Content Editor
Martin has been active in the gambling industry since the mid-2000s, working both freelance and full-time while covering major developments such as the poker boom, the emergence of daily fantasy sports, the rapid expansion of sports betting, and the growth of social and sweepstakes platforms and prediction markets.
Martin brings a deep background in writing and editing across a range of industry outlets, including extended tenures with PokerStars and PokerNews. In addition, he has more than 25 years of experience teaching college-level courses in writing, literature, and film.
His book "Poker & Pop Culture: Telling the Story of America’s Favorite Card Game" — a wide-ranging look at poker’s history and its portrayal across film, television, music, and popular culture — earned the Global Poker Award for Media Content of the Year.
In addition to his work on poker, Martin has authored books and articles exploring horror and science fiction cinema, as well as two novels. His latest essay collection, "Horror and Science Fiction Cinema and Society," was published by Routledge in late 2024.
Martin Harris is a gambling writer and editor with more than two decades of experience covering the industry. Early in his career, he spent years traveling to report from major poker tournaments across the United States, including regular stops at the World Series of Poker in Las Vegas, while also covering events throughout Europe, South America, Asia, and Africa.
In recent years, Martin has broadened his focus to include other areas of legal gambling, such as online and retail casino games, daily fantasy sports, sports betting, social and sweepstakes platforms, and prediction markets. Along the way, he has developed a particular interest in sweepstakes play, regularly logging time on games like blackjack, baccarat, roulette, and select slot titles.
Martin holds a Ph.D. in English and is the author of several academic works and books, including the award-winning Poker & Pop Culture: Telling the Story of America’s Favorite Card Game. He lives with his family on a horse farm in North Carolina and enjoys watching sports, making music, reading, writing, and teaching part-time in the American Studies program at UNC Charlotte.
Catena Media
Content Editor
2020-present
PokerNews, PokerStars, World Poker Tour
Poker Reporter
2008-2019
UNC Charlotte, American Studies program
Adjunct Professor
2011-present
University of Indiana at Bloomington
Ph.D., English
2000
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
M.A., English
1994
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
B.A., English
1990
UNC Tar Heels, Carolina Panthers, Charlotte Hornets
DOOK (i.e., Duke)
The Bad News Bears (the 1976 original, not the terrible remake)
Short-Stacked Shamus
Global Poker Award, Media Content of the Year (2019)
for Poker & Pop Culture: Telling the Story of America’s Favorite Card Game
I started playing online during the early 2000s “poker boom,” which quickly led to writing and reporting on the game.
The scale of growth has been remarkable, with online gambling becoming far more mainstream and widely accepted than it once was. Even during the “poker boom,” the idea of gambling online was always under siege and being questioned (or threatened) by lawmakers and certain segments of society. Those debates continue, of course, but gambling is generally much more accepted today.
The gambler’s fallacy is a big one. People often think past results influence future outcomes when they don’t. I also hear “card counting” mentioned in poker, even though it’s only relevant to blackjack.
Poker is still my go-to, but I also enjoy blackjack, baccarat, and video poker. I like to wager on sports occasionally, too.
Winning a poker tournament in Kyiv, Ukraine, is one that definitely stands out.
For the e-book version of Poker & Pop Culture, I created a “Top 100 Poker Movies” list and put The Cincinnati Kid, California Split, and The Sting in the top three spots. A Big Hand for the Little Lady and The Odd Couple are both great, too, and A Streetcar Named Desire has a phenomenal poker scene that is central to the story.
Keep detailed records of your play and stay honest about your results. That’s more valuable than any short-term tip.
I like both. Online platforms offer significant convenience, while in-person settings provide a more social and immersive experience. If I had to choose, I’d probably play online because I can play for lower stakes there and also avoid the expense of getting to and from the venue.
