{{Short description|American sports commentator (born 1986)}} {{Use mdy dates|date=March 2024}} {{Infobox person | name = Jeff Platt | image = | caption = Jeff Platt at the 2021 WSOP | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1986|6|4}} | birth_place = Dallas, Texas, United States | occupation = Sports commentator | known_for = Coverage of World Series of Poker | style = Host / play-by-play | television = ESPN and PokerGO }}
'''Jeffrey Platt''' (born June 4, 1986) is an American sports commentator and professional poker player known for his work on the PokerGO break desk and as a sideline reporter for tournaments including the World Series of Poker, Poker Masters, and U.S. Poker Open. He is the host of several shows and podcasts for PokerGO and PokerNews, including ''No Gamble, No Future''.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|date=June 17, 2019|title=Plano West Grad Jeff Platt Shines in Poker Media|url=http://planomagazine.com/talent-in-spades-jeff-platt/|access-date=February 27, 2021|website=Plano Magazine|language=en-US}}</ref><ref name=":3">{{Cite web |title=pgt-website |url=https://www.pgt.com/press-releases/pokergo%C2%AE-announces-new-cash-game-show-%E2%80%98no-gamble-no-future%E2%80%99 |access-date=July 26, 2022 |website=www.pgt.com}}</ref>
== Early life and education == Platt was born in Dallas, Texas, and attended Plano West High School. Platt attended the University of Southern California and graduated with a degree in broadcast journalism.<ref name=":0" />
== Career == Platt worked as a sports anchor and reporter at CBS affiliate WJTV in Jackson, Mississippi, after graduation before returning to Dallas, Texas, to work for ESPN covering the Dallas Mavericks.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1">{{Cite web |last=Schult |first=Steve |date=September 27, 2019 |title=Poker Broadcaster Jeff Platt Goes From Covering The NBA To The World Series Of Poker |url=https://www.cardplayer.com/poker-news/24306-poker-broadcaster-jeff-platt-goes-from-covering-the-nba-to-the-world-series-of-poker |access-date=February 27, 2021 |website=Card Player}}</ref> Platt then joined Spectrum News San Antonio covering the San Antonio Spurs before finding his way into poker through his connections with Poker PROductions in 2018 which included working as a PokerNews reporter and hosting the PokerNews Podcast.<ref name=":1" /><ref>{{Cite web|last=Consolazio|first=Dave|title=CardsChat Interview: Jeff Platt Shows Up at the 2020 WSOP Online Series|url=https://www.cardschat.com/news/cardschat-interview-jeff-platt-shows-up-at-2020-wsop-online-series-91768/|access-date=February 27, 2021|website=Cardschat|date=July 12, 2020 |language=en-us}}</ref><ref name=":2">{{Cite web|title=10 Things You Didn't Know About TWC News Sports Reporter Jeff Platt|url=https://spectrumlocalnews.com/tx/austin/news/2016/01/11/10-things-you-didn-t-know-about-twc-news-sports-reporter-jeff-platt|access-date=February 27, 2021|website=spectrumlocalnews.com|language=en}}</ref>
In September 2018, a partnership between Facebook Watch, Stadium, and PokerGO launched ''Friday Night Poker'', with Platt and Brent Hanks providing play-by-play commentary, while Amanda Leatherman provided updates from the floor.<ref>{{Cite web|date=September 18, 2018|title=Poker Central and Stadium Launch "Friday Night Poker" on Facebook Watch|url=https://www.pokercentral.com/articles/poker-central-and-stadium-launch-friday-night-poker-on-facebook-watch/|access-date=February 27, 2021|website=Poker Central|language=en-US}}</ref> The 13-week season featured the $5/$10 No-Limit Hold’em cash game with a changing mix of players that included Daniel Negreanu, Antonio Esfandiari, Mike Matusow, Jennifer Harman, Bryn Kenney, Frank Kassela, Jennifer Tilly, Chris Moorman, Randall Emmett, Eli Elezra, and Phil Hellmuth.<ref>{{Cite web|date=December 15, 2018|title=There's Something Special About Friday Night Poker!|url=https://www.pokercentral.com/articles/theres-something-special-about-friday-night-poker/|access-date=February 27, 2021|website=Poker Central|language=en-US}}</ref>
In November 2019, Platt debuted his first show on PokerGO. ''The Big Blind'' was a blend of trivia and poker strategy with Platt hosting three contestants who answered poker-related questions but in a format following a limit hold’em betting structure.<ref>{{Cite web|date=December 2, 2019|title='Big Blind' Game Show Debuts on PokerGO, Host Offers Some Insight|url=https://www.uspoker.com/blog/big-blind-game-show-debuts-host-offers-insight/27379/|access-date=February 27, 2021|website=www.uspoker.com|language=en-US}}</ref> Guests included Chris Moneymaker, Norm Macdonald, Mike Matusow, Norman Chad, Alex Jacob, Ben Yu, Matt Berkey, Prahlad Friedman, and Scott Vener. The winner of Season 1 was Chad who won $15,000 in prize money.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Seaton |first=Paul |date=January 8, 2020 |title=Season 1 of The Big Blind sees champion crowned in Las Vegas |url=https://calvinayre.com/2020/01/08/poker/season-1-of-the-big-blind-sees-champion-crowned-in-las-vegas/ |access-date=February 27, 2021 |website=CalvinAyre.com |language=en-US}}</ref>
In March 2020, PokerGO announced that Platt would host ''The Championship Run'' that would review key hands from notable tournament victories. The Championship Run covered wins from the World Series of Poker, Super High Roller Bowl, Poker Masters, and U.S. Poker Open.<ref>{{Cite web|date=March 26, 2020|title=Poker Central to Launch Two New PokerGO Series - The Championship Run & Run it Back with Remko|url=https://www.pokercentral.com/articles/the-championship-run-run-it-back-with-remko-on-pokergo/|access-date=February 27, 2021|website=Poker Central|language=en-US}}</ref>
In January 2021, Platt began co-hosting ''No Gamble, No Future'' with Brent Hanks. The show airs live on Tuesdays across PokerGO’s YouTube, Facebook, and Twitch channels. Guests so far have included Nick Schulman, Phil Hellmuth, Daniel Negreanu, and Antonio Esfandiari.<ref>{{Cite web|date=January 19, 2021|title=No Gamble, No Future Premieres Today with Jeff Platt and Brent Hanks|url=https://www.pokercentral.com/articles/no-gamble-no-future-premieres-today-with-jeff-platt-and-brent-hanks/|access-date=February 27, 2021|website=Poker Central|language=en-US}}</ref>
In July 2022, No Gamble, No Future was announced as PokerGO's newest show that would provide cash game-focused entertainment. The show would be filmed at the PokerGO Studio with Platt and Hanks hosting.<ref name=":3" /> The season would run for 20 episodes on Tuesday evenings on PokerGO.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Duckworth |first=Tim |date=August 22, 2022 |title=Watch No Gamble, No Future on PokerGO |url=https://www.pgt.com/news/watch-no-gamble-no-future-on-pokergo |access-date=2024-04-07 |website=PokerGO Tour |language=en}}</ref>
The National Heads-Up Poker Championship returned in 2025 on PokerGO, and Platt was announced as the sideline host. Previous sideline hosts include Shana Hiatt, Leeann Tweeden, and Julie Donaldson.<ref>{{Cite web |title=PokerGO® and PokerStars® Announce Air Dates for the Return of the National Heads-Up Poker Championship |url=https://www.pokergo.com/news/pokergo-and-pokerstars-announce-air-dates-for-the-return-of-the-national-heads-up-poker-championship-1 |access-date=2026-01-17 |website=PokerGO |language=en}}</ref>
== Poker career == Platt began playing poker in 2008, and at the 2014 World Series of Poker he had a 203rd-place finish in the Main Event for $44,728.<ref name=":1" /> At the 2015 World Series of Poker, Platt finished 60th in the Main Event for $113,764.<ref name=":1" /><ref>{{Cite web |title=Jeffrey Platt |url=https://www.wsop.com/players/profile/?playerid=33563 |access-date=2024-04-07 |website=WSOP.com}}</ref>
In August 2019, Platt made his ''Poker After Dark'' debut during Season 10 on Open Seat week playing $25/$50 No-Limit Hold’em. In October 2019, Platt appeared on Showbound! week where he played in a $5,000 buy-in sit-n-go and finished in seventh-place.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Poker After Dark (PAD) Season X, No Limit Hold'em - Week 11 - RGPS Showbound! Event #2: Hendon Mob Poker Database|url=https://pokerdb.thehendonmob.com/event.php?a=r&n=622745|access-date=February 27, 2021|website=The Hendon Mob|language=en}}</ref>
In October 2021, Platt finished in fourth-place in Event #43: $1,000 No-Limit Hold'em Double Stack at the 2021 World Series of Poker for $160,662.<ref>{{Cite web |title=52nd World Series of Poker - WSOP 2021, No Limit Hold'em - Double Stack (Event #43) |url=https://pokerdb.thehendonmob.com/event.php?a=r&n=743407 |access-date=2024-03-30 |website=The Hendon Mob |language=en}}</ref>
In September 2022, Platt won the $1,100 No-Limit Hold'em MSPT Venetian for $100,804.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Lamers |first=Adam |date=September 6, 2022 |title=Lights Out! Jeff Platt Wins MSPT Venetian Main Event ($100,804) |url=https://www.pokernews.com/news/2022/09/lights-out-jeff-platt-wins-mspt-venetian-main-event-100-804-42023.htm |access-date=January 27, 2023 |website=PokerNews.com |language=en}}</ref>
In October 2022, Platt won his first WSOP-Circuit Online ring in the $215 No-Limit Hold'em 6-Max for $18,689.<ref>{{Cite web |date=November 9, 2022 |title=Online Circuit Series, Fall Championships Get Underway at WSOP.com |url=https://www.uspoker.com/blog/online-circuit-series-fall-championships-highlight-action-this-month-at-wsop-com/40217/ |access-date=January 27, 2023 |website=www.uspoker.com |language=en-US}}</ref>
As of January 2026, his live tournament winnings exceed $888,000.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Jeffrey Platt's profile on The Hendon Mob|url=https://pokerdb.thehendonmob.com/player.php?a=r&n=203879|access-date=February 27, 2021|website=The Hendon Mob Poker Database|language=en}}</ref>
== Personal life == Platt currently lives in Las Vegas, Nevada, and is a fan of the NBA and the Dallas Mavericks.<ref name=":2" />
== References == {{reflist}}
==External links== *[https://pokerdb.thehendonmob.com/player.php?a=r&n=203879 Hendon Mob profile] *[https://www.wsop.com/players/profile/?playerid=33563 WSOP profile]
{{DEFAULTSORT:Platt, Jeff}} Category:Poker commentators Category:Living people Category:1986 births Category:USC Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism alumni Category:Mass media people from Dallas Category:World Series of Poker Circuit event winners Category:American poker players