Marc Joseph has been instrumental in shaping the South African poker landscape, both as a professional player and a tournament organizer. With a career spanning over a decade, Joseph has impressive live tournament results while also revolutionizing the country’s poker scene through the Monster Jam Poker Tour, now rebranded as the SunBet Poker Tour. His efforts have not only elevated poker in South Africa but also integrated the nation’s players into the global competitive circuit.
Marc Joseph’s Early Life and Professional Poker Career
Before becoming a force in South African poker, Marc Joseph began his journey as a professional player, participating in live tournaments worldwide and securing numerous money finishes and trophies. His breakthrough came in 2009 when he scored his first live cash of $8,264 for finishing seventh in the PokerAce Poker Tournament.
In 2012, Joseph claimed his first live poker title, winning the Royal Swazi Rumble ZAR 10K NLH for $38,661. He continued his form by securing his first WPT title in the same year, winning a No-Limit Hold’em event at WPT National Mauritius for $10,326.
His momentum carried into 2015 when he took down his second WPT title at the WPT Johannesburg ZAR 40K NLH High Roller, earning a hefty $63,874 – his career best score to date. In 2017, he won the Big Roller Semi at WPT Emperors Palace National Poker Championship, claiming $ 8,181 in top prize money. The year 2021 saw him win a PLO event at Monster Jam Poker Tour for $ 3,115.
While actively competing, Joseph also played a crucial role in organizing South Africa’s richest poker series, the SunBet Poker Tour. His notable finishes include a runner-up spot in the 2022 WPT Prime Cambodia Mini High Roller for $20,000 and another second-place finish in the 2024 WPT Cambodia Championship Warm-Up, pocketing $54,000. He also claimed his first USOP trophy in 2024, winning the USOP Hai Phong Short Deck NLH for $4,599.
Most recently, Joseph participated in the WPT Cambodia series, cashing in multiple events, including the Main Event, the Megastack Event, and the Mystery Bounty Event, accumulating over $5,000. With 71 career cashes, his total live earnings have surpassed $512,000.
Marc Joseph’s Role in Shaping South Africa’s Poker Scene
Marc Joseph has played a pivotal role in the rapid growth and professionalization of poker in South Africa. As the CEO of the Monster Jam Poker Tour, later rebranded as the SunBet Poker Tour, he has transformed the country’s poker scene into one of the most competitive and rewarding in the world.
Joseph co-founded the Monster Jam Poker Tour in 2015, securing a crucial partnership with Sun International, one of Africa’s largest casino groups. This collaboration allowed the tour to expand across multiple stops, hosting world-class tournaments at premier venues throughout South Africa. Under his leadership, the SunBet Poker Tour has become Africa’s richest poker tournament series, regularly generating million-dollar prize pools.
Beyond organizing tournaments, Joseph has worked closely with Hendon Mob and the Global Poker Index to integrate South African players into global rankings. He also launched key initiatives such as the “Race to Vegas” leaderboard which is like the SunBet Poker Tour’s Player of the Year award. These programs reward the top 10 players with an opportunity to compete at the WSOP, with the top three receiving a Main Event ticket, and the remaining seven receiving flight tickets, accommodations, and spending money.
In 2022, the tour’s total buy-ins approached R80 million. The 2023 SunBet Poker Tour’s Time Square series recorded over R11.5 million in total prize pools, a figure that was surpassed in 2024 when the series paid out over R14 million. The most recent SPT Main Event saw Stephen Courtney emerge victorious, claiming a portion of the R4 million guaranteed prize pool by outlasting over 300 competitors.
Marc Joseph’s contributions continue to push South African poker onto the global stage, cementing the country as a key destination for high-stakes competition. Joseph also is planning to collaborate with online poker platforms in Asia to give Asian players a chance to compete for glory at the SunBet Poker Tour.
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