WORLD SERIES OF POKER

LAS VEGAS | With the Main Event of the World Series of Poker just a day away, thousands of poker enthusiasts are descending on the Rio Hotel & Casino, and Gloria Irwin can only hope that they all stop by the gift shops.

Irwin owns Gia Marketing, a company that specializes in promotional materials and memorabilia. The Schererville resident has an exclusive contract with the World Series of Poker for all of the event's collectibles, plaques and memorabilia.

"My company is primarily a promotional company for casinos, but I've done some work outside of gaming," Irwin said. "The World Series of Poker is so overwhelming; there is just so much to do."

Irwin, who has been working with the WSOP for the past three years, has expanded her line of work this year to include a new dealer button that is being used during the actual tournaments.

"They adapted a button that I designed and are using it quite a bit," Irwin said. "Some have actually been swiped off the tables, which is a good thing for me.

"It shows that people like my product."

Irwin has plenty of experience with the gaming industry, having worked in several different positions before starting her marketing firm.

Her next goal is to expand her promotional reach to include professional poker players, such as Annie Duke and Joe Navarro.

"It's very satisfying to take something from a sketch on a piece of paper to seeing the product minted and then ending up in the store," Irwin said. "I'm always watching people, wondering about their perception of the product."

Irwin will spend the next several days walking through the Rio and watching as the thousands of tourists, players and fans purchase her collectibles.

"I'm really a big self-critic," Irwin said. "After they buy something, I'm always looking for the feedback and hoping they are happy with their purchase."