Adverts may be selling products or services, but they often ring true with viewers.
Humour, imagery, and storylines from advertising can resonate and expand into the greater world of pop culture.
Poker is one of the most popular games in the world. So, it’s no wonder some betting and bluffing have infiltrated the world of commercials over the years. Major companies and products have featured the game to reach viewers and hopefully spur on sales.
With that in mind, here’s a look at 10 top poker-related adverts and a few extras.
Table of Contents
1 – Kenny Rogers Takes a Seat at the Poker Table
What’s it like playing poker with Kenny Rogers? The Gambler himself made an appearance in one of the more memorable poker commercials in recent years.
GEICO earned plenty of accolades with this ad, featuring the man many associate with the game because of his hit song “The Gambler.”
What’s it like playing with Kenny? GEICO tried to answer that question, and Rogers can’t resist belting out a few lines from that former No. 1 song from 1978.
That may seem like a once-in-a-lifetime experience, but these poker buddies don’t seem too impressed.
2 – The Poker Brat Grabs a Big Burger
No stranger to repping brands and companies, Phil Hellmuth teamed up with the Carls Jr. hamburger chain in 2014. The company’s commercial featured the 16-time World Series of Poker champion doubling down with a Texas Barbecue Thickburger.
The burger is thick, complete with a Black Angus patty, smoked brisket, crispy jalapeno and onion strings, and a slice of American cheese. It comes in one-third and one-half pound options.
No word on how big Hellmuth’s was for the commercial, but it indeed looks large.
Surprisingly, the Poker Brat doesn’t have any lines in the commercial. He sports his regular black shirt, dark sunglasses, and his “PH” hat before chomping into a Thickburger.
Hellmuth appears to be a big fan of hamburgers, even chewing down some during play on PokerGO’s High Stakes Duel. A burger at the table? Apparently, it’s an appropriate fit for Hellmuth.
3 – Can’t Stomach This Game
An upset stomach doesn’t make for a fun night of poker with friends. Alka-Seltzer hoped to help players kick nausea in 1972. This ad has a home poker game in full effect, but one player finds the night’s meal a bit worse than even his cards.
“I can take losing,” he says. “I can’t take the pastrami.”
A quick cup of Alka-Seltzer, and this unlucky player is back in the action. Hopefully, an improved disposition sees his cards get better as well.
4 – No Clothes, No Problem
M&M’S candy got a bit risqué with this commercial from 2007 that sees four friends playing a game of strip poker by the pool. A couple of the M&M characters are also a part of the action -- one regular and one peanut.
After the red M&M shows a winning hand, his opponent isn’t so crazy about undressing in front of the others. It seems this M&M is just a bit too shy.
“I don’t want to show my peanut in public,” the bashful nut M&M says.
Considering M&Ms don’t have much to consider in the way of clothing, it seems their chances of winning a real game of strip poker are pretty slim anyway.
5 – A Nice Draw
The World Poker Tour announced a partnership with TrueScribe.com in 2017. The collaboration allowed players and fans to submit their own stories with a chance to win an entry into a WPT Main Event. True Scribe creates custom whiteboard graphics that featured prominently in the commercial.
The late-poker legend and WPT commentator Mike Sexton narrates the ad. It spot features some amazing whiteboard drawings including a fun pic of Sexton manning the microphone.
This poker campaign came with great graphics in a unique commercial. True Scribe is still around if you need some personal poker whiteboard graphics.
6 – A Game Gone Too Far
This commercial brings plenty of fun (including a twist ending) that was a bit too racy for TV. The ad coaxes viewers to “feel young again”, which comes through in the final clip.
The commercial never aired on regular TV but has seen plenty of views on YouTube.
7 – Halloween Hold’em
This advert for Spectrum TV service features a poker game with plenty of characters at the table –
- Ventriloquist’s dummy
- Werewolf
- Mummy
- Vampire
An argument breaks out among these huge personalities with a comment on television service perceived as a personal insult.
The fur flies as the players discuss the elephant, er -- werewolf, in the room. The TV at this game doesn’t allow viewers to pause, rewind, fast forward – and there’s no Showtime.
This is a nightmare scenario, and the poker host is told it just might be time to change television service.
8 – A Winning Night With Wendy
A new kid is at the poker table in this commercial for Wendy’s hamburger chain. When the newbie mentions how much he likes the new Wendy's salad, the wise guys at the table get a little suspicious.
“Salads don’t taste good,” one of these burly mobsters asked the new salad fan at the table. Another inquires: “Are you wearing a wire, kid?”
Parmesan or not, these guys aren’t having any of it and toss this new player out like the 9-2 off-suit. However, there is a surprise ending, and these mafiosos may have been more on target than viewers were led to believe.
9 – I’ll Raise You Some High Heels
Poker even made an appearance in the 2022 Super Bowl, brought to you by the Rakuten marketing company. “Ted Lasso” actress Hannah Waddingham stars in this one and is seen at the table in a high-stakes poker game.
Her hand must be pretty good as she makes hefty bets with some of the merchandise purchased using the Rakuten shopping app.
From high heels to a robot vacuum, two opponents go back and forth, raising the pot. Who comes out ahead in the end? Whichever player takes the pot may need to add some closet space.
The poker may not be accurate, but it’s a fun commercial that puts the game under a massive spotlight.
10 – Breakfast Sandwich Shootout
The winner in this ad for Dunkin’ Donuts scores a decent pot and a tasty breakfast sandwich. But this losing player has come prepared, breaking out a second sandwich complete with a “Boom.”
She may have lost this particular pot, but that 2-for-$5 deal undoubtedly paid off.
