Content Editor
Since entering the gambling industry in the mid-2000s, Martin has worked in both freelance and full-time capacities, documenting some of the most transformative periods in modern gaming. He covered the surge of interest during the poker boom, tracked the rise of daily fantasy sports, reported on the state-by-state rollout of legalized sports betting, and continues to follow the growth of social casinos and sweepstakes-based platforms.
Martin’s professional background includes extensive experience as both a content creator and editor for prominent gaming brands, with long stretches at PokerStars and PokerNews among his career highlights. In addition to his industry work, he has spent more than 25 years teaching college-level courses in writing, literature, and film, experience that shapes his structured, research-driven editorial style.
His book "Poker & Pop Culture: Telling the Story of America’s Favorite Card Game" offers a comprehensive look at poker’s development and its depiction across film, television, music, and broader popular culture, and was recognized with a Global Poker Award for Media Content of the Year.
Outside of gambling coverage, Martin has devoted significant attention to horror and science fiction cinema, publishing academic studies as well as creative works, including two novels. His latest essay collection, "Horror and Science Fiction Cinema and Society," was released by Routledge in late 2024.
For more than 20 years, Martin Harris has covered the gambling industry as both a writer and editor, building his career during the height of the poker boom. Early on, his reporting frequently put him on the tournament trail, from recurring trips to the World Series of Poker in Las Vegas to stops at major events throughout the United States. His work has also carried him well beyond U.S. borders, with firsthand coverage of poker tournaments and gaming events in Europe, South America, Asia, and Africa.
While poker was his original focus, Martin’s scope has broadened considerably in recent years to include the full spectrum of regulated gambling, from online and retail casinos to sports betting, prediction markets, and social and sweepstakes platforms. He regularly evaluates sites through direct play, testing online casinos in states such as West Virginia and across other regulated markets, spending time at virtual tables playing blackjack, baccarat, roulette, poker, and other games while rotating through his favorite slot titles.
Martin holds a Ph.D. in English and has written extensively in both academic and popular contexts. His book Poker & Pop Culture: Telling the Story of America’s Favorite Card Game earned industry recognition, and he has published numerous other scholarly works over the years. He lives with his family, a cat, and four horses on a farm in North Carolina, where he balances writing with part-time teaching in the American Studies program at UNC Charlotte, along with longtime interests in sports, music, and reading.
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 Cincinnati Kid, California Split, The Sting
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
My path began during the online poker boom of the early to mid-2000s, when I started a blog to write about my own play and other gambling-related topics (strictly for fun). What began as a hobby soon evolved into freelance work, and eventually that became a full-time career covering a wide range of gambling topics.
The biggest transformation has been how quickly legalized sports betting and online casinos moved gambling from a niche interest into a highly visible, mainstream form of entertainment. In my book Poker & Pop Culture, I write about how gambling has been perceived negatively in American society throughout much of its history. That perception has changed a lot even since 2019, when my book was published.
Many people believe they are “due” for a win after a losing streak, but each spin, roll, or hand is independent, and past results have no influence on future outcomes.
I appreciate sites that offer a bankroll “vault” feature, since separating funds from active play can help maintain discipline and reduce impulsive decisions.
I always emphasize responsible play first, including setting limits and keeping detailed records, because understanding your own results is more valuable than chasing shortcuts. Keeping track of your play has a huge impact in this regard. In the case of strategy-based games like poker, doing so can also help you become a better player.
While poker remains my favorite, I’m also drawn to blackjack for its strategic elements, along with baccarat, roulette, and occasionally craps for variety. I like other pure-chance games like Dice and Limbo, too, for testing out wagering strategies and learning about probabilities.
I focus on licensing and regulatory compliance first, then test the games, banking process, customer support, and overall usability to assess how the site performs in real-world play.
Prediction markets have quickly become one of the most intriguing developments, and I’m interested in how they might continue to reshape both sports wagering and broader public engagement with forecasting events.
