Mike Catches Player Ghosting & Calls Out Las Vegas Poker Cheating Ring
Release Date: 03/20/2025
WILD Billionaire WSOP Stories: Ultra-Rich Poker Players Revealed
PokerNews Podcast
In the 895th episode of the PokerNews Podcast, is joined by and four-time bracelet winner to dive into the world of the ultra-rich at the . Which billionaires have participated in the WSOP over the years? How much money has the WSOP actually awarded? And who are the wealthiest players at the tables today? After introducing the topics, Chad, Mike, and Jeff take a deep dive into WSOP statistics to determine just how many billions the World Series of Poker has awarded to players over the last five decades. They also take a closer look at some of the most...
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2025 WSOP Fantasy Draft with Joey Ingram & Christina Gollins
PokerNews Podcast
In the 894th episode of the PokerNews Podcast, , is joined by , , and to draft their favorite teams for the . Each of the four hosts can pick seven players and one alternate player who will score points throughout the 2025 WSOP. The hosts need to follow several rules, such as drafting at least one female poker player, and one poker vlogger/creator, as well as adding an alternate that they can swap in for any of their seven players. The rules of this draft are simple: WSOP Fantasy Draft Scoring Achievement Points Cashing an event 1 point ...
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Poker Players Who've Murdered Their Parents + Jeff Madsen's 40th Birthday
PokerNews Podcast
In the 893rd episode of the PokerNews Podcast, Chad Holloway, Mike Holtz, and Kyna England celebrate Jeff Madsen's 40th birthday before talking about two poker players who murdered their parents. Recently in Texas, Benjamin Frakes, 39, was taken into custody at Doghouse Poker Club in Cypress, a town 25 miles northwest of Downtown Houston. He was charged with capital murder for allegedly shooting his parents. The tragic situation was reminiscent of poker player Ernie Scherer, who was convicted in 2011 of killing his parents in an elaborate plot to collect an inheritance. It's a true crime story...
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Suspects Busted Trying to Cash Counterfeit Poker Chips in Texas Cardroom
PokerNews Podcast
In the 892nd episode of the PokerNews Podcast, Chad Holloway, Mike Holtz, and Kyna England talk about the counterfeit poker chips that were discovered at a Texas cardroom, a home game robbery in Hawaii, and a huge laydown in a $2.4 million cash game pot from Triton Poker. Speaking of, Xuan Liu became the first woman to claim a Triton title, while Jesse Lonis and Alex Foxen also won Triton tournaments. Speaking of big winners, Kevin Li took down the 2025 WSOP Tournament of Champions, Stephen Song was victorious on The Lord Poker Tour for $750K, and both Corey Wick and Josh Freund claimed big...
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Viral Poker Fight & an Alleged Angle Shot Stirs Controversy
PokerNews Podcast
In the 891st episode of the PokerNews Podcast, Chad Holloway, Mike Holtz, and Kyna England talk about that viral knockout punch between two poker players at Red Rock in Las Vegas. See the video and learn what the Las Vegas Metro Police Department had to say when reached by PokerNews. Also, learn about a controversy from the EPT Monte Carlo final table in which Aleksandr Shevliakov, who won the tournament, allegedly shot an angle with six players remaining. It caused quite the stir on the live stream, but was it all as it seemed? Shevliakov took to social media to share his perspective, and...
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Poker Cheat DQ’ed from Tournament, Tom Dwan Update & Hawk Tuah Girl Returns
PokerNews Podcast
In the 890th episode of the PokerNews Podcast, Chad Holloway, Mike Holtz, and Kyna England talk about admitted poker cheat Ali Imsirovic being DQ'ed mid-tournament from an event in Florida. Was it the right thing to do? It was a highly debated development, and the crew dove headfirst into the drama by discussing a poker black list, what bestbet Jacksonville could've done differently, and if poker pariahs could even be welcomed back to the game. They then give an update on Tom Dwan, whose recent social media posts really concerned the poker community, and then Connor Richards headed to PokerGO...
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Denise Pratt Confronts Poker Debtor Maurice Hawkins at Payout Desk | PokerNews Podcast #889
PokerNews Podcast
In the 889th episode of the PokerNews Podcast, Chad Holloway, Mike Holtz, and [Kyna England talk about the recent drama involving, you guessed it, Maurice Hawkins and Denise Pratt. The latter claims to be owed $11,200 after backing the former, and things boiled over when she confronted him at the payout desk at the WSOP Circuit Horseshoe Tunica stop. What's more, the crew reacts to an interview Hawkins gave on his own podcast, him agreeing to come on the PokerNews Podcast before not responding, and then goes one-on-one with Denise Pratt to hear her side of the story. Mike then shares his...
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WSOP Bracelet Winner Pleads Guilty of Attempted Murder, Hawkins the Debtor; Interview w/ 888poker’s Nick Eastwood
PokerNews Podcast
In the 888th episode of the PokerNews Podcast, Chad Holloway, Mike Holtz, and Kyna England talk about a WSOP gold bracelet while out on bail, who recently pleaded guilty to intent to commit murder against his wife. It's a sad tale, but the victim is now openly sharing her tale of survival and the horrific aftermath. The crew then talks about Maurice Hawkins, who has yet to address the $100K+ judgment against him despite racking up wins and big paydays, and offers a behind-the-scenes look at the new poker room slated to open next month at Planet Hollywood in Las Vegas. Other stories include the...
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Security Swarms as Player Goes Wild Inside Las Vegas Poker Room
PokerNews Podcast
In the 887th episode of the PokerNews Podcast, Chad Holloway, Mike Holtz, and Kyna England discuss the fight that recently broke out inside the Aria Poker Room in Las Vegas. What could've caused "Tony" to fly off the handle like he did? The crew then debates all the discussion surrounding the 2025 World Series of Poker (WSOP) Industry Employee Event, recognizes the 14th anniversary of poker's infamous Black Friday, and Chad answers the question of whatever happened to two-time WPT and WSOP champ Hoyt Corkins (AKA the Alabama Cowboy)? Plus, Allen Kessler plays the piano, Chad shares highlights...
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Illegal Poker Games: Florida Man Accused of Laundering $800,000
PokerNews Podcast
In the 886th episode of the PokerNews Podcast, hosts Chad Holloway, Mike Holtz, and Kyna England discuss the Florida man who was arrested for allegedly laundering $800K from illegal poker games. That led to a larger discussion on policy over such games and whether law enforcement is doing justice by cracking down. They then share results from Doug Polk's $100K 'Code Doug' Challenge, including a big hand he played against Eric Persson; highlight recent tournament winners such as Shannon Shorr, Francis Anderson, and Missy Bartleme; Jesse Lonis crushing the recently-completed PGT PLO Series;...
info_outlineIn the 883rd episode of the PokerNews Podcast, Chad Holloway, Kyna England, and Mike Holtz discuss Mike's recent 10-minute video calling out his recent experience in a big tournament at Resorts World, one that involved bad dealers and an alleged poker cheating ring in Las Vegas. The video blew up with Patrick Leonard and others speaking up. Find out where things stand with an update straight from Mike.
Chad also goes one-on-one for an exclusive interview with Phil Gordon, who gave his first poker interview in 12 years! The former "Poker Boom" star who won the 2004 WPT Bay 101 Shooting Star and hosted Celebrity Poker Showdown, reflects on winning his WPT title, shares what he's been up to the past decade, and remembers his good friend, the late Perry Friedman.
The crew also discuss embattled Supreme Court attorney Tom Goldstein partying in Greece with Kevin Hart and big-name poker pros, Dan "Jungleman" Cates' BBC rap video, and winners from the 2025 Wynn Millions including Harrison Gimbel and Jesse Lonis. Oh, and a special shoutout to Jacki Burkhart on winning her first trophy in a heads-up event in Oregon.
Finally, you can check out the latest installment of "New Vlogs on the Block" featuring Maurice Hawkins coaching (it's not even April Fools yet) and find out who won our backpack & hoodie giveaway in conjunction with Tilted Compass.
The podcast is sponsored by the #1 free-to-play WSOP app. Remember to use bonus code "POKERNEWS" if you download and play for an extra 1,000,000 in chips!
A new PokerNews Podcast will drop weekly every Thursday at 8a PT / 11a ET / 4p UK time. Remember to subscribe to our YouTube channel so you do not miss an episode!
Time Stamps
*Time | Topic*
00:11 | Welcome Kyna England & Mike Holtz
00:19 | Here’s what’s coming up on
01:06 | Mike releases 10-minute video calling out Las Vegas cheats
05:00 | Mike catches a player ghosting
07:13 | Patrick Leonard agrees with Mike
09:13 | Why the way cards are dealt matters
10:25 | There should be no electronics on the table
12:19 | Jon Friedberg of Poker Atlas issues brief statement
13:50 | Choosing a winner in our Tilted Compass giveaway!
15:14 | Mid-States Poker Tour (MSPT) rebrands
17:00 | Sponsor: WSOP Free-to-Play App
18:15 | Embattled Supreme Court attorney Tom Goldstein partied with Kevin Hart
21:07 | Dan “Jungleman” Cates now a rapper?
21:52 | What does his rap name “BBC” mean?
26:07 | Harrison Gimbel wins 2025 Wynn Millions for $455K
27:25 | 1993 WSOP Main Event champ Jim Bechtel final tables
28:49 | Jesse Lonis wins Wynn Million
29:10 | Jacki Burkhart gets her first trophy
29:58 | New Vlogs on the Block: Maurice Hawkins offers 1-on-1 training sessions
33:31 | Exclusive interview w/ Phil Gordon
33:50 | Welcome Phil Galfond
34:36 | Relearning the game with his sons
35:48 | What role does poker play in your life now?
36:27 | What are you up to these days?
37:01 | Looking back on the inaugural WPT Bay 101 Shooting Star in 2004
39:16 | Winning WPT title on a double elimination on final hand
40:48 | Poker fame and Celebrity Poker Showdown
44:15 | Winning the Ante Up for Africa charity event at the WSOP
45:58 | World Series of Rock, Paper, Scissors
47:25 | Winning a WPT and making WSOP Main Event final table
50:02 | The Tilt Boys & remembering Perry Friedman
52:44 | Might we see you back in the poker world?
54:55 | Get on PokerNews Ambassador Kyle Anderson’s StakeKings Package