from Clemson University.