In the past few weeks, President-elect Donald Trump has been putting together his team and other government jobs. One of these jobs is a poker player. Bill Long (R-Missouri), who lost to Joe Biden (D) in 2016, is Trump’s choice to lead the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) when he becomes president on January 20, 2025. This is four years after losing to Biden and being fired from the job.
Billy Long: The Poker Player Becomes IRS Commissioner
Donald Trump appoints former Missouri U.S. Representative Billy Long as IRS chief. Long has a deep history with the game of poker himself, as he served in Congress between 2011 and 2023. While recorded live tournament play shows his official earnings at just over $6,000, The Hendon Mob reports that Long regularly participated in cash games at local poker houses, local tournaments, and top-tier events like the World Poker Tour (WPT) since his departure from Congress in 2022.
There are unusual elements to Long’s selection to lead the IRS. Not only does he possess a background as a politician and business owner, but his proficiency in poker, a game rich in strategy, risk management, and decision-making, has caused some controversy. In the past, some political opponents have criticized Long’s fundraising efforts, particularly a $1,000-per-person poker night fundraiser in 2015.
A New Compass for the IRS By Donald Trump?
Trump’s choice of Long comes as the IRS is facing scrutiny. The Biden administration did attempt to increase the auditing capacity of the I.R.S., a step that met opposition from conservative lawmakers. Political analysts expect that a Trump government will scale back IRS funding and could push the agency toward being more taxpayer-friendly. Given Long’s background as a businessman, politician, and poker player, he might approach the IRS with pragmatism, efficiency, and more consideration about how aggressively to pursue tax delinquents.
The IRS Commissioner is in a critical position in maintaining the functionality of the nation’s tax system. This person is responsible for IRS policies, programs, and performance. People with knowledge of what’s to come say they expect Long’s time in the agency will involve cutting down on the bureaucratic structure of the agency and pivoting towards policies that simplify the tax code for everyday Americans.
One of the biggest questions is whether Long’s poker connections will affect his views on gambling-related taxes. His history as a poker player may make some wonder if he would take a more forgiving view of taxing professional players or casino operators. Poker, a game of skill as well as entertainment, has long found itself the subject of complex rules in U.S. tax systems, with professional players being required to classify their winnings as income.
A Late-Breaker with Stocks and Business Acumen By Donald Trump
On his Truth Social platform, Donald Trump endorsed Long due to his extensive business background. “Billy has had 32 years of experience running his own business in real estate and is one of the top auctioneers in the country,” Trump wrote. “He was then in Congress for 12 years because he felt it was important that his constituents had a representative who signed the front of a check!”
Another part of Long’s credentials is his background as an auctioneer. Auctioneering involves negotiation, a keen understanding of value, and an ability to navigate intricate transactions—skills that might well come in handy in administering the complexities of the nation’s tax system. Long’s over a decade of experience serving in Congress also gives him insight into how government and policy work, making him perhaps the best candidate for this vital position.
Controversy and criticism
Long’s ties to poker, however, have not been without controversy. The poker fundraising events, particularly the $1,000-per-person poker night in 2015, have also infuriated some Democrats. Critics said the event struck them as tone-deaf to the everyday concerns of Long’s constituents, especially during a moment when many Americans were under financial strain. “As much as Billy Long spends time in Las Vegas, it’s like he doesn’t even operate in Springfield (MO) or Washington D.C.,” a blogger noted at the time, an observation intended to draw attention to Long’s love of high-stakes gambling and fundraising operations.
Furthermore, Long’s cavalier attitude toward his opulent poker-playing lifestyle has fueled accusations of a lack of commitment to the duties of public office. His votes during Trump’s impeachment proceedings in 2019—one of which he was captured on camera so distracted that he had a wad of cash sagging from his pocket—only added to the sense that maybe he cared more about certain hobbies than his job. An enterprising Reddit user discovered the moment, which has since become a source of contention among those criticizing Long’s judgment, and it went viral.
Yet Long remains a favorite in much of the Republican Party, especially for his straightforward approach to business and government. His extensive experience in the private sector and decades in Congress have earned him a reputation for his willingness to challenge conventional wisdom.
More Poker Connections in Trump’s Cabinet
It’s not only Long who has a poker connection in Trump’s cabinet choices. Businessman Frank Bisignano, whom Trump chose to lead the Social Security Administration, also has poker connections. In 2020, Bisignano competed in a virtual charity poker tournament run by New York City’s Mount Sinai Health System. The event raised $1.4 million for the hospital’s front-line workers during the COVID-19 pandemic and included a host of celebrity poker players such as Jason Alexander, Brad Garrett, and Bryan Cranston. His participation in the tournament only added to an expanding roster of influential figures within Trump’s orbit with connections in poker.
The avid poker play of two future top officials in Donald Trump’s administration has fueled debate over gambling’s place in politics. “Poker players,” critics say, “who rely on risk management, bluffing, and calculated decision-making could take an unorthodox approach to public policy.” But supporters argue that the skills honed at the poker table—most notably dealing with large amounts of cash, risk, and negotiation—are exactly what are required to parse the complexities of government.
Conclusion: What Comes Next for the IRS Under Long?
Donald Trump is overhauling the government as he readies for a second term: among his strangest, most fascinating picks to date is Billy Long, IRS Commissioner. While Long’s history as a poker player may attract attention, it is his business and political background that could significantly influence his tenure in office. Whether he will be lenient with gambling taxes or adopt a different tack to reforming the tax system is unclear. But one thing is clear: Long’s tenure atop the IRS will mirror the risk-taking and strategic thinking that marked his career at both poker tables and government services.
Billy Long, known for his political acumen and ability to navigate complex political situations, is poised to assume the role of the new IRS administrator. His poker-playing past will surely resurface among political commentators in the months to come—and indeed everyone else too, as people wait to see just how he applies that high-stakes style of play as head of one of the most important agencies in all of the U.S. government.
