Randy Blumer

Childhood

Blumer was the younger of two sons in his family. In 1970, his family moved to Germany for two years due to his father’s work as a school counselor. In Germany, during Grade 6, Blumer first began playing poker, often earning extra money on road trips with his peewee all-star hockey team by playing the game. At age 21, he made his first trip to Las Vegas, where he encountered limit Texas hold 'em poker in both cash game and tournament formats. This experience inspired him to introduce the game to his friends back in Edmonton. Throughout his university years, poker was a pastime and a way to supplement his income. Blumer graduated from the University of Alberta in 1983 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering. He then joined the Canadian Navy as a Marine Systems Engineer, contributing to Canada’s largest warship construction program. He attained the rank of Lieutenant Commander before opting for early retirement to pursue his passion for online poker. In 1985, he married Beverly in Victoria, British Columbia, and they have two children.

Career

Blumer’s most notable contribution to gambling is the creation of Planet Poker, which launched in the summer of 1997 as a free-play site and transitioned to the first real-money online poker room on January 1, 1998. This platform marked the beginning of real-money online poker and set the foundation for the industry’s explosive growth. In 1999, renowned poker experts Mike Caro and Roy Cooke joined Planet Poker to enhance its promotion and credibility.

Blumer also served as a poker consultant for various online casinos and cardrooms. Despite his pioneering role, he remains an amateur player, having competed in poker venues across England, Ireland, France, Canada, the United States, and the Caribbean. His most significant poker tournament payday was a second-place finish in the 2007 PokerStars million, which featured over 6,000 players.

In response to changes in U.S. law regarding online gambling in 2006, Planet Poker reverted to a "play for fun" model. Subsequently, in 2007, Blumer launched Skillride.com, the first subscription-based, play-for-fun poker site designed to comply fully with the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act.

Personal life

Randy Blumer is married to Beverly Blumer, and they have two children together. Details about his personal interests beyond poker and family life are limited, but his early love for poker and engineering background have clearly influenced his career trajectory.

Revenue

While exact figures on Blumer’s personal revenue are not publicly disclosed, his pioneering efforts in establishing the first real money online poker room have had a profound economic impact. The online poker industry has grown into a multibillion-dollar global enterprise, with Planet Poker recognized as the catalyst for this expansion.

Interesting facts

Blumer started playing poker as a child in Germany, combining his early interest in the game with his hockey travels.

He introduced limit Texas hold 'em to his friends in Edmonton after experiencing it in Las Vegas.

Despite his deep involvement in online poker, Blumer remains an amateur player.

He leveraged his engineering skills during his naval career before transitioning fully to online poker entrepreneurship.

Blumer’s Skillride.com was the first online poker site to comply with the U.S.

Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act by offering a subscription-based, play-for-fun model.

Legacy

Randy Blumer’s legacy is firmly rooted in his role as a trailblazer for online poker. By launching Planet Poker, he not only created the first platform for real money online poker but also helped establish the framework for a thriving global industry. His work paved the way for countless online poker rooms and contributed significantly to the mainstream acceptance and growth of online gambling.