Poker Royalty, a talent management firm for poker players, recently announced it had signed 2008 World Series of Poker (WSOP) Main Event champion Peter Eastgate of Denmark.

So what exactly does a talent management firm do for a poker player?

According to the Poker Royalty website (www.pokerroyalty.com), the firm was founded in 2003 by poker agent Brian Balsbaugh and is a “Las Vegas-based, privately-owned and -operated full-service poker player management, marketing and representation firm specializing in the poker industry” as well as a “one-stop shop for poker-related representation, marketing, corporate poker consulting, event management, poker speaking, appearance requests and licensing opportunities.”

Specifically, what does that mean?

The site explains: “If your client or company is getting a bit tired of the typical golf tournament or company retreat, you should consider hosting a poker event at your next company function! No matter how large or small your group size is, Poker Royalty will help you organize and conduct your own professional or corporate poker event. Whether it is a large tournament with several tables or an intimate corporate event for your key customers and clients, Poker Royalty can assist with the entire process.

“Poker Royalty will manage every aspect and detail of running your corporate poker event. We will design the event to work within your specified time frame for the event, supply the tables, chips, dealers and, most importantly, well-recognized professional poker players that will coach your players, announce the final table and provide autograph and photo opportunities that will make your corporate poker event memorable for all that attend.”

The website then notes previous events that Poker Royalty has handled, including corporate event appearances, poker camps, poker clinics, trade shows, motivational speeches, team building meetings, professional poker tournaments and charity poker events.

Among the companies that have hired Poker Royalty talent for their events, the site notes, are Home Box Office (HBO), EBay, Self magazine, Disney, Stuff magazine, FOX Sports, Pepsi, Bank of America, Morgan Stanley, Honeywell, Canadian Club, Cuervo, Jim Beam, Yahoo!, Becks, Omega, Playboy magazine, Goldman Sachs and NetFlix.

In addition to Eastgate, the Poker Royalty website says the firm represents poker pros Josh Arieh, Johnny “The Orient Express” Chan, T. J. Cloutier, Hoyt Corkins, Bill Edler, Antonio “The Magician” Esfandiari, Ted Forrest, Gus “The Great Dane” Hansen, Phil “Poker Brat” Hellmuth Jr., Erick Lindgren, Jeff Madsen, Michael “The Grinder” Mizrachi, Carlos “The Matador” Mortensen, Daniel “Kid Poker” Negreanu, Evelyn Ng, Scotty Nguyen, David Pham, Greg “Fossilman” Raymer, Gavin Smith, Cyndy Violette, David Williams and Paul Wasicka.

Poker Royalty also notes it reps celebrities who play poker, including porn model Cindy Margolis, Los Angeles Lakers owner Dr. Jerry Buss and former Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Orel Hershiser.

(E-mail Tom Somach at tomsomach@yahoo.com.) =A0