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In the 958th episode of the PokerNews Podcast, Chad Holloway, Mike Holtz, and Ben Ludlow are back to talk about a poker mystery. How did Esther Taylor's 2022 WPT Wynn trophy end up on eBay without her knowledge? Chad actually brought it to her attention, and after some investigating, there are more questions than answers. Was the trophy stolen? Hear from Etay herself as she shares what she thinks happened. From there, they talk about WrestleMania weekend in Las Vegas, which included Jared Bleznick (AKA Blez) meeting WWE superstar The Miz and discussing a $1.5 million sports card. From there, it's a look back at online poker's Black Friday on its 15th anniversary, plans for the 2026 World Series of Poker (WSOP), a big win by poker photographer Katerina Lukina, and winners from the 2026 PGT U.S. Poker Open, including Brock Wilson and Joao Simao. Finally, Chad shares video highlights from his trip to the record-setting Irish Open in Dublin. 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 01:20 | Etay's trophy on eBay 05:08 | Hear what Etay has to say 08:00 | Missing poker memorabilia 10:38 | WrestleMania Weekend 10:53 | Blez meets Miz 12:47 | Black Friday 15th Anniversary 18:20 | US Poker Open winners 21:44 | Past US Poker Open champions 23:10 | Congrats to Katerina Lukina 25:25 | Plans for the 2026 WSOP 28:40 | Chad at the Irish Poker Open

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 00:37 Initial reactions to the warrant 04:40 Statement from Doug Polk 06:20 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

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