Friday’s Hustler Casino Live was Bonkers and a New Poker Legend was Born



Friday night’s Hustler Casino Live stream was so entertaining that producer Ryan Feldman cut it short and will air the rest on May 25, one day prior to the show’s historic $1 million buy-in poker game.

The decision to stop the stream in the middle of a juicy game didn’t sit well with many fans who expressed their displeasure on social media. But, as Feldman explained in a tweet, there were “good reasons” to do so. In that high-stakes game, one player lost nearly $600,000, a mystery player showed up and became an instant legend, and poker vlogger Mariano Grandoli took down a $600,000 pot with a straight flush against the nut flush.

Mariano Wins One of the Sickest Poker Hands of the Year

If there was an award for the best poker hand of 2023 thus far, many would vote for this one. In the hand in question, Mariano raised from under the gun to $500 with K10. Charles, a high-stakes regular on the show, raised to $2,000 with 87 on the button. Andy “Stacks,” a legend in the Los Angeles high-stakes community who was already down six-figures for the night, made the call from the big blind with A4.

Mariano then decided to four-bet it to $9,000, which didn’t convince either player to fold. Three-way to the flop they went, and it came out 9JQ.

“Oh no, you’ve got to be kidding me!” Hustler Casino Live announcer David Tuchman exclaimed.

With the hand being straight flush versus ace-high flush and both players having stacks of at least $300,000, there wasn’t any foreseeable way to avoid blood. All three players checked to see a meaningless 3 on the turn. Andy again checked to set the trap, but little did he know Mariano, who then bet $8,000, had him drawing dead.

Charles, of course, moved out of the way with his eight-high, and then when action returned to the preflop aggressor, he raised it up to $35,000. With a straight flush, Mariano called and then a fourth diamond — 6 — appeared on the river. Andy bet out $120,000 before his opponent jammed all in for $257,000.

Given the board wasn’t paired, Andy simply couldn’t find a fold with the A, so he made the call and then found out the bad news that he had just lost a $611,300 pot.

The brutal cooler was only half of Andy’s horrendous luck on Friday night. He was down $599,700 when the stream was cut about six hours into the game. How he finished the session will be revealed on May 25. Mariano was up $332,900 at the show’s conclusion.

The Legend of Brad

brad hustler casino live poker

There was a mystery player named “Brad” who appeared late in the stream and became an instant legend for his gamble mentality. He made Alan Keating seem like Allen Kessler.

Brad bought in for $100,000 and immediately made his presence known when he called a four-bet jam for $85,000 total with just 43 preflop against Andy’s KQ. As bad as Andy was running on this night, it was no surprise that Brad paired up on the turn and took down the pot.

Moments later, however, Brad would punt off the chips he won against Andy in a pot versus Charles. In that hand, with about $50,000 in the middle on a board of 10629, he put his opponent all in for $88,000 with A3. The bluff didn’t get through because Charles, who snap-called, had 22 for a set. Brad was drawing dead and was back under his starting stack.

Within minutes, he was all in for $62,000 with 32 preflop against the 77 “Dentist Dave” held. The best hand would scoop the pot and it was time for another $100,000 rebuy from Brad.

On his second bullet, it took him little time to spin up a fortune. After taking down a decent pot, he called a three-bet to $8,000 from Mariano, who held AA, with 65. “Bobo,” who has become a regular on Hustler Casino Live, made it $25,000 with AK before Mariano then five-bet to $60,000.

Brad, in character, wasn’t going anywhere so he called, leaving about $72,000 behind and was covered by both players. Bobo then moved all in for about $180,000 more. Mariano and Brad both snap-called. All three players agreed to run it twice, and the first run out of J342K gave Brad a winning straight, guaranteeing he’d at least scoop half of the main pot.

No way could six-high win both run outs, right? The second board went 36627, trips for Brad, who took down the entire main pot and all of a sudden had over $400,000 in his stack. He was far from done. Shortly after, with the nut full house on the river, Andy attempted a six-figure bluff with five-high before being forced to fold when his opponent moved all in.

Following that hand, Brad was sitting on over $700,000 for a profit of more than $500,000. He’d give some of it back before the stream was cut, but he still finished with a $359,900 profit, slightly more than Mariano’s score. He did so while VPIP’ing at 85%, meaning he voluntarily put chips in the pot 85% of the hands he was dealt.

The Friday evening Hustler Casino Live stream had numerous six-figure pots and the game was so intense that even Nikhil “Nik Airball” Arcot, usually the most active and vocal player in the game, was almost an afterthought on this night. We’ll all find out how the session concluded and if Brad left Hustler Casino with money on May 25. For now, you can watch the first six hours of the show on HCL’s YouTube channel.

Top 5 Hustler Casino Live Hands of 2022





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$1.6 Million at Stake and Phil Hellmuth is Furious!



Last year, poker legend Phil Hellmuth battled against seasoned high-stakes pro Jason Koon in a match where the winner took home a staggering $1.6 million. This poker hand, which was played during PokerGO’s High Stakes Duel III, shows us The Poker Brat in all his glory as he faces an unlucky river that sends him on a classic Hellmuth tirade.

Hellmuth is never happy when he loses and this was no different as he lets it all rip. It was a quick demise after this poker hand which saw Jason Koon winning the $1.6 million match, all the while leaving Hellmuth furious at how bad he runs!

Read About the Heads-Up Match Between Hellmuth and Koon!

Let’s examine the hand in this PokerNews strategy column. The action kicked off with blinds of 3,000/6,000/6,000 and Hellmuth limping in on the button with K2 with a stack of 187,000 for around 30 big blinds. Jason Koon then raised to 24,000 in the big blind with 64 and a stack of 1,400,000. Hellmuth called.

While some players may be surprised by Koon’s raise with the six-high, the GTO strategy in this scenario is for Koon to raise with both his best hands and junky suited-connector hands. Those are hands that will do very well against an opponent’s limp-calling range.

The flop landed JJJ and Koon continued for 30,000 as Hellmuth called with his king-high. Koon is going to have a lot of good pairs in his range, so I like his decision to continue here for around two-thirds pot. This is a scenario where Koon is going to have a big range and nut advantage.

Phil Hellmuth and Jason Koon
Phil Hellmuth and Jason Koon

Hullmuth’s call with king-high and a backdoor flush draw may look a little loose but I think it’s probably fine. However, Hellmuth could have a difficult time realizing his equity if he expects Koon to continue barreling on the turn or river.

Koon slowed down and checked on the Q turn and Hellmuth checked back. The queen is an interesting card because I don’t think Koon is going to have very many queens in his range since he will mainly have ace-high, underpairs and junk. Hellmuth has an easy check-back with his king-high, since he is probably always beat if he bets and gets called.

The 4 river completed the board to give Koon a little full house and he elected to lead out for 36,000. Hellmuth paid him off and went on a signature tirade after losing the pot thanks to an unfortunate river card.

What would you do in Hellmuth’s situation?

I like Koon’s small bet size after making the full house since his hand is good but not great and he is looking to get called by a hand like ace-high. I thought Hellmuth played the hand well and got pretty unlucky on the river.

The very next hand, Koon raised with Q8 and Hellmuth three-bet with AK. Koon wasn’t buying it and four-bet to put Hellmuth all in. Hellmuth called before the board ran out 410Q103 to win Koon the match.

For more on this hand check out my breakdown in the following video:

Jonathan Little is a professional poker player and author with over $7,000,000 in live tournament earnings. He writes a weekly educational blog and hosts a podcast at JonathanLittlePoker.com. Sign up to learn poker from Jonathan for free at PokerCoaching.com. You can follow him on Twitter @JonathanLittle.





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888Poker Ontario Changes The Game With “Card Strike” Promotion Launch



888Poker Ontario has figured out a way to bring some of the excitement of a prop betting sheet into the realm of online poker with the launch of the Card Strike promotion.

The bingo style-game gives players a grid of 16 cards which the player fills up by checking their hold cards off as they appear. If you fill out the grid in time, you win a randomized cash prize.

As well as launching the Card Strike promotion, 888Poker Ontario has also undergone a major change in its tournament offerings, having dispensed with the classic sit’n’go format.

These changes have both been made as part of 888Poker Ontario‘s efforts to improve the user experience.

How Does 888Poker Ontario’s Card Strike Promotion Work?

The Card Strike promotion is a completely free bingo-style game that runs peripherally on all No-Limit Hold’em and Pot-Limit Omaha cash game tables.

Every player is given a hand limit and sixteen cards on a two-by-eight grid. Every time your hole cards match one of the cards, that car is marked off on the grid.

If you fill the grid before the hand limit runs out, you get to spin a wheel to determine your prize. The biggest prize is $10,000 with the size of the potential prizes and the odds of each prize bracket adjusted by the table’s buy-in.

The higher the stakes, the better your chances of spinning up a big prize.

It’s a clever little extra feature that costs nothing to opt into. The 888Poker Ontario client even fills in your grid as you go, making this an easy and fun spin on a cashback promotion.

To play, the only effort you have to make you have to do is be in Ontario and load up the 888Poker Ontario client.

CLICK TO DOWNLOAD 888POKER ONTARIO AND JOIN THE ACTION

Spin’n’Goes Killed The Sit’n’Go Star

The 888Poker Ontario client is also changing its on-demand tournament offerings. The poker site quietly killed the standard sit’n’go a couple of weeks ago. The goal of this change was to improve the liquidity of 888Poker Ontario’s more popular Blast tournaments—the Blast Tournament is 888Poker‘s spin’n’go product.

The change to the tournament platform was made without notice or fanfare on May 2.

Eliminating less popular formats is a good strategy in smaller jurisdictions like Ontario. With a smaller player base, poker operators have to work hard to ensure players can easily find a game. Too many options would risk players being spread too thin and result in long wait times while tables fill up.

Stick with PokerNews for Ontario news, views, and gossip, as well as all the info on the upcoming tournament series and poker festivals that are coming your way.

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For more information, visit the Ontario Players Homepage

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Relax Gaming Released the ”Mega Heist” Slot Game

Relax Gaming Released the ''Mega Heist'' Slot Game


The award-winning iGaming aggregator and content provider Relax Gaming, has got a new slot release. This time, the Mega Heist slot game offers tons of action to players and invites them to take advantage of the captivating gameplay to chase the maximum prize of as much as 15,000 times the player’s bet.

Prison Escape Theme:

Mega Heist is a highly volatile game with RTP of 96.19% that will drag the player into the game set across the reels in the 5×4 pattern. The plot features a popular prison escape theme and the inmate characters being chased by the police and committing the robbery. One cannot help but compare the title with the famous Money Heist Netflix series and the memorable scenes of the frantic street chase. This reference may only attract more players to give credit to the supplier for the idea.

The slot delivers action throughout the gameplay and the characters on the furious run down the city streets trigger features like the Escape Bonus or Mega Heist Bonus to help players achieve some lucrative wins along the way. They will also need to rush into pit stops like the gas station to take the money and run with up to 150 times their bet or hit the club to be awarded the impressive win of 1,500 times their bet.

Maximum Prize:

However, the ultimate action awaits at the bank where the player should bust the place to win the award of 15,000 times the stake. The slot also offers a Buy Feature for players to skip the chase and get straight into the heist.

Commenting on the latest release, Shelley Hannah, Director of Casino Products at Relax Gaming, said: “This title is packed with the adventure and mischief we know our players love. With exciting features, immersive environments, and captivating characters, Mega Heist has a lot in store for our volatility-loving audience.”

About the Provider:

As one of the leading software developers and content aggregators in the iGaming industry, Relax Gaming boasts of a wide recognition of its commitment to content excellence. Indeed, multiple prestigious awards, including the Best Mobile Gaming Software Provider at the EGR B2B Awards, Casino/Slot Developer of the Year at the SBC Awards, and Best Game Provider at the AskGamblers Awards in 2022 testify to the quality of its operations and the studio’s strategy tuned to meet the most selective requirements.

Such a strategy of Relax Gaming is supported by its extensive library of more than 4,000 online games and multiple B2B partnerships with reputable providers to ensure content versatility and availability at all times. In line with the strategy, Mega Heist is now available to players looking for a slot packed with action, which impeccable technical features to facilitate an outstanding player experience.





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Boxing Betting Online ᗎ All You Need to Know About Betting on Boxing


Boxing Betting Overview

The world of online boxing betting is incredibly diverse and features everything you need for an excellent experience. You will soon discover what lies in store, but we want to give some important information before we dive in.

Online gambling can be a risky thing without the proper checks and oversight. For this reason, we strongly advise against betting at any unregulated sportsbooks. There are plenty of legal and legit operators that you can try out.

Any online bookmaker licensed by the UK Gambling Commission has been proven safe and reliable. The UKGC licence guarantees that you will receive your money when you want it. Moreover, you can trust that the bookie abides by responsible gambling practices and will not exploit you. With that covered, we can get into the meat of the matter.

Boxing Bet Types

There are many different types of boxing bets for you to choose from. Each is different, allowing you to bet on specific factors of any given match. Online sportsbooks are known for offering excellent variety, and you can see it for yourself just by browsing the online boxing betting markets.

Some wagers are suitable for newbies, while others are better left to veterans. As you can imagine, you will find both low- and high-risk options, depending on your preferences. Below, we have outlined some of the most popular ways to try betting on boxing:

Bet Type: Explanation:
Match Winner Predict which boxer will come out on top and win the match.
Method of Victory Guess how the match will end: decision, TKO, DQ, etc.
Round Betting With round betting, you can predict who will win individual rounds. This bet type enables you to make up to a dozen wagers per match.
Go the Distance Try to predict whether or not a match will go for the full number of rounds.
Round Totals Predict whether the total number of rounds will be under or over a certain number.
Proposition Bets Prop bets give you the opportunity to bet on very specific factors that are not directly connected with the final outcome. This includes a wide array of options, such as punches thrown, punches landed, will there be a knockdown, etc.
Parlay Parlay bets are intricate bet options that comprise of multiple smaller wagers. You can combine several bets into a parlay and get a better payout than usual. All legs of the parlay must win to succeed in this bet type.
Futures Futures wagers are designed for long-term outcomes rather than individual matches. For example, you can try to predict the winner of a tournament or series. Futures offer high payouts, but the risk is much greater than other bet types.

The above is a relatively small selection of all available bet options. It’s up to you to browse the online betting boxing markets and see what’s to your liking. If you’re just getting into the world of online sports gambling, we recommend starting out small. Pick simpler bet types and progressively dip your toes into more complicated features.

The best sports betting sites in the UK are equipped to accommodate your needs as a new bettor. Of course, if you already know what you’re doing, then more power to you.

Live Boxing Betting

Live boxing betting is an innovative feature made possible by the Internet. Unlike pre-match betting, which is only done before the event begins, in-play bets are made during the match. Of course, there are other differences. For one, the odds change as the match progresses. Whenever something happens, you will see a shift in the odds to reflect the current situation.

The beauty of live boxing betting is that it gives you the opportunity to make some exciting calls. You can use the dynamic nature of the markets to capitalise on any situation. What’s more, live betting also includes a large number of bet types, allowing you to make complex and intricate predictions for the short term.

To help you better understand the match, the best live betting sites in the UK will provide you either with a live stream or a virtual interface with detailed statistics. This is especially useful if you don’t have other means of watching the match.

Boxing Betting Odds

When participating in any form of online sports betting, it’s important to consider the odds you’re offered. We’re not talking about match-by-match but the payouts from all online boxing betting markets combined. Evaluating these figures will give you a good idea of which operators are the most suitable for your needs.

Online sportsbooks make their profits by offering odds slightly lower than the zero-sum. They keep a small percentage of all bets taken as their income. Naturally, the lower this amount is, the better odds you’ll be betting at. Below, we have done a rough breakdown of the boxing odds at several premium brands:

Of course, the payouts are not everything, but they certainly play a significant role. Betting on boxing, or any other sport, is a numbers game at the end of the day. As such, the odds are an important factor to consider before signing up at any bookie.

It’s important to fully consider all other aspects of an online betting site. While some platforms offer lower odds, they may excel in other areas, such as bonuses. We recommend looking at all features that interest you before making a decision. Even if an online betting site doesn’t have the best numbers, it can surprise you with other benefits.

Odds Formats

When you sign up at any boxing betting site, you will have the option to switch how the odds are displayed. By default, UK sportsbooks will use the fractional format. However, you will also have the option to switch to American and decimal odds. This doesn’t change anything about the payouts or the risk involved, but it does allow you to use the format best suited to your preferences. It’s just a neat feature for those who want something different.

Popular Boxing Events to Bet On

Now that you have a good idea of how online boxing betting works, what can you actually bet on? As it happens, there are plenty of excellent occasions to put your boxing knowledge to the test. Boxing events happen all the time, and you will always have something to look forward to. Below, we have listed some of the top-rated boxing events in the world that you don’t want to miss:

  • World Championship Fights
  • Boxing World Cup
  • Boxing at the Olympic Games
  • Boxing Hall of Fame Fights

These are some world-class events that millions of viewers tune in to watch. You can be certain that boxing betting sites will have something good in store when the time comes. Whether that would be in the form of great odds or special bonuses, you can expect plenty of value. Of course, there are also national events to check out. Pretty much every country has its own tournaments, including the UK. Sportsbooks often have schedules that you can check out for more info.

Bonuses for Betting on Boxing

If you want to try betting on boxing matches, you may want to consider getting a betting bonus. There are plenty of offers at UK online sportsbooks that you can benefit from. These are usually available from the moment you open an account. Moreover, you can claim more offers down the line, especially when major events take place.

Bonuses give you some benefits, whether it’s more cash to bet with, odds boosts, free bets, lost bet refunds, etc. They will contribute to your online betting experience. If you are smart with your bonus use, then you can get quite ahead.

Of course, bonuses are not as clear-cut as that. After all, nobody just gives out free money. There are rules that you have to follow if you wish to cash out your bonus. Diving into the terms and conditions of each offer, you will find a long list of rules. Most of it is quite dull and unimportant, but there are several key factors you need to look out for. Below, we have listed the most important ones:

  • Turnover RequirementThis indicates how many times you need to stake the bonus amount before you can withdraw the bonus.
  • Minimum OddsThis rule states the minimum odds for your bets to count toward the turnover requirement.
  • Allowed EventsSome bonuses may allow betting on select events or sports. Make sure that your chosen offer can be used for boxing matches.
  • Bonus DurationBonuses are available for a limited time. If you don’t complete the turnover requirement within the permitted time, your bonus will be removed.
  • Minimum DepositSome promotions require a deposit on your part. The sportsbook will state what the minimum accepted amount is.
  • Accepted Payment MethodsThere are bookies that restrict the payment methods you can use to claim a bonus. Most commonly, e-wallets, such as Skrill and Neteller, are excluded.

These are only some of the common rules to look out for, but there can be others in place. Make sure to read the T&Cs before claiming any bonus. While it may take you a couple of minutes to read the whole thing, it definitely pays off in the end. Doing your due diligence will help you find out which promos are worth your attention.

If you don’t like the offerings of a particular sports betting site, you can always try out another. The best sports betting bonuses in the UK are readily available, and you don’t have to settle for sub-par deals.

Payment Methods for Boxing Betting

If you want to bet on boxing online, then you will need an online payment method to move money. You can’t throw cash at the screen, after all. Fortunately, the online gambling scene supports a variety of services that you can use to this end.

The list of payment methods varies between operators. However, certain services are so popular that they are present everywhere. It’s up to you to choose a suitable banking method. Here are some of the most common payment solutions for boxing betting online:

Payment Method Type: Services:
Debit Cards Visa, MasterCard, Maestro
E-wallets PayPal, Skrill, Neteller, MuchBetter, ecoPayz
Prepaid Cards Paysafecard, AstroPay, Neosurf
Other Services Bank Transfer, Trustly, Rapid Bank Transfer, Apple Pay, Revolut, Bitcoin

When determining which payment method to use, we recommend looking at the important factors. Namely, these include the ability to make both deposits and withdrawals. Most services are capable of this, but certain ones can only handle deposits. Namely, prepaid cards can only be used to make deposits. If you deposit with a prepaid voucher, you can receive your winnings via bank transfer, but this can be quite slow.

Next, we suggest looking at the transfer speeds. Most payment methods offer instant deposits. It’s the withdrawal times that are trickiest. E-wallets are, by far, the most efficient at this. Typically, an e-wallet cash out will clear within 24 hours. Other payment methods can take several business days, depending on multiple factors.

Finally, consider the fees involved. Many of the options listed above are free, but some can charge you. Most gamblers usually take up one of the e-wallet options. The quick withdrawals are the primary reason.

Popular Questions About Betting on Boxing

We have covered all the fundamentals of betting on boxing on the Internet. If you have any questions, now is the time to check out the FAQ section. We have included all the most popular queries by boxing fans, along with quick and convenient answers.

How do you bet on boxing?

Betting on boxing games is pretty similar to betting on any other sport. There are specific markets that you should explore, and you should always look for the best boxing betting markets odds. Keep in mind that in order to be able to participate in boxing betting online, you would have to make a real money deposit.

Are there benefits to online boxing betting?

Eligible bettors can take advantage of online boxing bonuses. These come in the form of free bets, bonus cash, odds boosts, and more. Regardless of the type of bonus, you can be certain that you will receive some value for your participation. Crafty users browse different sportsbooks to find the best deal.

What is round betting in boxing?

Round betting is where you bet on who will win individual rounds. It’s one of the many types of boxing bets out there. Before placing any wager, make sure you understand what it does and how much risk you’re taking on.

How are transactions done at boxing betting operators?

Boxing betting sites support a wide range of online payment methods that you can use to make deposits and withdrawals. These include debit cards, e-wallets, prepaid cards, and many others. It depends on your preferences and needs, so make sure you check the available banking solutions in advance.

What is the most exciting type of boxing betting?

If you’re looking for a challenge, then live boxing betting is the right activity for you. In-play wagering has become quite advanced, offering excellent options and odds. What’s more, it’s incredibly dynamic, as the odds change whenever something happens in the match.



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William Hill to Donate All Eurovision Betting Profits to Ukraine Refugee Relief


William Hill will donate all of its profits from Eurovision betting markets to displaced Ukrainians who are now in the UK through the Support Ukraine initiative. The funds will go toward providing food and other forms of humanitarian aid to thousands of impacted people.

The Eurovision Song Contest final will take place on Saturday in Liverpool. Many sportsbooks offer betting markets on different entertainment-related events, including the Academy Awards and different reality television shows. The main market for this weekend’s event will be backing the outright winner of the contest, but other betting options will also be available.

In the announcement of this pledge, William Hill spokesperson Lee Phelps said: “If you place a bet on the Eurovision market this weekend, Ukraine will win regardless of if customer bet slips are successful.”

event was supposed to take place in the war-torn country this year

Support Ukraine spokesperson Natalia Ravlyuk spoke about how grateful the Ukrainian people are for the UK hosting the 2023 Eurovision Song Contest. The event was supposed to take place in the war-torn country this year. She also singled out William Hill for their “fantastic gesture.”

The post William Hill to Donate All Eurovision Betting Profits to Ukraine Refugee Relief appeared first on VegasSlotsOnline News.

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Adam Hendrix Reflects on Red-Hot 2022, Focuses on Another Strong Year



Adam Hendrix had about as hot a year in 2022 as any poker player could hope for. With 47 Hendon Mob cashes, three first-place finishes and over $1.6 million in earnings in 2022, the Alaska all-time money leader spent most of the year as the clear frontrunner in the GPI Player of the Year race.

If it weren’t for a last-minute surge from Stephen Song, a good friend of his, which included an eleventh-hour victory in the inaugural World Poker Tour (WPT) Prime Championship, Hendrix would have clinched the POY award. Even still, Hendrix had a chance to re-take the top GPI spot with three days left in the year when he made a deep run at the Mid-States Poker Tour (MSPT) DeepStack Extravaganza. A top 7 finish would have made him POY; as it turned out, Hendrix fell in 49th place and had to settle as the runner-up.

“A little bit of a heartbreaker there,” said Hendrix.

Four months into the new year and Hendrix is already off to another hot start. In January, he finished third in an event at the Lucky Hearts Poker Open in Hollywood, Florida for $70,500 and, more recently, finished third in a Pot-Limit Omaha (PLO) High Roller inside the PokerGO Studio in Las Vegas for $130,500.

Hendrix also signed on as a member of the World Series of Poker (WSOP) Thrill Team, a group of high-profile ambassadors that includes Vanessa Selbst, Patrik Antonius and reigning Main Event champion Espen Jorstad.

Hendrix recently appeared on the PokerNews Podcast to discuss his rise up the poker ranks, PLO expertise and his plans for the rest of 2023. The full conversion with Hendrix can be heard here.

The “Rounders Experience”

The Alaska all-time money leader’s poker journey began in the small fishing town of Homer, where a young Hendrix would visit his grandmother during the summertime.

“When I wasn’t fishing or hanging out with the family I would turn on ESPN and watch the World Series of Poker,” he remembered. “I started loving the game just watching all these players that I’d never seen before; all the antics.”

In Homer, Hendrix and his uncles would play penny games like 5-Card Draw and the Stud variant Seven Card No Peek. It wasn’t until he enrolled at Virginia Tech in pursuit of a degree in economics that he started playing No-Limit Hold’em.

“We had a really small dormitory just off the beaten path of all the main dorms,” he said. “There (were) maybe less than a hundred people in that dorm and some of these guys invited me to a poker night in the common room and we played a $5 tournament, and I won the first one. Most people in poker, if they won the first one, they think they’re the best, or they actually have some talent for it. I probably thought I was way too good.”

Adam Hendrix
Adam Hendrix in 2017

From there, Hendrix started playing freeroll tournaments at local bars that awarded drink and food coupons. Not yet 21 and playing merely for the thrill of the game, Hendrix had no qualms with giving away his drink coupons or taking a cheesesteak sandwich as his prize. One time after busting, Hendrix and a friend were approached by a man who asked if they wanted to play a private cash game. They were interested.

After climbing through the cellar bulkhead door, the two were greeted by a “smoke-filled room with like 40 50-year-old guys” and Hendrix bought into the $1/$1 game for $62, “sort of like if you’re playing online and you have your last part of your bankroll and you put it on the table.”

“I remember I got dealt ace-ten and I flopped a full house and doubled up the very first hand,” said Hendrix. “And I end up winning like $160. My buddy … won a little bit. And I was hooked from there.”

Winning Every Euro in Barcelona

Hendrix continued to play these underground Virginia cash games and grinded online as he finished his degree and went to work in the Washington D.C. area. “I always played poker on the side,” he said. “I was streaming poker at nights, playing online, everything, just trying to grind a bankroll. And eventually switched to poker (full-time) a few years later.”

After a childhood that saw him living in Alaska, Texas, Scotland and Egypt, Hendrix, thanks to poker, once again had the opportunity to see the world. In 2019, he boarded a plane to Spain with a few friends, including Song, to play his first European Poker Tour (EPT) stop.

“And we were just trying to figure it out,” Hendrix remembered. “None of us had really ever done an EPT, we were wondering about money and everything. And I think we all brought in the maximum you could (bring), like less than $10,000 … And we were hoping that would work.”

It did work, but deep runs from both Hendrix and Song at EPT Barcelona left them with significantly more cash on hand. Hendrix finished second in the record-breaking €1,100 EPT National for $384,231 — still his biggest score to date — and Song took down the €2,200 No Limit Hold’em event for $205,341.

“So we had every euro and now we’re trying to offload all the money, figuring it all out,” said Hendrix. “A good problem to have.”

Adam Hendrix
Adam Hendrix heads-up at EPT Barcelona 2019

PLO Wizard

No-limit Hold’em wasn’t the only poker variant Hendrix learned back in Virginia. It was in those underground cash games that Hendrix was first introduced to PLO, a game that brought him a PGT High Roller title and $186,300 in 2021.

“A lot of the people back then wouldn’t want to play short-handed no-limit if they thought you were better than them or something,” he explained. “You see that at casinos where maybe the game dies and now it’s three-handed and everybody sits out. So at the time you would just play like mixed games or Omaha or something to start off the game. And that was my first actual experience with (PLO).”

Once after busting a tournament during a WSOP Circuit Horseshoe Hammond stop, Hendrix walked by the poker room and noticed a $5/$10 PLO game running.

“I was pretty interested in playing that … So you don’t get burnt out playing no-limit Hold’em tournaments every day. Sort of like anything else. If you play the same game every day, and you sit at Bellagio and play cash every, every day, you’re just going to get burnt out and be pretty miserable. So I found PLO that way, I started studying it and playing these cash games, playing online tournaments and everything like that.”

And PLO isn’t the only Omaha game that Hendrix took a strong liking to. At the 2017 WSOP, he finished runner-up to mixed-game specialist Nathan Gamble in $1,500 No-Limit Hold’em for $137,992 and to be denied a maiden bracelet.

Adam Hendrix
Adam Hendrix

What makes Hendrix excel at Omaha? “I think the skill gap in PLO is still pretty big. There (are) a lot of people that don’t bother studying at all, compared to no-limit, now everybody sort of studies in some way. But PLO is still sort of the Wild West.”

Another Strong Year

After a busy 12 months of chasing GPI Player of the Year, Hendrix started the new year by “hitting the ground running” and playing every poker stop he could get to. In January alone, Hendrix played the Lucky Hearts Poker Open in Hollywood, the Borgata Return and the PokerStars Caribbean Adventure in the Bahamas.

While the PCA trip “didn’t go so well,” he wasted no time returning home to Las Vegas and jumping into the PGT High Rollers. In March, he finished third in a $10,000 event during the PGT PLO Series for $130,000 and 11th place in a $10,000 NLH event at the US Poker Open for $31,500 as he searched for a second USPO title.

Hendrix admitted he was feeling “a lot of burnout” after the back-to-back PGT series and “now I’m taking a little bit of a break.” Even with a break in mind, Hendrix couldn’t help himself from making the trip to the World Poker Tour (WPT) Seminole Hard Rock Poker Showdown with his friend Michael Rossito (who recently took down the Wynn Millions Main Event for $604,637) and is also playing in the currently underway Lodge Championship Series in Austin, Texas.

He’s also looking forward to playing on the WSOP app more now that he’s a member of the Thrill Team, a gig that he got through the recommendation of none other than Daniel Negreanu, one of poker’s biggest ambassadors.

WSOP Thrill Team
WSOP Thrill Team

“(I’m) super grateful, it’s such a cool experience,” he said. “Because before this I was just a poker player playing only for myself. But now I get to promote the game (and) teach people different things about being a professional poker player.”

And of course, Hendrix is excited for the upcoming WSOP, where he plans to play a full schedule of both Hold’em and Omaha events. If it all goes well, he may just find himself making another run at POY.





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Popular Texas Poker Room “At the Mercy of the Court” to Remain Open



Poker House Dallas, one of the top card rooms in Texas, is facing a forced closure from the city over a Certificate of Occupancy (CO) issue.

The North Texas poker club, according to a statement provided to PokerNews, is currently at the mercy of the court system as it hopes to remain open permanently. But the laws of the land could say otherwise.

“Poker House Dallas is at the mercy of the court of appeals as to whether or not we will be able to continue after midnight, Tuesday May 23. We’re asking for the community’s support during this unsettling time for staff and players,” the statement read.

In hopes of bringing in some much needed business during a difficult time for the poker club, Poker House Dallas is offering discounts to players until judgement day.

“For the next ten days, our hourly seat rate will be changed from $13/hour to $8/hour to encourage players who still have time on their account,” the statement continued.

Texas Poker Laws are Tricky

Due to strict anti-gambling laws in the state many boast as a “free state,” poker rooms are forced to operate as membership clubs and cannot legally collect rake, a stark contrast to traditional card rooms across most of the US. And even the membership-based model isn’t good enough for some lawmakers who argue that poker, whether rake is taken out of pots or not, is illegal according to Texas Penal Code Chapter 47.

Doug Polk, who co-owns The Lodge Card Club near Austin, is among a group of Texas poker room operators who are attempting to reword the law so as to ensure there no longer is any confusion or dispute.

But Poker House Dallas is currently facing closure over a secondary issue — its Certificate of Occupancy. Or, better yet, the question of whether the club’s CO is or ever was valid. According to a District Court in Dallas, the business does not have a legal right to operate a poker room in the Dallas area. The business is currently going through the appeals process in hopes of reversing the ruling.

For now, Poker House Dallas is permitted to remain open, but they’ve been ordered to cease operations effective May 23. If the business is able to win in the appeals court, the card club will be able to continue spreading poker games.

Poker House Dallas is one of the largest poker rooms in the state with 30 tables. They offer cash games and daily tournaments, and it’s one of the most popular places to play in the Dallas-Fort Worth area. If the court isn’t willing to budge, hundreds of players will need to find somewhere else to play and dozens of workers will be out of a job.

This isn’t the first time a Texas poker room has faced closure due to Certificate of Occupancy issues. Texas Card House Dallas fought a legal battle in 2022 after the city went back on its word and revoked the room’s CO two years after approving the business model. The room was never shut down, however, and continued to operate during the legal process.





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