PokerNews Podcast

In the 957th episode of the PokerNews Podcast, Chad Holloway, Mike Holtz, and Ben Ludlow are at Level 9 Studio in Las Vegas to sit down with TJ Reid, the recently-appointed Manager of the World Series of Poker (WSOP) Circuit. Reid talks about his vision for the WSOP Circuit, upcoming plans, and how he'll help foster a better overall player experience. He offers a unique perspective as a player himself; in fact, he finished fourth in the WSOP Paradise $25K Super Main Event last December for $3,000,000. Speaking of which, Reid talks about that whole experience, including having a front-row seat to the infamous Eric Wasserson slowroll against Benny Glaser. A new PokerNews Podcast drops every Thursday at 8a PT / 11a ET / 4p UK time. Remember to subscribe to our YouTube channel so you do not miss an episode! Time Stamps *Time Topic* 00:00 | Welcome to the show 01:00 | TJ's WSOP opportunity 06:00 | WSOP's need for more faces 10:40 | What players should get excited about 12:50 | Coming back to Milwaukee? 15:10 | Hailing from Missouri 16:00 | Winning $3M at WSOPP 19:50 | How'd you celebrate? 20:30 | Eric Wasserson slowrolls Benny Glaser 26:35 | His first $25K tournament 27:54 | Follow TJ Reid

In the 956th episode of the PokerNews Podcast, Chad Holloway hosts his final show from the 2026 World Series of Poker Europe (WSOPE) in Prague, where he is joined by special guests Martin Kabrhel, Lexy Gavin-Mather, Dan "Jungleman" Cates, and Landon Tice. Find out what they all had to say about the 2026 WSOP Europe and more. Plus, "Jungleman" doesn't shy away from calling out scammers and sharing his thoughts on Maurice Hawkins! Finally, Calum Grant conducts a winner interview with the 2026 WSOP Main Event winner Marius Kudzmanas. A new PokerNews Podcast drops every day this week at approximately 8a PT / 11a ET / 4p UK time. Remember to subscribe to our YouTube channel so you do not miss an episode! Time Stamps *Time Topic* 00:00 | Welcome to the show 00:50 | Martin Kabrhel 09:29 | Lexy Gavin-Mather 15:42 | Dan 'Jungleman' Cates 23:20 | Landon Tice 28:15 | Marius Kudzmanas Wins WSOPE Main Event

In the 955th episode of the PokerNews Podcast, Chad Holloway is joined by Mike Holtz and Ben Ludlow for a special episode devoted to the latest update in The Lodge saga. The popular poker room near Austin, Texas, was raided back on March 10, and authorities had a 30-day window, until April 9, to file for civil asset forfeiture. Despite not yet filing any criminal charges, authorities did file a document with the 480th Judicial District Court in Williamson County that explained why the state is holding on to over $2 million in assets. The future of The Lodge Card Club is uncertain now that the state can hold onto the money. But Thursday's outcome doesn't mean this is the end for the major poker club, nor does it ensure criminal charges will never be filed. The nine-page court document indicates the state is no longer pursuing money laundering allegations against the Texas card room and instead is focusing on the alleged illegal gambling aspect. What does this mean for the future of poker in Texas? There may be some clues in the court documents, which the crew explores in full. A new PokerNews Podcast drops every day this week at approximately 8a PT / 11a ET / 4p UK time. Remember to subscribe to our YouTube channel so you do not miss an episode! Time Stamps *Time Topic* 00:00 | Welcome to the show 00:42 | Authorities file before deadline 03:00 | Focus on illegal gambling; money laundering dropped 05:30 | The Texas poker model under fire? 12:00 | Raking tournaments? 15:30 | Isn't Texas supposed to be land of the free? 19:00 | Where did the money come from? 21:27 | Could a settlement be in store? 23:17 | What are economic benefits?

In the 954th episode of the PokerNews Podcast, Chad Holloway is at the 2026 World Series of Poker Europe (WSOPE) in Prague, where he is joined by special guest cohost Josh Arieh, the 2021 WSOP Player of the Year. Together, they discuss the enraged player who was disqualified deep in the €5,300 PLO European Championship, players who were upset on the bubble of that tournament when a chip leader gave the short-stacked big blind a walk, and recent bracelet winners such as Ole Schemion, Mike Leah, and Pedro Faustino. Arieh then talks about his deep run in the WSOP Europe Main Event, which ended in no small part due to his pocket aces getting cracked on the river. He also shares his thoughts on Prague, having the support of his wife, the Poker Hall of Fame, and playing golf with Daniel Negreanu. Finally, Chad tells you a bit about PokerNews' MyPlayers feature and catches up with 2023 WSOP Player of the Year Ian Matakis, who made the trip from Minnesota over to Prague. Will he be going for POY again? A new PokerNews Podcast drops every day this week at approximately 8a PT / 11a ET / 4p UK time. Remember to subscribe to our YouTube channel so you do not miss an episode! Time Stamps *Time Topic* 00:00 | Welcome To The Show 00:46 | Player Gets DQ'ed From WSOPE 06:47 | PLO Bubble Controversy 09:47 | Arieh's Deep Main Event Run 20:32 | Recent Bracelet Winners 25:07 | Living In Las Vegas

In the 953rd episode of the PokerNews Podcast, Chad Holloway is at the 2026 World Series of Poker Europe (WSOPE) in Prague, where he is joined by special guest cohost Shaun Deeb, who talked about losing to quads twice when heads up for a gold bracelet. He then talks about his passion for the Player of the Year race, responds to Nick Palma's poor sportsmanship comments, and shares his thoughts on the controversial Maurice Hawkins and the WSOP Circuit. Deeb also talks about whether or not he'd encourage his children to play poker, playing the National Heads-Up Poker Championship, coaching Hellmuth's sons, and why he thinks he'll ultimately surpass Phil Hellmuth atop the all-time bracelet list. Finally, Deeb opens up about turning 40 and becoming eligible for the Poker Hall of Fame. Does he think he should get in? Deeb has never been one to shy away from sharing his thoughts, and that proved true in this in-depth interview from the 2026 WSOP Europe. A new PokerNews Podcast drops every day this week at approximately 8a PT / 11a ET / 4p UK time. Remember to subscribe to our YouTube channel so you do not miss an episode! Time Stamps 00:00 Welcome to the show 01:50 Losing to quads… twice! 05:31 Going for WSOP Player of the Year 06:08 How does Prague compare to Rozvadov? 07:40 Responding to Nick Palma's comments 09:57 Allen Kessler prop bet 11:44 Thoughts on Maurice Hawkins 16:13 Deeb for Poker Hall of Fame 19:30 Would you encourage your kids to play poker? 24:04 What was your go-to game as a kid? 27:16 Will you get more bracelets than Hellmuth? 28:41 National Heads-Up Poker Championship 29:30 Playing action Kevin Pollak

In the 952nd episode of the PokerNews Podcast, Chad Holloway is at the 2026 World Series of Poker Europe (WSOPE) in Prague where he is joined by special guest cohost Annette Obrestad, who is famously the youngest-ever gold bracelet winner and has made a long-awaited return to the felt after nearly a decade away from the game. The Norwegian pro, who stunned the poker world by winning the 2007 WSOP Europe Main Event at just 18, spoke candidly about her decision to step away, citing burnout and a desire to explore life beyond poker. Now back at WSOP Europe, Obrestad says she's rediscovered her competitive spark and is eager to test herself once again against elite fields. During her time away, she focused on a variety of creative pursuits and personal interests, including a YouTube makeup channel and competitive Scrabble, giving her a fresh perspective that she believes will benefit her game as she re-enters the spotlight. A new PokerNews Podcast drops every day this week at approximately 8a PT / 11a ET / 4p UK time. Remember to subscribe to our YouTube channel so you do not miss an episode! Time Stamps *Time Topic* 00:00 | Welcome to the show 01:14 | Annette Back at WSOPE 03:39 | Where Has Annette Been? 05:43 | Competitive Scrabble 08:03 | Makeup YouTuber 13:28 | 2007 World Series of Poker Europe

In the 951st episode of the PokerNews Podcast, Chad Holloway is at the 2026 World Series of Poker Europe (WSOPE) in Prague where he is joined by special guest cohost Nick "Nicky P" Palma, who is fresh off a big online Sunday where he took down two major tournaments. Plus, he's debuted a new vlog at the WSOPE, talks about his online bracelet win from last fall, and shares his candid thoughts on Shaun Deeb and Maurice Hawkins. If you're not familiar with Nicky P, here's your chance to get a genuine look at the poker pro from the Bronx. Plus, the duo recap the bracelet winners thus far, including Corel Theuma and Anca Eggenberger, talk about Shaun Deeb's two runner-up finishes after losing to quads in both, and the current 2026 WSOP Player of the Year standings. The man on top might not be who you expect. Plus, Etay made a final table, the Main Event set a record, and Nicky P played a viral hand on stream after flopping a set of jacks. See the hand and hear from the man himself as to what he was thinking and why he ultimately decided to do what he did. Time Stamps *Time Topic* 00:00 | Welcome to the show 00:13 | Nick Palma joins the show 01:20 | Corel Theuma claims the first bracelet 2:17 | Shaun Deeb loses heads-up twice 05:06 | Deeb for Poker Hall of Fame 08:15 | Current Player of the Year standings 08:50 | Other bracelet winners 10:19 | Etay makes Ladies Event final table 11:40 | Difference between old & new WSOPE 13:00 | Main Event update 13:47 | Nick's bracelet win 17:51 | Nicky P's viral poker hand 21:23 | Nick's new poker vlog 24:00 | Thoughts on Maurice Hawkins 26:30 | What's coming up?

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 subscribe to our YouTube channel 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

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 subscribe to our YouTube channel 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

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 subscribe to our YouTube channel 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

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 subscribe to our YouTube channel 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

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 subscribe to our YouTube channel 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

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 subscribe to our YouTube channel 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

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 you can read more about here. 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 subscribe to our YouTube channel 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

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 subscribe to our YouTube channel 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

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 subscribe to our YouTube channel 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?

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 subscribe to our YouTube channel 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

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 subscribe to our YouTube channel 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?

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 subscribe to our YouTube channel 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

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 subscribe to our YouTube channel 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