Bryn Kenney is taking the companies behind his former sponsor GGPoker to court, claiming a promised 5% ownership stake never materialized and his player commissions were systematically reduced.
The lawsuit brings allegations of breach of contract and fraud against NSUS Group, NSUS Limited, chief executive Mansoo Kim and Global Gaming & Hospitality LLC.
The dispute concerns agreements Kenney says rewarded his role in growing the poker business. It also includes allegations that he was misled about anti-cheating protections, adding a security dispute to the disagreement over money and ownership. NEXT.io reported the allegations on October 14.
From GGPoker Ambassador to Courtroom Opponent
Kenney was an early public face of GGPoker, signing an endorsement agreement in March 2018. According to NEXT.io’s account of the complaint, Kim allegedly proposed expanding that relationship in August to include a 5% equity interest and commissions from players Kenney recruited.
Kenney says the ownership promise was never honored. His ambassador role ended in 2020, but the lawsuit concerns financial arrangements he alleges extended beyond a straightforward sponsorship deal.
That distinction matters because promoting a poker room and owning part of its business carry different financial rights. The case will require the court to examine what was agreed, which defendants were responsible and whether those obligations were breached.
Millions in Disputed Player Commissions
The commission allegations concern the revenue generated by players brought to the platform through Kenney’s network. He claims he received approximately $5 million in commissions in 2019 before changes reduced his annual income by more than $3 million compared with earlier earnings.
The alleged practices included removing recruited players from his network, making unauthorized deductions and reducing commission rates. He also alleges agents working through him were approached about moving their accounts under company control.
Kenney is seeking damages and an accounting to establish what he says remains unpaid. The reported annual reduction should not be mistaken for a final damages figure or an amount the court has awarded.
The WSOP Purchase Adds Another Layer
The ownership claim reaches into the period when NSUS acquired the World Series of Poker brand. Kenney alleges his promised equity interest was not recognized or accounted for in connection with that transaction.
Caesars completed the $500 million sale of the WSOP intellectual property rights to NSUS on October 29, 2024. The agreement comprised $250 million in cash and a further $250 million promissory note payable five years after closing.
The acquisition price does not establish the value of Kenney’s alleged stake. NSUS was purchasing the WSOP assets, and the transaction was not a public valuation of the entire GGPoker business.
Kenney’s Tournament Record Behind the Headlines
Kenney has recorded more than $90.8 million in live tournament cashes, according to The Hendon Mob. His career includes a runner-up finish in the 2019 Triton Million for Charity and victory in the $250,000 Luxon Invitational in London in 2023.
He also holds two WSOP bracelets. Those results establish his standing as one of poker’s most successful tournament players, although recorded cashes represent payouts before entry fees, expenses and any staking arrangements.
Security Allegations and the Zamani Background
The complaint also alleges Kenney received misleading assurances about anti-cheating measures. That claim remains disputed and does not establish that the operator knowingly permitted cheating.
Readers looking for background on the room’s published software restrictions, security policies and account conditions can find those details in our GGPoker review and analysis.
There is a separate history involving Kenney and former staking associate Martin Zamani. In 2022, Zamani publicly accused Kenney of misconduct involving backed players, including ghosting, collusion and real-time assistance. Kenney denied wrongdoing.
Zamani is himself an established professional, with more than $8.4 million in recorded live tournament cashes and two WSOP bracelets. His earlier allegations are separate from the contractual claims now before the Nevada court.
What Happens Next?
Court documents confirm the action began in Nevada state court on July 2, 2026, before being removed to federal court on August 25. Kim filed a motion to dismiss on September 23.
An October 9 order set Kenney’s deadline to oppose that motion for October 14, with Kim’s reply due October 26. The hearing is scheduled for November 12 before US District Judge Jennifer A. Dorsey.
That hearing concerns the dismissal motion, and no trial date is set. The financial promises, alleged commission reductions and fraud allegations remain claims to be tested through the legal process.
