PokerNews Podcast
The PokerNews Podcast, the longest-running news show in the poker world with over 900 episodes, releases new episodes every Friday! Each episode includes the latest news, stories, debates, and gossip from the community. From Poker Hall of Famers to World Series of Poker (WSOP) Main Event champions, the PokerNews Podcast has welcomed the biggest guests in the industry. WSOP bracelet winner Chad Holloway hosts alongside Game of Gold star and 2021 MSPT Player of the Year Kyna England & two-time WSOP.com Online Player of the Year and bracelet winner Mike "Brock Lesnar" Holtz. Tweet about the podcast at #PNPod and follow PokerNews on X at @PokerNews for more!
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The State Of Poker In Texas: An Interview with Texas Card House (TCH) CEO Ryan Crow
04/02/2026
The State Of Poker In Texas: An Interview with Texas Card House (TCH) CEO Ryan Crow
In the 950th episode of the PokerNews Podcast, Chad Holloway, Mike Holtz, and Ben Ludlow are back to talk about the latest in the poker world starting with an exclusive interview as Texas Card House (TCH) CEO Ryan Crow talks about the tate of Texas poker, TCH's perspective on the raid at Doug Polk's The Lodge, and whether or not the planned World Series of Poker (WSOP) Circuit will continue as planned. Plus, Crow shares details on a new, multi-episode documentary, The Battle for Texas Poker. Here's your chance to see the trailer! From there, the crew discusses the viral preflop pocket kings fold by Kristen Foxen, Paul Phua & Ben Tollerene winning Triton titles, and the WSOP is back on ESPN! Plus, Garrett Adelstein announced that he is releasing a poker book diving into the infamous J4 hand against Robbi Jade Lew on Hustler Casino Live (HCL), among other things. Finally, Chino Rheem found more PokerGO Tour success, Brandon Wilson's heater continued, and big plans are in store next week for the PokerNews Podcast at the WSOP Europe. A new PokerNews Podcast drops every Thursday at 8a PT / 11a ET / 4p UK time. Remember to so you do not miss an episode! Time Stamps *Time Topic* 00:00 | Welcome to the show 02:21 | Interview w/ Ryan Crow 04:00 | State of Texas poker 09:44 | WSOP Circuit at TCH 10:38 | Battle for Texas Poker documentary 13:23 | Documentary trailer 17:50 | Kristen Foxen folds pocket kings preflop 22:30 | Ben Tollerene wins Triton title 22:48 | Garrett Adelstein to release poker book 25:39 | WSOP is back on ESPN 29:00 | Paul Phua victorious at Triton Jeju 29:15 | Brandon Wilson on a heater 31:11 | Chino Rheem wins PGT PLO Series 34:26 | Podcast plans for WSOP Europe
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BREAKING: Doug Polk Breaks Silence on The Lodge Raid
04/01/2026
BREAKING: Doug Polk Breaks Silence on The Lodge Raid
In the 949th episode of the PokerNews Podcast, Chad Holloway, Mike Holtz, and Ben Ludlow do an emergency show to react to the long-awaited video by Doug Polk in which he discusses the raid on his Texas card club, The Lodge. Find out what the large shareholder had to say, his timeline of events, and where things currently stand. Plus, what did Doug think about the Bank Secrecy Act (BSA) theory, some reasons players should remain optimistic for a positive outcome, and why Thursday, April 9, is an important date to remember. A new PokerNews Podcast drops every Thursday at 8a PT / 11a ET / 4p UK time. Remember to so you do not miss an episode! Time Stamps *Time Topic* 00:00 | Welcome to the show 01:05 | Why is April 9 important? 02:40 | Doug committed to players 03:58 | WSOP Circuit at Texas Card House still on 04:36 | Chad is more optimistic for a positive outcome 07:15 | Doug addressed raid theories 09:45 | Support for The Lodge 12:38 | Illegal Gambling & Money Laundering 15:05 | Government invested 17:42 | Potential positive outcomes 20:55 | We don’t know how long a resolution will take
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Poker Club THE LODGE Nears It's End? Is this the Real Reason Why?
03/26/2026
Poker Club THE LODGE Nears It's End? Is this the Real Reason Why?
In the 948th episode of the PokerNews Podcast, Chad Holloway, Mike Holtz, and Ben Ludlow are back to discuss a new theory involving what might be the real reason behind authorities investigating The Lodge in Texas. It focuses more on the financial side of things, specifically the Bank Secrecy Act (BSA) as opposed to actual poker and alcohol. Could it be the real reason for the raid? Plus, an update from The Lodge in which they made an unfortunate announcement that they would be closing for the foreseeable future and laying off their staff. The trio then takes a look at the viral bustout hand at PokerStars Open Philadelphia, offers their thoughts on Triton Tempo, and watches Kelly Lucas slowroll Phil Hellmuth on an episode of Hellmuth's Home Game. Finally, the crew discusses the passing of David Sklansky, the author of the game-changing book The Theory of Poker, and the complicated legacy he leaves behind. A new PokerNews Podcast drops every Thursday at 8a PT / 11a ET / 4p UK time. Remember to so you do not miss an episode! Time Stamps *Time Topic* 00:00 | Welcome to the show 00:50 | How you feeling about The Lodge? 03:30 | Is the real story about The Lodge? 03:55 | Bank Secrecy Act (BSA) & FinCEN 11:13 | BSA Requirements 12:50 | Update: The Lodge lays off staff 16:00 | Viral bustout hand at PokerStars Open Philadelphia 20:33 | Triton Tempo – poker’s chess clock 26:10 | Kelly Lucas slowrolls Phil Hellmuth 31:11 | David Sklansky passes away
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Here's why Kylie Jenner is GREAT for Poker
03/19/2026
Here's why Kylie Jenner is GREAT for Poker
In the 947th episode of the PokerNews Podcast, Chad Holloway, Mike Holtz, and Ben Ludlow are back to discuss headlines from the poker world that didn't include The Lodge in Texas. Foremost among them was celebrity Kylie Jenner, working with Vanity Fair to make a viral poker video. Was it a good thing for poker? The crew also discusses the upcoming closure of the Resorts World Poker Room and some of their favorite (and worst) memories, Arden Cho at the Academy Awards, and winners from the recently-completed PokerGO Cup, including Andrew "Lucky Chewy" Lichtenberger, Tony Gregg, and Brock Wilson, who ultimately topped the leaderboard. It was also at the PokerGO Cup where Ben Grise notched back-to-back runner-up finishes while learning the tragic news that his good friend back in Indiana had been murdered. A new PokerNews Podcast drops every Thursday at 8a PT / 11a ET / 4p UK time. Remember to so you do not miss an episode! Timestamps 01:30 | Mike’s big score 02:41 | Kylie Jenner ventures into the poker world 08:05 | Resorts World closing poker room 13:45 | Lucky Chewy claims a PokerGO Cup trophy 15:20 | One for Tony Gregg 16:53 | Brock Wilson PokerGO Cup title 17:50 | Ben Grise’s two runner-up finishes 20:40 | Arden Cho at the Oscars
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Diving Into The Lodge Affidavit – Is this the End of Texas Poker?
03/17/2026
Diving Into The Lodge Affidavit – Is this the End of Texas Poker?
In the 946th episode of the PokerNews Podcast, Chad Holloway, Mike Holtz, and Ben Ludlow shoot a show devoted to examining the recently-released affidavit against The Lodge in Texas, which was raided by authorities last Tuesday. What were the details of the warrant? Find out here. Plus, Doug Polk recently issued a new statement and is committed to making sure players are taken care of. But what do the details of the affidavit mean for the future of The Lodge and Texas poker in general? Well, unfortunately, it doesn't look good. Find out why in the latest episode. A new PokerNews Podcast drops every Thursday at 8a PT / 11a ET / 4p UK time. Remember to so you do not miss an episode! Time Stamps *Time Topic* 00:00 Welcome to the show00:37 Initial reactions to the warrant04:40 Statement from Doug Polk06:20 What does the affidavit say?12:00 What should players do?13:50 What state laws were violated?14:40 Who are the owners?16:30 Is the loophole being closed?17:00 What about the $1.35M?19:25 What’s likely to happen next?21:45 Will Doug Polk fight?23:50 Is this the end of poker rooms in Texas?27:13 Final thoughts
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What Happened? The Lodge Remains Closed After Raid + Assets Frozen
03/16/2026
What Happened? The Lodge Remains Closed After Raid + Assets Frozen
In the 945th episode of the PokerNews Podcast, Chad Holloway, Mike Holtz, and Ben Ludlow shoot a show devoted to the latest updates following The Lodge in Texas being raided by authorities. A lot has happened since the raid last Tuesday at Doug Polk's famed card room, which recently issued a new statement. While we have some answers, there are still plenty of unanswered questions, given that the club remains closed and no formal charges have been filed. It remains an open investigation, os right now, players and owners have no recourse but to sit around and wait, not to mention the hundreds of staff currently out of work and awaiting some sort of clarity. Hear about the facts as we know them, a timeline of events, and some of the current speculation as to what might be the root cause of the raid. Is it illegal gambling? Money laundering? Who might be involved? The crew explores it all. A new PokerNews Podcast drops every Thursday at 8a PT / 11a ET / 4p UK time. Remember to so you do not miss an episode! Time Stamps *Time Topic* 00:00 | Welcome to the Show 01:00 | The Lodge issues new statement 05:09 | WPT postpones event 09:30 | No formal charges filed at this time 15:00 | History lesson on the rise of poker in Texas 22:00 | Why no one should be gloating 24:30 | What did Brad Owen have to say? 26:00 | Speculation abounds 31:40 | Poker should just be made legal
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Why Did Authorities Raid One of the USA’s Biggest Poker Rooms?
03/12/2026
Why Did Authorities Raid One of the USA’s Biggest Poker Rooms?
In the 944th episode of the PokerNews Podcast, Chad Holloway, Mike Holtz, and Connor Richards react in real-time to breaking news -- that The Lodge in Texas was being raided by authorities. It was an unexpected development at Doug Polk's famed card room that . From there, the trio updates you on the cheating poker dealer from Texas that was highlighted in Episode 940. See new surveillance footage obtained by PokerNews that clearly shows exactly what went down. Another story includes Fedor Holz departing as a GGPoker Ambassador and stepping away from poker, which led to a discussion as to whether or not he's had a Poker Hall of Fame-worthy career. Other stories include winners from the PokerGO Cup, straddles in tournaments, Joseph Spanne taking down the 2026 Wynn Millions, Mukul Pahuja & Nick Rigby claiming PokerNews PowerStack titles, and the passing of a beloved poker player. Finally, the show ends with the reveal of a recent The Hendon Mob Award winner. A new PokerNews Podcast drops every Thursday at 8a PT / 11a ET / 4p UK time. Remember to so you do not miss an episode! Time Stamps *Time Topic* 00:00 | Welcome to the show 01:05 | The Lodge Card Club raided in Texas 06:00 | Cheating poker dealer exposed 13:30 | Worst fold in poker history? 20:58 | Fedor Holz leaves GGPoker; is he retiring? 24:03 | Fedor Poker Hall of Fame worthy? 26:42 | PokerGO Cup winners 29:35 | Straddles in tournaments? 32:33 | Joseph Spanne wins 2026 Wynn Millions Championship 32:55 | Mukul Pahuja wins Borgata PokerNews PowerStack 33:10 | Nick Rigby wins three tournaments at RGPS St. Louis 34:20 | WWII Veteran Gene Bellar passes away at 101 36:00 | Koen Roos receives The Hendon Mob Award
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Brad Owen Admits “I Don’t Know How Much Time I Have Left in this Space”
03/05/2026
Brad Owen Admits “I Don’t Know How Much Time I Have Left in this Space”
In the 943rd episode of the PokerNews Podcast, Chad Holloway, Mike Holtz, and Ben Ludlow are joined by TJ Reid at Level 9 Studio in Las Vegas. The quartet talks about the viral and vulnerable tweet sent by famed vlogger Brad Owen, who was open about burnout and how he's currently feeling within the poker space. It's an intimate look at a part of the game that's not often talked about. They then discuss the perfect 300 bowling game of Ryan Riess, who won some money from Jesse Lonis, as well as Jorge Abreu crushing the EPT Paris final table, getting lucky in a wild hand and against Felix Schneiders heads-up, and wins from Nick Seward and NFL Hall of Famer Richard Seymour. Plus, Chad was at the RunGood Poker Series (RGPS) Reno to play in his first PokerNews PowerStack. See highlights from that tournament, as well as Hamid Izadi's win in the stop's main event. Finally, a shoutout to podcast colleagues Dara O'Kearney and David Lappin on their new respective sponsorship deals! Find out where they landed and what it means for the future of The Chip Race. A new PokerNews Podcast drops every Thursday at 8a PT / 11a ET / 4p UK time. Remember to so you do not miss an episode! Time Stamps *Time Topic* 00:00 | Welcome to the show 01:00 | Brad Owen’s heartfelt tweet 09:40 | New content creators 12:15 | Ryan Riess bowls a perfect 300 16:10 | Jorge Abreu wins EPT Paris 16:51 | Wild hand at the final table 21:10 | Abreu vs. Felix Schneiders 24:15 | Big Sey wins at WSOP Circuit Cherokee 27:20 | Nick Seward wins WPT Venetian 29:15 | Hamid Izadi wins RGPS Reno 30:45 | Chad’s PokerNews PowerStack adventure 32:50 | Dara O’Kearney & David Lappin land new deals
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What Can You Expect for the 2026 WSOP? Jeff Platt Shares All
02/26/2026
What Can You Expect for the 2026 WSOP? Jeff Platt Shares All
In the 942nd episode of the PokerNews Podcast, Chad Holloway, Mike Holtz, and Ben Ludlow are joined by Jeff Platt at Level 9 Studio in Las Vegas. The quartet talks about Platt's new role with the World Series of Poker (WSOP) and what all that entails. Find out what all you can expect from the 2026 WSOP as the former cohost of the PokerNews Podcast talks about being a face of the brand, live viewer experience, storytelling, the Poker Hall of Fame, and much more. Plus, Platt shares some of his favorite WSOP moments that he's been a part of over the years, moments that include Doyle Brunson and Michael "The Grinder" Mizrachi. Find out all about those stories and more in this week's episode of the PokerNews Podcast! A new PokerNews Podcast drops every Thursday at 8a PT / 11a ET / 4p UK time. Remember to so you do not miss an episode! Time Stamps *Time Topic* 00:00 | Welcome to the show 01:40 | New role with the WSOP 04:43 | Being the face of a brand 10:30 | WSOP Circuit to ramp up 12:33 | Live viewer experience 18:55 | Player storylines 21:50 | Poker Hall of Fame 25:46 | More leaderboards the better 28:16 | Favorite WSOP moments 33:00 | Creating buzz via storytelling 34:18 | What should poker fans expect?
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James Hartigan & PokerStars Gear Up for EPT Paris & Irish Poker Open
02/21/2026
James Hartigan & PokerStars Gear Up for EPT Paris & Irish Poker Open
In the 941st episode of the PokerNews Podcast, Chad Holloway, Mike Holtz, and Ben Ludlow are joined by James Hartigan at Level 9 Studio in Las Vegas. The quartet previews upcoming PokerStars live events, including the European Poker Tour (EPT) Paris, where the Spin & Go Championship will take place. There's also the PokerStars Open Philadelphia and the 2026 Irish Poker Open, which, according to Hartigan, is more than just a poker tournament; it's a whole experience. Find out information about all those events, as well as some fun stories in between, like when Hartigan participated in a lip-synch battle with Caitlin Comeskey while he was dressed up as a blue shark. A new PokerNews Podcast drops every Thursday at 8a PT / 11a ET / 4p UK time. Remember to so you do not miss an episode! Time Stamps *Time Topic* 00:00 Welcome to the show 01:05 EPT Paris 06:50 Spin & Go Championship 14:30 PokerStars Open Philly 18:53 Irish Poker Open 22:30 Lip-synch battle with Caitlin Comeskey
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Find Out How This Poker Dealer Was Caught Cheating!
02/19/2026
Find Out How This Poker Dealer Was Caught Cheating!
In the 940th episode of the PokerNews Podcast, Chad Holloway, Mike Holtz, and Ben Ludlow are back to break down the video of a poker dealer caught cheating in a Texas card room. See surveillance footage of what happened and how he was caught! The trio then discusses Michael Mizrachi & Chino Rheem's $100K No Smoking/Drinking prop bet, Alex Foxen making his Hustler Casino Live (HCL) debut, and results from the PokerGO Tour (PGT) Mixed Games Series, which included big wins by Brian Rast, Qinghai Pan, and Yuri Dzivielevski. A new PokerNews Podcast drops every Thursday at 8a PT / 11a ET / 4p UK time. Remember to so you do not miss an episode! Time Stamps *Time Topic* 00:00 | Welcome to the show 01:08 | Cheating poker dealer in Texas 10:20 | Mizrachi & Chino’s $100K Prop Bet 14:44 | Alex Foxen’s Hustler Casino Live debut 20:40 | Kristen Foxen’s turn on HCL 23:50 | Brian Rast claims PGT Mixed Games $25K Championship 26:00 | Yuri Dzivielevski tops PGT Mixed Games Leaderboard 26:25 | Yuri Dzivielevski wins $100K Super High Roller Bowl Mixed 28:56 | Winner interview w/ Yuri Dzivielevski 32:20 | What’s coming up?
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2026 WSOP Reveals Free Live Stream, New Events, & Big Changes
02/16/2026
2026 WSOP Reveals Free Live Stream, New Events, & Big Changes
In the 939th episode of the PokerNews Podcast, Chad Holloway, Mike Holtz, and Ben Ludlow are back for a special episode to discuss the release of the 2026 World Series of Poker (WSOP) schedule! Running from May 26 through July 15, the 2026 WSOP consists of 100 gold bracelet events and, for the first time ever, will be immediately followed by a WSOP Circuit stop. Find out what's new on the schedule, what is missing, and what changes are in store, including a new main stage set that'll be constructed in the Paris Ballroom. Jeff Platt even joined the show for a bit to talk about that and how to improve the live player experience. Oh, and it seems there may be some big changes in store for the final table of the WSOP Main Event. If you're planning to play the 2026 WSOP, this is an episode you don't want to miss. A new PokerNews Podcast drops every Thursday at 8a PT / 11a ET / 4p UK time. Remember to so you do not miss an episode! Time Stamps *Time Topic* 00:00 | Welcome to the show 00:38 | 2026 WSOP schedule is out! 02:20 | Announcement of the announcement 04:30 | Free daily live stream 08:50 | Mini Mystery Millions kicks things off 10:43 | Jeff Platt talks about storytelling 14:08 | New events on the schedule 18:22 | No more Hall of Fame Poker Bounty 22:04 | All things WSOP Main Event 27:35 | New main stage over in Paris Ballroom 29:10 | Player experience & live viewership with Jeff Platt 32:22 | How are you going to plan your summer? 33:15 | WSOP Play of the Year 34:00 | Qualify online – Daniel Negreanu
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Famous Poker Player Loses Fortune Investing in Labubu; Interview w/ Rep. Dina Titus About FAIR BET Act
02/12/2026
Famous Poker Player Loses Fortune Investing in Labubu; Interview w/ Rep. Dina Titus About FAIR BET Act
In the 938th episode of the PokerNews Podcast, Chad Holloway, Mike Holtz, and Ben Ludlow are joined by Connor Richards at Level 9 Studio in Las Vegas to talk about poker pro Jared Bleznick revealing that he's buried by a bad investment into a massive amount of Labubu! Connor then shares details on covering the federal trial of Tom Goldstein in person in Maryland and what it was like to win the recent Charity Series of Poker (CSOP) event. Speaking of federal, Chad sat down with the Nevada congresswoman, Rep. Dina Titus, to discuss her efforts to pass the FAIR BET Act, which would restore gambling deductions from 90% back to 100%. From there, it's a talk about the largest overlay in online poker history and recent tournament winners presented by WPT Global, including Alex Foxen, Nick Schulman, and Chino Rheem. A new PokerNews Podcast drops every Thursday at 8a PT / 11a ET / 4p UK time. Remember to so you do not miss an episode! Time Stamps *Time Topic* 00:00 | Welcome to the show 00:59 | Blez and the Labubu 04:25 | Tom Goldstein’s federal trial 11:20 | Talking with Rep. Dina Titus 17:57 | Connor takes down CSOP 93! 20:47 | Video: Highlights from CSOP 22:00 | Largest Overlay in Online Poker History 24:50 | Alex Foxen wins MSPT Poker Bowl X 27:30 | Nick Schulman claims 8th PGT title 27:54 | Chino Rheem makes 5th final table of 2026 28:40 | Upcoming guests
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Super High Roller Cash Game 5-Bet Jam for $1,700,000 Ends in Disaster
02/05/2026
Super High Roller Cash Game 5-Bet Jam for $1,700,000 Ends in Disaster
In the 936th episode of the PokerNews Podcast, Chad Holloway, Mike Holtz, and Ben Ludlow are all in Las Vegas at Level 9 Studio to talk about a pair of big hands from the Super High Roller Cash Game on PokerGO. One saw Sameh Elamawy lay down the second nuts to Justin Gavri, and the other was Andrew Robl five-bet bluffing smack into the pocket aces of Eric Wasserson, which led to a discussion on Robl and his chances of the Poker Hall of Fame. From there, the crew heads out to the desert for some fun with , Mike 'Timex' McDonald winning a national Chess Championship, and Jean-Robert Bellande taking down the Onyx High Roller for $1.5 Million. Finally, hear about how 23-year-old Harvey Castro claimed the WPT Player of the Year and why the 'Jungleman' boxing match result against Elf was overturned. A new PokerNews Podcast drops every Thursday at 8a PT / 11a ET / 4p UK time. Remember to so you do not miss an episode! Time Stamps *Time Topic* 00:00 | Welcome to the Show 01:45 | Super High Roller Cash Game 02:45 | Huge Fold – Sameh vs. Gavri 06:30 | Robl Five-Bet Bluff Disaster 14:40 | Andrew Robl for Poker Hall of Fame? 19:40 | 22:06 | Mike 'Timex' McDonald Wins National Chess Championship 25:11 | JRB Takes Down Onyx High Roller for $1.5 Million 26:53 | Harvey Castro Wins WPT Player of the Year 29:45 | 'Jungleman' Boxing Match Result Overturned
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Defiant Player Set Up in $2,400,000 Hand of Poker But Can He Get Lucky?
01/29/2026
Defiant Player Set Up in $2,400,000 Hand of Poker But Can He Get Lucky?
In the 936th episode of the PokerNews Podcast, Chad Holloway, Mike Holtz, and Ben Ludlow are all in Las Vegas at Level 9 Studio to talk about the viral $2.4 million poker hand played between Antonio Esfandiari and Alan Keating. The hand, part of Super High Roller Cash Game on PokerGO, blew up fast and had the whole poker world talking. From there, the crew talks about the Daniel “Jungleman” Cates vs. sports bettor "Elf" boxing match, looks at a controversial hand from High Stakes Poker involving Sam "Señor Tilt" Kiki, and a winner interview with Andrew "Lucky Chewy" Lichtenberger after he notched a win at the PGT Kickoff Series. Other stories bantered about are Jeff Platt now being exclusive with the WSOP, how Arden Cho will probably be at the Oscars, the new PokerNews PowerStack Leaderboard for the 2026 RGPS Passport Season, and sharing which poker room on the Las Vegas Strip is unfortunately closing at the end of the month. A new PokerNews Podcast drops every Thursday at 8a PT / 11a ET / 4p UK time. Remember to so you do not miss an episode! Time Stamps *Time Topic* 00:00 Welcome to the show 01:31 Esfandiari vs. Keating in $2.4M Pot 07:08 Dan “Jungleman” Cates boxing match results 11:25 Controversial hand on High Stakes Poker 17:17 Winner interview w/ Andrew “Lucky Chewy” Lichtenberger 22:06 Jeff Platt now with the WSOP 24:07 Arden Cho & the Oscars 26:12 PokerNews PowerStack Leaderboard for 2026 RGPS Passport Season 28:44 Planet Hollywood closing poker room
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88-Year-Old Grandma Spanks Poker Players for $10,000!
01/22/2026
88-Year-Old Grandma Spanks Poker Players for $10,000!
In the 935th episode of the PokerNews Podcast, Chad Holloway, Mike Holtz, and Ben Ludlow talk about Linda “Granny” Hammons, an 88-year-old who discovered her favorite slot machines had been removed, so she decided to play her first-ever poker tournament. It took place at the Beau Rivage Million Dollar Heater down in Mississippi, and she did quite well while capturing the hearts of the poker community. Bill Phillips from the Gulf Coast Poker event caught up with her in a set-down interview he shared with PokerNews. From there, the trio looks at the straight flush misclick by Sebastian Huber, Martin Zamani's video of a poker bot farm that had the community up in arms, and a pair of poker cheats caught down at The Lodge in Austin, Texas. Speaking of which, the RunGood Poker Series (RGPS) is headed to the cardroom, and Andrew Neeme is happy to tell you about it. From there, it's welcoming 8131 Media as the official photography partner of PokerNews, and a preview of this weekend's Daniel “Jungleman” Cates vs. sports bettor "Elf", where PokerNews will be on-site to report all the action. Finally, learned who won our giveaway for a limited edition deck of cards tied to Lost in the Shuffle, a documentary that explores the history of playing cards through the lens of magic. A new PokerNews Podcast drops every Thursday at 8a PT / 11a ET / 4p UK time. Remember to so you do not miss an episode! Time Stamps *Time Topic* 00:00 | Welcome to the show 00:56 | 'Granny' enters first poker tournament 04:57 | Interview w/ Linda “Granny” Hammons 07:52 | Is this the worst misclick ever? 11:13 | Poker Bots controversy 19:10 | Poker cheats caught in Texas 23:07 | RGPS heading to The Lodge 25:00 | Andrew Neeme on RGPS 26:52 | 8131 Media becomes official photo team 28:47 | Daniel “Jungleman” Cates fight night 33:11 | ‘Lost in the Shuffle’ winner
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Poker Players Agree “Winner Take All” for Five Figures in Prize Money!
01/15/2026
Poker Players Agree “Winner Take All” for Five Figures in Prize Money!
In the 934th episode of the PokerNews Podcast, Chad Holloway, Mike Holtz, and Ben Ludlow talk about the two players who made it all the way to heads-up play and then agreed to play winner take all for the prize money. It was a wild story that saw one player walk away with a five-figure payday and the other leave empty-handed. The trio then discusses WPT Global's controversial signing of Ren Lin as an ambassador, which led to a discussion about ClubWPT Gold's social media strategy and how those two brands are related to the main World Poker Tour (WPT) brand. In between, former WPT Global Ambassador Xuan Liu called out the site for continuing to use her image in the Asia market. Chad then shares highlights from his adventure with Phil Hellmuth and his son Phillip Hellmuth III playing in a Wisconsin home game, Alex Foxen winning PokerGO Tour (PGT) Player of the Year, and winners from the PokerGO Tour Last Chance Series. Then there was Daniel Negreanu at the final table of the PGT Championship, which was won by Chad Eveslage. Other stories include GPI Player of the Year results, Maine becoming the ninth state to legalize online poker, and a look at Lost in the Shuffle, a documentary that explores the history of playing cards through the lens of magic. See the trailer and enter for your chance to win a limited edition deck of cards. Speaking of giveaways, learn who won a copy of Jonathan Little's new book The Complete Poker Workout. A new PokerNews Podcast drops every Thursday at 8a PT / 11a ET / 4p UK time. Remember to so you do not miss an episode! Time Stamps *Time Topic* 00:00 | Welcome to the Show 01:25 | Two players agree to “Winner Take All” 03:26 | WPT Global signs Ren Lin 08:15 | Is WPT Global different than WPT & ClubWPT Gold? 10:40 | Former Ambassador Xuan Liu calls out WPT Global 12:40 | Chad’s adventure with Phil Hellmuth 20:02 | Alex Foxen wins PGT Player of the Year 22:29 | PokerGO Tour Last Chance Series winners 24:30 | Daniel Negreanu final tables PGT Championship 26:20 | Chad Eveslage wins PGT Championship 27:31 | GPI Player of the Year results 31:40 | Maine becomes 9th state to legalize online poker 36:55 | Lost in the Shuffle documentary 40:34 | PN Pod giveaways
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Good or Bad? Our Poker Predictions for 2026; Will the WSOP Raise the Main Event Buy-in?
01/08/2026
Good or Bad? Our Poker Predictions for 2026; Will the WSOP Raise the Main Event Buy-in?
In the 933rd episode of the PokerNews Podcast, Chad Holloway, Mike Holtz, and Ben Ludlow kick off Season 17 with some poker predictions for 2026. Will the Big Beautiful Bill's gambling tax situation be resolved or lead to big ramifications in the industry? Will Phil Hellmuth win his 18th gold bracelet? Would the World Series of Poker (WSOP) ever raise the buy-in for the Main Event? The triumvirate also covers recent stories, including poker players Galen Hall and Jason Somerville winning big in the Circa Survivor content, arbitration ending between Maurice Hawkins and Denise Pratt, and Lex Veldhuis returning to the streaming streets, albeit not as a PokerStars Ambassador. Similarly, Caitlin Comeskey's ambassadorship with PokerStars US came to an end, and got the crew asking, "Is there still value in poker ambassadors?" You'll also see a short interview of Poker Hall of Famer Erik Seidel chatting with Rep. Dina Titus about the aforementioned tax bill, hear about Jeremy Becker and Matthew Wantman winning titles at the Venetian, and another book giveaway for a copy of Jonathan Little's The Complete Poker Workout. A new PokerNews Podcast drops every Thursday at 8a PT / 11a ET / 4p UK time. Remember to so you do not miss an episode! Time Stamps *Time Topic* 00:00 | Welcome to the show 01:40 | Poker players win big in Circa’s Survivor contest 08:20 | Maurice Hawkins arbitration ends 21:56 | Lex Veldhuis is back! 26:07 | What are the value of “Poker Ambassadors” nowadays? 30:00 | Poker predictions for 2026 30:42 | Video: Erik Seidel chats w/ Rep. Dina Titus 38:29 | Trivia – Venezuela’s all-time money list 40:03 | Is late reg and unlimited reentries a problem? 47:45 | Could WSOP Main Event be $15,000? 49:50 | Hellmuth will win bracelet No. 16 in 2026 50:30 | Recent Tournament Winners presented by 888poker 51:18 | Jeremy Becker claims title at Venetian 51:35 | Matthew Wantman kicks off New Year with win 51:46 | Preston Dean wins RoughRider Poker Tour title 52:10 | Jonathan Little book giveaway 54:13 | Disc golf with TJ Reid
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Cheaters, Arrests and Poker Villains Among Top Stories of 2025
01/01/2026
Cheaters, Arrests and Poker Villains Among Top Stories of 2025
In the 932nd episode of the PokerNews Podcast, Chad Holloway and Mike Holtz recap the top 10 stories of 2025 according to PokerNews. They include: - Cheating Technology Fears Rise - Trump's Tax Bill Detrimental to Poker Industry - Benny Glaser's Summer for the Ages - Twelve Months That Might Change Women’s Poker Forever - Attorney Tom Goldstein Indicted Over Million-Dollar Poker Games - Ossi Ketola’s Record-Shattering Heads-Up Poker Matches - Return of Poker Villains - Millionaire Maker Controversy at 2025 WSOP - Poker Game Arrests Involving Basketball Stars Rock the NBA - Michael Mizrachi Historic WSOP Find out all about those stories and more in this week's episode of the PokerNews Podcast! A new PokerNews Podcast drops every Thursday at 8a PT / 11a ET / 4p UK time. Remember to so you do not miss an episode! Time Stamps *Time Topic* 01:12 | Cheating Technology Fears Rise 05:26 | Trump's Tax Bill Detrimental to Poker Industry 10:40 | Benny Glaser's Summer for the Ages 12:50 | Twelve Months That Might Change Women’s Poker Forever 15:16 | Attorney Tom Goldstein Indicted Over Million-Dollar Poker Games 16:56 | Ossi Ketola’s Record-Shattering Heads-Up Poker Matches 18:37 | Return of Poker Villains 22:26 | Millionaire Maker Controversy at 2025 WSOP 27:10 | Poker Game Arrests Involving Basketball Stars Rock the NBA 29:26 | Michael Mizrachi Historic WSOP
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Was This Poker Player an A$$---e for Slowrolling with Pocket Aces?
12/24/2025
Was This Poker Player an A$$---e for Slowrolling with Pocket Aces?
In the 931st episode of the PokerNews Podcast, Chad Holloway and Mike Holtz bring Christmas cheer to the poker world! The duo discusses the brutal slowroll from Eric Wasserson against Benny Glaser deep in the 2025 World Series of Poker (WSOP) Paradise Super Main Event, bracelet winners from the Bahamas, and their thoughts on Ren Lin being allowed back to play without even missing a single stop during his "indefinite" suspension. From there, it's over to Las Vegas to recap the World Poker Tour (WPT) World Championship, including an interview with winner Schuyler Thornton, and other events like Aaron Johnson winning WPT Prime, Darren Elias taking down the $25K High Roller, and Kharlin Sued emerging victorious in the WPT Bay 101 Shooting Star. You'll also hear about Joao Simao besting Jason Koon in the Super High Roller Bowl X and Paul Tedeschi winning the €1,100 PokerStars Open Cannes. Finally, Jonathan Little is coming out with a new book, so we thought it'd be a good time for another giveaway. It's your chance to win a copy of Jonathan Little's new book, which you can also order by visiting . Find out all about those stories and more in this week's episode of the PokerNews Podcast! A new PokerNews Podcast drops every Thursday at 8a PT / 11a ET / 4p UK time. Remember to so you do not miss an episode! Time Stamps *Time Topic* 00:00 | Welcome to the show 01:09 | EWass slowrolls Glaser 01:52 | Video of the slowroll 06:55 | TJ Reid makes a deep run 09:33 | Bernhard Binder wins WSOP Paradise 10:50 | Video: Final hand + winner interview 13:11 | Ren Lin no longer banned 15:38 | Schuyler Thornton wins 2025 WPT World Championship 18:39 | Video: Schuyler Thornton winner interview 19:54 | Super High Roller Bowl X 22:16 | Imari Love victorious in The Closer Turbo Bounty 23:24 | Johan Guilbert claims first WSOP bracelet 24:56 | Aaron Johnson wins WPT Prime Championship 27:03 | Darren Elias wins $25k High Roller at Wynn 27:33 | Kharlin Sued wins WPT Bay 101 Shooting Star 28:44 | Video: Kharlin Sued winner interview 31:05 | Paul Tedeschi wins €1,100 PokerStars Open Cannes 31:63 | Jonathan Little book giveaway
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Who F***ed Up in This Poker Hand Everyone is Talking About
12/18/2025
Who F***ed Up in This Poker Hand Everyone is Talking About
In the 930th episode of the PokerNews Podcast, Chad Holloway and Mike Holtz are joined by 2024 World Poker Tour (WPT) World Champion Scott Stewart at Level 9 Studios in Las Vegas. The trio offers an update regarding the home game fight between Maurice Hawkins and aggressor Eugene Castaneda, namely a warrant out for the latter. They then dissect the controversial hand played by Ryan Depaulo, Andre Moreira, and James Caputo in the 2025 World Series of Poker (WSOP) Paradise $25K Super Main Event. Who was in the right? Who was in the wrong? Speaking of that tournament, Jesse Lonis made a big fold that sparked a heated rivalry with Shaun Deeb. Even Daniel Negreanu weighed in with his thoughts about the play. Speaking of Kid Poker, he fired away in the Super Main Event, which shed light on so many poker pros firing multiple bullets into the uniquely-structured tournament. Some players fired 11, 12, and even 14 bullets throughout the various flights. Is it good or bad for poker? How might recreational players interpret it? Down in the Bahamas, Charlie Hook, Koray Aldemir, Joao Simao, David Coleman, and Aleksejs Ponakovs have all captured gold bracelets, while Matan Krakow took down the EPT Prague Main Event. From there, it's over to the WPT World Championship at Wynn Las Vegas, where the WPT Prime final table is set, Lily Lofty took down the WPT Ladies Championship, and a new WPT Ambassador was named in the special Mystery Quest event. Finally, Jonathan Little is coming out with a new book, so we thought it'd be a good time for another giveaway. It's your chance to win a copy of Little's book 100 Essential Tips. Visit to preorder Jonathan Little's new book. A new PokerNews Podcast drops every Thursday at 8a PT / 11a ET / 4p UK time. Remember to so you do not miss an episode! Time Stamps *Time Topic* 00:00 | Welcome to the show 01:16 | Maurice Hawkins pressing charges 05:20 | Ryan Depaulo’s controversial hand 12:48 | Jesse Lonis big fold 21:00 | WSOP Paradise hits $60M GTD; Lots of Re-Entries 27:24 | Atlantis isn’t that bad 30:45 | Recent tournament winners from WSOP Paradise 36:05 | Schedule released for WSOP Europe 39:10 | Lily Lofty wins WPT Ladies Championship 41:53 | WPT Prime final table 42:30 | Spencer Gore becomes WPT Ambassador 45:33 | Matan Krakow wins EPT Prague 46:00 | Book giveaway winner 47:20 | Irish Poker Open 48:10 | Chad’s drinking contest against Viktor Blom
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Why Did This Poker Player Pull a Gun on His Opponent? Interview w/ Squid Game's Steven Jones
12/11/2025
Why Did This Poker Player Pull a Gun on His Opponent? Interview w/ Squid Game's Steven Jones
In the 929th episode of the PokerNews Podcast, Chad Holloway and Mike Holtz are joined by Hayley Hanna and Steven Jones, the latter having recently finished third place in Squid Game: The Challenge Season 2. He talks about that experience and what it's been like to become a reality TV show star. The crew then discusses recent developments in the home game fight between Maurice Hawkins and the aggressor Eugene Castaneda. That includes surveillance footage that shows both men going to their respective cars, where Eugene admitted that he retrieved a firearm. From there, it's a recap of Hustler Casino Live’s Million Dollar Marathon that included a $2.1 million cooler, backlash over the WSOP+ App's new ICM feature and a chop at the WSOP Paradise, and Sam Soverel's nude pic. Finally, learn about recent winners from the WSOP Paradise, WPT World Championship, and the PokerStars EPT Prague, where Yulian Bogdanov has already claimed two titles! Find out all about those stories and more in this week's episode of the PokerNews Podcast! A new PokerNews Podcast drops every Thursday at 8a PT / 11a ET / 4p UK time. Remember to so you do not miss an episode! Time Stamps *Time Topic* 00:00 | Welcome to the show 01:12 | More details regarding Maurice Hawkins' fight 05:23 | Steven Jones talks Squid Game: The Challenge 16:14 | Hustler Casino Live’s Million Dollar Marathon 17:39 | $2.1 Million Cooler 21:20 | Backlash over WSOP+ App’s new ICM feature 27:40 | Matthias Eibinger & Mike Watson chop a WSOP event 31:58 | Winners from the WSOP Paradise 33:10 | Sam Soverel’s nude pic 35:03 | Yulian Bogdanov wins two titles at EPT Prague 37:03 | Justin Arnwine, Boris Kolev & Eric Baldwin among WPT WC winners 39:28 | Hayley likes to crop dust rude customers 43:18 | Jonathan Little book giveaway
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SWAT Team Cracks Down on €100 Poker Tournament + Maurice Hawkins Fight
12/04/2025
SWAT Team Cracks Down on €100 Poker Tournament + Maurice Hawkins Fight
In the 928th episode of the PokerNews Podcast, Chad Holloway is joined by Mike Holtz and Ben Ludlow at Level 9 Studios to talk about the SWAT team raid of a low-stakes poker game in Sweden. Find out what caused armed authorities, supported by drones and even a helicopter, to raise the $100 buy-in poker tournament. The trio then discusses the physical altercation between Maurice Hawkins and a player known as "Eugene" in a Florida home game. Was Maurice running his mouth? Was it an unprovoked attack? Not only do you get to hear about what happened, but you can see some video clips of the scuffle itself. Other topics covered are Daniel Negreanu's post on players that learn via solvers versus those who do their "own thing," where Michael Addamo falls in that conversation, and PokerNews being named the official live reporting partner for the 2026 Aussie Millions. Plus, a look ahead to the WSOP Paradise, WPT World Championship & EPT Prague underway, and given that Jonathan Little is coming out with a new book, we thought it'd be a good time for another giveaway. It's your chance to win a copy of Little's book 100 Essential Tips. Find out all about those stories and more in this week's episode of the PokerNews Podcast! A new PokerNews Podcast drops every Thursday at 8a PT / 11a ET / 4p UK time. Remember to so you do not miss an episode! Time Stamps *Time Topic* 00:00 | Welcome to the show 01:03 | Authorities raid poker game in Sweden 05:23 | Maurice Hawkins’s home game scuffle 08:53 | Maurice hates Chad 15:48 | Daniel Negreanu on Solvers vs “Own Thing” 19:38 | What about Michael Addamo? 24:40 | PokerNews official live reporting partner for 2026 Aussie Millions 26:01 | WSOP Paradise, WPT World Championship & EPT Prague underway 27:46 | Jonathan Little coming out with a new book
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Is AI Killing Poker Content? And How Did PokerNews Piss Off Shaun Deeb?
11/27/2025
Is AI Killing Poker Content? And How Did PokerNews Piss Off Shaun Deeb?
In the 927th episode of the PokerNews Podcast, Chad Holloway is joined by Connor Richards at Level 9 Studios to talk about the impact of artificial intelligence (AI) when it comes to poker content. The discussion stems from the recent controversy involving the World Series of Poker (WSOP) documentary No Limit, in which showrunner Dustin Iannotti admittedly used AI in edits involving Alan Keating's quotes. The show was pulled from YouTube by the WSOP as a result, and opened up a whole can of worms. PokerNews also pissed off Shaun Deeb with an AI oopsie of our own, while ClubWPT Gold’s tweet stirred up a heated debate about marketing, women in poker, and more. It was a debate that Abby Merk jumped into headfirst while at the Asian Poker Tour (APT), where she booked a tournament win! From there, you can see highlights from the 2nd Annual Big Deal for One Drop Charity Event during F1 Las Vegas, which involved Phil Hellmuth, Jennifer Tilly, and Antonio Esfandiari, just to name a few. Oh, and the title came down to Deeb and Squid Games: The Challenge star Steven Jones. Watch to find out who won! Chad and Connor then recap recent tournament wins by Aaron Johnson and Jake Long at MSPT Ameristar East Chicago, Felipe Boianovsky taking down the Brazilian Series of Poker (BSOP) $50K Super High Roller, and Ted Jackson-Spivack claiming three CMSOP titles before they share what they're thankful for on this Thanksgiving holiday. Find out all about those stories and more in this week's episode of the PokerNews Podcast! A new PokerNews Podcast drops every Thursday at 8a PT / 11a ET / 4p UK time. Remember to so you do not miss an episode! Time Stamps *Time Topic* 00:00 | Welcome to the show 01:25 | WSOP documentary pulled amid AI controversy 14:00 | ClubWPT Gold’s tweet stirs up heated debate 18:26 | Abby Merk wins Pineapple tournament 22:27 | Steven Jones wins Big Deal for One Drop Charity Event 28:40 | PokerNews pisses off Shaun Deeb 37:30 | Aaron Johnson wins MSPT Ameristar East Chicago 38:00 | Jake Long claims four side event titles 39:02 | Felipe Boianovsky wins BSOP $50K Super High Roller Title 40:53 | Ted Jackson-Spivack wins third CMSOP title 43:20 | What are you thankful for on Thanksgiving?
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Poker Player Makes Squid Game Final with Shot at $4.56 Million!
11/20/2025
Poker Player Makes Squid Game Final with Shot at $4.56 Million!
In the 926th episode of the PokerNews Podcast, Chad Holloway is joined by Mike Holtz and Connor Richards at Level 9 Studios to talk the latest stories in the poker world. That includes former WSOP Main Event runner-up Steven Jones making the top five in the finale of Netflix's popular Squid Game: The Challenge Season 2. Find out if the poker pro was able to win the $4.56 million top prize. They also dive into the debate fueled by Daniel Negreanu and Phil Hellmuth on how many World Series of Poker (WSOP) gold bracelets there should be each year, who won the WPT bestbet Jacksonville Bounty Scramble, and why the Global Poker Awards are no more. Plus, the crew remembers Ulvis Alberts, the original WSOP photographer who recently passed away, while Connor shares details on the time he played poker on the North Korean border and his feature article on Lynard Skynard and the poker game they played on their ill-fated flight that led to a deadly plane crash. Oh, and did we mention that Sam Soverel shared a full-frontal selfie on social media? No? Well, he did. Finally, this week's recent tournament winners include Terelle Tavares winning the 888poker UKPL Coventry, Martin Kabrhel taking down BSOP High Roller, Edward Jackson-Spivack nabbing a Chainsaw Mixed Series trophy, Albert Croteau victorious in BPO Atlantic City Championship, Carl Masters winning RGPS Grand Prix Tunica II, Gal Yifrach defeating Thomas Boivin to claim the PokerStars 2025 NAPT title. Find out all about those stories and more in this week's episode of the PokerNews Podcast! A new PokerNews Podcast drops every Thursday at 8a PT / 11a ET / 4p UK time. Remember to so you do not miss an episode! Time Stamps *Time Topic* 00:00 | Welcome to the show 00:52 | How did Steven Jones do on Squid Game? 06:30 | How many WSOP bracelets should there be each year? 12:54 | WPT bestbet Jacksonville Bounty Scramble 15:25 | Global Poker Awards come to an end 18:00 | Lynard Skynard & North Korean Poker Game 20:05 | WSOP photograph Ulvis Alberts passes away 23:27 | Terelle Tavares wins 888poker UKPL Coventry 23:47 | Martin Kabrhel's takes down BSOP High Roller 26:05 | Sam Soverel goes full frontal 26:53 | Edward Jackson-Spivack wins Chainsaw Mixed Series trophy 28:27 | Albert Croteau Victorious in BPO Atlantic City Championship 29:05 | Carl Masters wins RGPS Grand Prix Tunica II 30:18 | Gal Yifrach wins PokerStars 2025 NAPT 33:10 | What’s coming up?
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Is this the Biggest Failed Bluff in Poker History? Should Tournaments Start Earlier?
11/13/2025
Is this the Biggest Failed Bluff in Poker History? Should Tournaments Start Earlier?
In the 925th episode of the PokerNews Podcast, Chad Holloway is once again joined by Mike Holtz and Ben Ludlow at Level 9 Studios to talk the latest stories in the poker world. That includes the massive $1.3 million pot from a special episode of High Stakes Poker, one that saw Alan Keating try and execute a huge bluff. Was it a valiant effort or an ill-timed move? The trio also offers their thoughts on the topic of "Should poker tournaments start earlier?", which was being discussed on social media by Seth Davies and Jason Koon. Speaking of the latter, you'll get to see highlights from 'All In with Jason Koon' from the 2025 PokerStars NAPT, as well as a look at Comedy Night with Joe "Stapes" Stapleton and RunGood Trivia Night with Boston Rob Mariano and Tyson Apostol of Survivor fame. Chad actually caught up with the two reality TV legends for a poker trivia game of his own. In other NAPT news, Jeremy Ausmus beat quad aces with a Royal Flush, Nikolai Mamut defeated TJ Reid to win the NAPT PokerStars Open, and Stephen Chidwick, Cherish Andrews, and Raena Janes all took down titles. Finally, get a preview of upcoming stops, including the next Hendon Mob Championship in Cape Town and the RGPS Grand Prix San Diego. A new PokerNews Podcast drops every Thursday at 8a PT / 11a ET / 4p UK time. Remember to so you do not miss an episode! Time Stamps *Time Topic* 00:00 | Welcome to the show 00:53 | Alan Keating bluffs it off in $1.3M pot 03:00 | Señor Tilt’s big pot on PokerGO 07:00 | Alan Keating on HSP 11:09 | Tournament start time debate 23:35 | Royal Flush cooler for Jeremy Ausmus 27:00 | All in with Jason Koon highlights 30:38 | Comedy Night with Joe Stapleton 32:47 | Highlights from Comedy Night 33:47 | Trivia Night w/ Boston Rob & Tyson 39:00 | Nikolai Mamut wins NAPT Las Vegas PS Open 42:34 | Stephen Chidwick takes down NAPT $50k Super High Roller Win 45:30 | Cherish Andrews wins NAPT Mystery Bounty 47:20 | Raena Janes wins NAPT Ladies Event 47:45 | Elaine Rawn wins NAPT Ladies High Roller 48:18 | Hendon Mob Championship 49:07 | RGPS Grand Prix San Diego 50:55 | Shoutout to Kim
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Holy S#!%! Dude Allegedly Murdered Two Friends Over Poker Game; Poker Player on Squid Game
11/06/2025
Holy S#!%! Dude Allegedly Murdered Two Friends Over Poker Game; Poker Player on Squid Game
In the 924th episode of the PokerNews Podcast, Chad Holloway is once again joined by Mike Holtz and Ben Ludlow at Level 9 Studios to talk about the latest stories in the poker world. That includes a double murder that took place at a home game in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and poker pro Steven Jones, who finished runner-up to Daniel Wienman in the 2023 World Series of Poker (WSOP) Main Event, being a contestant on Squid Game: The Challenge Season 2. From there, Chad reveals the charity fundraiser record he set with the help of the poker world, Elon Musk weighing in on the AI poker bot battle, and John Riordan winning the $100,000 PLO Super High Roller Bowl. Speaking of winners, Justin Arnwine scored big at RGPS Grand Prix Maryland. The crew then talks about the upcoming December war between the WSOP Paradise and WPT World Championship, and the new poker documentary No Limit about the former stop. A new PokerNews Podcast drops every Thursday at 8a PT / 11a ET / 4p UK time. Remember to so you do not miss an episode! Time Stamps *Time Topic* 00:00 | Welcome to the show 01:14 | Double murder at Wisconsin poker game 05:30 | Steven Jones on Season 2 of Squid Game: The Challenge 09:17 | Poker world helps Chad sets charity record 12:10 | Elon Musk and the AI poker battle 17:52 | John Riordan wins PLO Super High Roller Bowl 21:04 | Justin Arnwine scores big at RGPS Grand Prix Maryland 27:47 | WSOP initiatives & Paradise 30:12 | WSOP vs. WPT 34:42 | No Limit documentary on YouTube 36:24 | Bar Poker Open returning to Borgata 38:14 | Allen Kessler's Mixed Game Series at Planet Hollywood 39:54 | Robbie Strazynski’s Mixed Game Festival XII 40:24 | The PokerStars NAPT is here 42:00 | Run Good Trivia Night
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Poker Cheating Bombshell Involves Celebrities, NBA & the Mafia
10/30/2025
Poker Cheating Bombshell Involves Celebrities, NBA & the Mafia
In the 923rd episode of the PokerNews Podcast, Chad Holloway is once again joined by Mike Holtz and Ben Ludlow at Level 9 Studios to discuss the latest stories from the poker world. That includes the wild, mainstream poker cheating story involving NBA players and coach Chauncey Billups, the mafia, and more. As if that wasn't controversial enough, well-known poker pro Ren Lin was disqualified from a live poker tournament for helping a friend in an online one. As a result, he was indefinitely banned from GGPoker and the WSOP. Find out what happened in this episode. Other stories include a “High-Rated Poker Player’s” Las Vegas brothel, highlights from the World Tournament of Slots (WTOS), and recent tournament winners, including Charles Furey, Nick Burris, and Chino Rheem at the PGT PLO Series II. Finally, find out who the lucky winner was in the $10,000 NAPT Gold Pass giveaway! A new PokerNews Podcast drops every Thursday at 8a PT / 11a ET / 4p UK time. Remember to so you do not miss an episode! Time Stamps *Time Topic* 00:15 | Welcome to the show 01:30 | Poker cheating scandal involving NBA coach & players 07:33 | Mafia involvement 10:09 | Matt Berkey called it out two years ago 17:02 | Ren Lin’s disqualification and indefinite ban 27:30 | Daniel Negreanu defends Ren Lin 31:19 | “High-Rated Poker Player’s” Las Vegas brothel 35:50 | Highlights from the World Tournament of Slots 39:00 | NAPT Gold Pass giveaway winner 41:00 | Interview w/ Tom Pierce 45:50 | WPT Bay 101 Shooting Star final table set 49:50 | Charles Furey takes down PokerStars Open Maryland 50:33 | Nicholas Burris wins RGPS Tulsa for $65,435 51:30 | Chino Rheem Dominates PGT PLO Series II 53:00 | NAPT is upon us!
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Michael Mizrachi Drama in the Bahamas During World Tournament of Slots
10/24/2025
Michael Mizrachi Drama in the Bahamas During World Tournament of Slots
In the 922nd episode of the PokerNews Podcast, Chad Holloway is down at the Atlantis on Paradise Island in the Bahamas for the 2nd Annual World Tournament of Slots (WTOS). Reigning World Series of Poker (WSOP) Main Event champ Michael "The Grinder" Mizrachi is also there and agreed to serve as a special cohost for this episode. Mizrachi talks about life after his unprecedented summer, his son getting into poker, hobbies outside of the game, and his thoughts on the Poker Hall of Fame. The two hosts then welcome special guest "Mama Grinder," who is down in the Bahamas with her son so she can participate in the WTOS! Find out what she thinks of her son's success, how she's passed down her competitive spirit, and her favorite slot machine. You'll also see highlights from Mizrachi's Mixed Games Match-Up "Drama in the Bahamas" against defending WTOS champ Stephanie "Win-It-All" Hall, and an interview with poker pro Eddie Blumenthal, who just happened to be down in the Bahamas. Blumenthal talks about getting sober at the beginning of the year and how it's had a positive impact on his life. Finally, it is the last episode in our $10,000 NAPT Gold Pass giveaway, meaning the final code word drops, and you now have until 11:59 p.m. PT on Sunday, October 26 to get in the correct code phrase to be entered to win. A new PokerNews Podcast drops every Thursday at 8a PT / 11a ET / 4p UK time. Remember to so you do not miss an episode! Time Stamps *Time Topic* 00:20 | Welcome Michael “The Grinder” Mizrachi 01:03 | Back at the Atlantis Paradise Island for WTOS 01:44 | Life after winning the World Series of Poker 03:19 | New GGPoker sponsorship 05:13 | Are there any poker players that you’re afraid of? 05:55 | Grinder’s son taking up the game 07:14 | World Tournament of Slots 08:20 | Hobbies outside of poker 10:20 | What’s coming up for the Grinder? 12:00 | Thoughts on the Poker Hall of Fame 13:08 | Mama Grinder joins the show 18:08 | Drama in the Bahamas highlights 23:00 | Interview w/ Stephanie “Win It All” Hall 28:45 | Eddie Blumenthal’s sobriety journey
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You Won’t Believe the Hands from this Las Vegas High-Stakes Poker Cash Game
10/16/2025
You Won’t Believe the Hands from this Las Vegas High-Stakes Poker Cash Game
In the 921st episode of the PokerNews Podcast, Chad Holloway, Mike Holtz, and Ben Ludlow are all at Level 9 Studios in Las Vegas with high-stakes poker player Brian Okin for a special episode devoted to Okin's Game on Venetian Poker Live. The live-streamed cash game has produced some wildly entertaining hands and offers lineups that regularly include poker stars like Jean-Robert Bellande, Eric Wasserson, Matt Berkey, Martin Kabrhel, and regining WSOP Main Event champ Michael "The Grinder" Mizrachi; as well as, relative newcomers, at least to the poker spotlight, such as Royski and Dr. Phil. If you're not familiar with Brian Okin, this is your chance to learn about his poker origins in Manhattan, which included playing in the famed Molly's Game, to his transition to Las Vegas. Learn the ins and outs of what it takes to put together a regular high-stakes poker cash game, what exactly is 'Squid Game' in poker, and a look at some of the most famous hands played by Okin including bluffing into the nuts and winning a monster pot worth $320,000! A new PokerNews Podcast drops every Thursday at 8a PT / 11a ET / 4p UK time. Remember to so you do not miss an episode! Time Stamps Time Topic 0:00 Welcome to the show 0:39 Who is Brian Okin? 5:33 Moving to Las Vegas 7:50 Molly’s Game 11:33 Starting Okin’s Game 14:46 What is Squid Game in poker? 16:50 Players from Okin’s Game 22:39 Constructing a non-pro poker game 26:26 Mariano vs. Royski 32:03 An unbelievable fold 39:08 A $320K Pot! 41:45 Bluffing Michael “The Grinder” Mizrachi 44:33 The Bobblehead 46:52 Bluffing into the nuts 50:55 Okin’s brand of tilt
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