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12 Times You Never Knew A Top Poker Pro Was On The Big Screen, The 5 Best Poker Pro Cameos in TV and Film in Canada

The 5 Best Poker Pro Cameos in TV and Film in Canada

As expected, a docile game of cards soon turns into a highly charged fight between the two superheroes. Negreanu is also sat at the table and can only sit back and watch as chaos ensues. In this music video, Negreanu is playing himself in a heads-up poker game.

12 Times You Never Knew A Top Poker Pro Was On The Big Screen

Professional poker players have experienced a huge rise in their star value since the 2003 online poker boom. Nowadays, they are as recognizable as sports stars, Hollywood actors, and pop singers.

Here’s a comprehensive list of poker pros who’ve made cameos in movies and music videos.

1. **Johnny Chan (Rounders)**

Johnny Chan is considered one of the best players around. [Image: Twitter/ GCVictoriaLDN]

Two-time World Series of Poker Main Event champion Chan had a cameo role in the 1998 movie Rounders.

The movie follows a reformed gambler, Mike (Matt Damon), who must return to the high stakes poker tables in order to help his friend, Worm (Edward Norton) pay off a debt to loan sharks.

In this particular scene, Chan plays himself in a moment of reminiscing by Mike, who is trying to convince underground poker player Joey (John Turturro) that he’s good enough to compete with the best poker players in the world after a bad game.

In addition to his success at the tables, Johnny Chan’s appearance in Rounders helped him achieve poker immortality.

Owner of 10 WSOP bracelets, a member of the Poker Hall of Fame, and considered one of the best players around, Chan didn’t need the role in Rounders to make him famous, but it certainly helped.

2. Phil Hellmuth (“Sex Room” by Ludacris)

“Sex Room” is a song recorded by rap artist Ludacris, which was from his seventh studio album ‘Battle of the Sexes’.

The track only managed to reach a peak of number 69 on the Billboard Hot 100 but the music video will undoubtedly be kept on archive in the Hellmuth household thanks to Phil’s brief appearance.

In the video, the 1989 World Series of Poker Main Event champion is involved in a high stakes poker game with Ludacris and his friends in Las Vegas.

3. **Daniel Negreanu (X-Men Origins: Wolverine)**

This is the first of two entries that Negreanu has on this list and he also features on our list of the top 10 richest poker players too.

The Canadian poker professional has six World Series of Poker bracelets to his name and was inducted into the Poker Hall of Fame back in 2014.

His appearance in this 2009 release of X-Men Origins: Wolverine is brief but worth mentioning. The scene revolves around Wolverine’s (Hugh Jackman) poker game with Gambit (Taylor Kitsch).

As expected, a docile game of cards soon turns into a highly charged fight between the two superheroes. Negreanu is also sat at the table and can only sit back and watch as chaos ensues.

Remember, everything you do at the table conveys information, so it looks like Negreanu is using this opportunity to pick up some tells.

4. **Phil Laak (Runner Runner)**

Phil Laak, Irish poker pro. [Image: Twitter/dmarknewman]

Arguably, this is the least inspiring combination of movie and poker professional. Laak has his achievements, sure. He doesn’t have that decorated WSOP championship though.

Granted, the Irish poker pro has won a World Poker Tour title and owns one WSOP bracelet but compared to the others on this list, it’s a bit lower down the achievements order.

Runner Runner is the same. It’s an average film. You can watch the trailer below:

However, what Laak may lack in terms of official achievements, he more than makes up for with his personality.

There are very few characters in the poker world that are as colorful and as entertaining to watch as Phil Laak, and there is no doubt his antics at the tables and away from them have helped attract many new fans.

Anyway, his appearance in this movie was more exposure for poker in the film industry, so that can only be a good thing, right?

5. **Chris Ferguson (Lucky You)**

Chris Ferguson, American poker pro. [Image: Wikipedia]

Lucky You is a movie that was released back in 2007 and told the story of talented poker player Huck Cheever (Eric Bana) and his turbulent relationship with his former professional poker player father L.C. Cheever (Robert Duvall).

Ferguson is one of a host of poker pros, including Doyle Brunson, Antonio Esfandiari, Dan Harrington, and Erik Seidel, that make a cameo in this movie.

You can watch the trailer below:

It was shot around Las Vegas poker rooms, with a key scene taking place in the Bellagio and Binion’s Horseshoe.

Ferguson won the World Series of Poker Main Event in 2000 and this movie appearance came a number of years before Black Friday in 2011 when his reputation took a battering after the downfall of Absolute Poker, Full Tilt Poker, and PokerStars.

6. Daniel Negreanu (“Waking Up in Vegas” by Katy Perry)

Here he is again; Negreanu with another PR appearance.

In this music video, Negreanu is playing himself in a heads-up poker game.

Unfortunately, he is on the losing end of a high stakes hand to Perry and her male partner (Joel David Moore), who are on a lucky streak in Vegas.

The song was released in 2009 and reached the top 10 in eight different countries. It appeared on Perry’s hit second studio album ‘One of the Boys’.

Fun fact: Casino.org actually did an interview with the guy dressed as Elvis who marries Katy Perry in this video. He’s a real minister and has married thousands of couples in Vegas.

7. **Dan Bilzerian (Lone Survivor)**

While there are many arguments to be made if Bilzerian belongs in the group of professional poker players (or actors, for that matter), the fact remains he’s been playing high stakes poker for a long time now, and he is well known in poker circles.

Not the one to shy away from attention and often actively seeking it, Bilzerian has made a few movie appearances, including his role in the 2013 film Lone Survivor.

Dan Bilzerian appearing in Lone Survivor film.

Bilzerian’s film appearance was less than a minute long. [Image: Twitter/PixAggregator]

Bilzerian only had a minor role in the movie starring Mark Wahlberg with less than one minute of screen time.

The self-proclaimed “King of Instagram” ended up suing the movie producers to the tune of $1,000,000 that he loaned them in exchange for a role that would include at least eight minutes on the screen and 80 words of dialogue.

8. **Phil Ivey (Las Vegas TV Series)**

Although it doesn’t strictly fit the bill of this article, Phil Ivey’s appearance in one of the episodes of the famous Las Vegas TV series is worth mentioning.

Ivey briefly appears in an episode from 2003 entitled “Decks and Violence” though you’re just gonna have to trust us on this one, since we can’t find a clip.

Not surprisingly, Ivey plays himself in his natural habitat of the world of high stakes gambling, but he wasn’t even accredited for the role.

It was probably just a one-off deal with the producers, but if you’re an Ivey fan, check it out.

9. **Doyle Brunson (The Grand)**

The 2007 improvisation comedy The Grand isn’t a masterpiece of cinematography by any means, but it’s a poker movie worth watching if you’re a fan of the game.

It follows several hopefuls competing in a big poker tournament that could change their lives forever and describes how each one of them handles the stress and prepares for the game.

There are several top poker pros appearing in the movie, including Doyle Brunson, who has a short and funny conversation with Andy Andrews (Richard Kind), who, upon realizing that Brunson’s real name is Doyle proclaims that “it must be a tell.”

10. **Phil Laak (Freelancers)**

Phil Laak has had another appearance on the screen, but in a movie that has nothing to do with poker.

The “Unabomber” had a small role in the 2012 film Freelancers, staring 50 Cent, Robert De Niro, and Forest Whitaker.

This is an action movie about trust, loyalty, and revenge.

Laak only appears briefly as an unnamed undercover detective, but it’s still interesting to see him outside of his comfort zone.

That said, if there is one famous player that you could really call versatile, it would be Phil Laak.

11. **Antonio Esfandiari (7 Days to Vegas)**

7 Days to Vegas is a comedy movie released in 2019 and was written by Vince Van Patten. Poker fans will recognize him for his longstanding role as a commentator for the World Poker Tour.

It’s a story about an insane prop bet that sees the main character, Duke (played by Van Patten himself), trying to walk from LA to Las Vegas in seven days – wearing a suit the whole time.

The movie received solid reviews from fans and critics alike, and it features several names that poker lovers will recognize, most notably Antonio Esfandiari and Jennifer Tilly.

Esfandiari appears as “Antonio” and doesn’t need to get out of the character too much for his role.

7 Days to Vegas is a movie about a high stakes underground poker game in Hollywood that shows the other side of the coin as well: crazy prop bets wealthy gamblers come up with to pass the time and spice things up.

12. **Phil Hellmuth (Touch TV Series)**

Phil Hellmuth aka the “Poker Brat”. [Image: Twitter/phil_hellmuth]

For someone who loves media attention, Hellmuth hasn’t appeared in that many movies or TV shows, excluding those that involved a large number of pros.

So, it’s interesting to mention his appearance in a Fox TV series that ran for two seasons in 2012 and 2013.

Hellmuth appears in S1:E7 of Touch, named “Noosphere Rising”, which is available for rental.

The particular episode revolves around an underground high stakes game, which among others, features the one and only “Poker Brat”.

Hellmuth plays himself and goes on one of his epic rants at the table after suffering a bad beat to Jack Bauer, who decides it would be a good idea to donk-shove his stack on a board reading AAK with a measly pair of eights.

It seems Phil can’t catch a break, even in a scripted game.

If you enjoyed this, why not check out our piece on what poker players do when they retire.

Poker Pros Top Movie and TV Shows Appearances

Poker movies are always looking to throw in the odd cameo appearance by the game’s biggest stars, and we’ll meet quite a few of these below, but the big-name pros have also appeared in some less-expected films and TV shows. Read on to find out where your poker heroes can be seen in acting roles!

Johnny Chan

The tale of Mike McDermott’s poker adventures see Matt Damon face several obstacles en route to meeting one of poker’s all-time legends – Johnny Chan!

John Malkovich’s ‘TeddyKGB’ character may be the star of the film when it comes to acting, but it’s ten-time bracelet winner Chan who is the real Rounders endboss!

Daniel Negreanu

The Canadian poker legend isn’t exactly known for being stuck for words, but his ‘X-Men Origins: Wolverine’ cameo was a silent one, and didn’t exactly tax his acting skills either.

When Hugh Jackman asks Taylor Kitsch’s character ‘Gambit’ what his $17 will buy him at the $50/$100 poker table, it’s Kid Poker who pulls the ‘Can you believe this guy?’ face.

DNegs has appeared in several poker movies over the years, and also in Katy Perry’s video for hit song Waking Up in Vegas, but perhaps less-well-known is his appearance in TV comedy series Mr D.

Negreanu appears in an episode entitled ‘Poker Night’ where Gerry Dee organises a poker game to help a ‘down-and-out’ Negreanu.

Far and away the most talented actor among poker players, and also the most talented poker player among actors, is ‘Chucky’ star Jennifer Tilly.

Her role as Tiffany Valentine in the Child’s Play series of movies has given her icon status among the horror community, but her movie bio spans 37 years, numerous TV series and movies, including her breakthrough role in the Fabulous Baker Boys in 1987.

Throw in $1million+ in tournament cashes, a WSOP gold bracelet and a long-term relationship with the inimitable Phil ‘Unabomber' Laak and that’s quite the pedigree Miss Tilly boasts.

Phil Laak

That first one might be a credit, but Laak’s poker playing scene alongside Antonio Esfandiari didn’t make the final cut, although they did get to hang out on set with Justin Timberlake!

The previous year, Laak had mixed with even bigger stars of the big screen, a small role alongside Robert De Niro and Forest Whitaker, as well as rap giant 50 Cent, in action movie, Freelancers.

Antonio Esfandiari

The movie charts the trials and tribulations of an insane prop bet that WPT commentator Van Patten’s character, Duke, takes on – walking from LA to Las Vegas in just 7 days.

Jennifer Tilly is in the mix, as are Van Patten’s real-life wife and brother, with Esfandiari playing a character named…Antonio!

Phil Hellmuth

The Fox TV series ‘Touch’ saw Hellmuth play a role he didn’t have to prepare for, suffering a bad beat at the hands of Kiefer Sutherland’s character, Martin Bohm.

The poker game sees Bohm needing to win in order to get information from another player, and his pocket 8s miraculously survive a board of AAK to get there, much to Hellmuth’s chagrin.

Other honourable mentions in the ‘poker stars on the silver screen’ stakes have seen Chris Ferguson, Doyle Brunson, Dan Harrington, and Erik Seidel all appear in the 2007 movie ‘Lucky You’.

Pride of place in the also-rans, however, has to go to Dan Bilzerian, one of the finest poker players of any generation starring in several big screen films – Lone Survivor the first, with credits for The Equalizer, Extraction and War Dogs.

Poker Pros Who’ve Gone From Big Pots to the Big Screen

You’ll be hard-pressed to find anyone in poker more famous or with more cameos than Phil Hellmuth. He secured fame, fortune and poker immortality after winning the 1989 world championship. At the tender age of 24, he denied Johnny Chan his third straight title in the process. Hellmuth has gone on to win more WSOP bracelets than anyone, fifteen in all. And has rewritten the World Series of Poker record book with the most cashes, most final tables and most wins. He’s world-class. Add to that an exceptional business acumen, and you’ve got a larger-than-life figure. Someone who’s transcended the game.

Nicknamed the ‘Poker Brat’ for a reason. He has a propensity to throw temper-tantrums at the table, berate his opponents, and generally make a spectacle of himself, especially when the television cameras are rolling. The 55-year old has neatly crafted a bad boy image. And, he’s exploited it beautifully. Parlaying his legendary success at the table into enormous opportunities outside of poker, Hellmuth is now a marketing and branding machine who likes to hang with billionaires in private boxes at sporting events. He’s written several books, has cameos in commercials, TV shows and music videos. He has even graced the big screen on more than one occasion.

Hellmuth isn’t alone. Other greats, like the aforementioned Johnny Chan, a two-time world champ, ten-time bracelet winner and legend of the game, have taken their star power in poker for a screen test in Hollywood. Here are some of our favorite poker pro cameos:

Phil Hellmuth

It’s a long way from Madison, Wisconsin, to the Hollywood Hills, but the ‘Poker Brat’ has made the trip many times. On IMDB.com, his biography lists him as an “actor and writer,” who’s made cameos in The Grand (2007), Lucky You (2007) and Touch (2012). He plays himself. Or the general character of a poker pro, in each film, and seems to relish every minute of the experience. The odds are long, though, that we’ll ever see him thanking the Academy for an Oscar. These are small parts, and Hellmuth is no Robert De Niro.

The bad boy of rap? It may be hard to imagine the tall and lanky Hellmuth starring in a rap video, he stands 6’7 after all, but there is a word for that assumption — Ludacris. In 2010, grammy award-winning rap artist Ludacris released his song Sex Room, which hit number 69 on the Billboard Hot 100, and Hellmuth was featured in the subsequent music video. He is playing poker with the rapper, and winning, and is brandishing a huge smile as he rakes in a massive pot.

He has also cameos as himself in the Showtime series Billions, about a powerful hedge fund manager on Wall Street. The show was created by Rounders co-writers Brian Koppelman and David Levien. The episode in which Hellmuth appeared featured a fictitious Alpha Cup, a high-stakes charity tournament played by various business gurus.

Fun Fact: Phil Hellmuth cameos in a Carl Jr’s television commercial, where he is seen doubling down, or you might say ‘chowing down,’ on one of the American burger giants smoked briskets.

Johnny Chan

If you’ve seen the movie Rounders, and most who play poker have, then you will remember this iconic scene from one of the all-time classics. Chan’s is one of the cameos for the ages. It’s a flashback scene that begins with the movie’s lead character, a down-on-his-luck Mike McDermott (Matt Damon), walking into a bath house to meet an underground poker shark, Joey Knish (John Turturro), in the hopes of borrowing money. Trying to convince Knish that he’s a quality player, and good for the cash, McDermott shares a tale about the time he challenged the legend that is Johnny Chan.

“I know I’m good enough to sit at that table,” was how McDermott opened, as he began to reminisce about the day he took a shot against one of the game’s greats.

Knish listens intently as McDermott describes the unlikely scenario. He saw Chan walk into the poker room at the Taj Mahal in Las Vegas. Despite being under bankrolled for the kind of high-stakes action Chan is comfortable with, decided to sit down in the same game and test his skills. It’s right out of Hollywood too, because McDermott proceeds to confidently describe how he won the battle.

He bluffed a legend, delivering a line that has been used in poker rooms ever since. Incidentally, Chan didn’t say a word in the scene, but when you win the main event back-to-back you don’t need too. His presence alone was enough. Chan’s winning hand at the 1998 World Series of Poker, when he defeated Eric Seidel heads-up, was also forever immortalized in the film.

Fun Fact: Johnny Chan was also cameos in a 2009 Hong Kong movie called Poker King. Again, he played himself.

Amarillo Slim

Known for his poker skills, proposition bets and the gift of gab, Amarillo Slim Preston was the ideal winner of the 1972 world championship. Especially when it came to marketing the game. Remember, in ’72, the same year Team Canada beat the Soviets in hockey during the Summit Series? The World Series of Poker was only in its third year. The game was still suffering a shady reputation as an underground pastime. Where nefarious hucksters and hustlers carried concealed weapons while they played. Amarillo Slim wasn’t clean-cut by any means, in terms of gambling morals, but he certainly was entertaining. And, he dressed the part too.

With his trademark Stetson hat and his customary cowboy boots, Amarillo Slim took poker to the masses by going on main stream television. Shortly after capturing the world title, he appeared on The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson. He’s also been featured in three documentaries, All In: The Poker Movie (2009), Anything to Win (2006), and Beyond the Felt (2005).

In 1974, Preston played himself in Robert Altman’s California Split, starring George Segal and Elliot Gould. The movie tells the story of two friends who descend into the sleazy world of gambling. He had a substantial role.

Daniel Negreanu

When it comes to poker, Daniel Negreanu is box office. He is a draw. Fans worldwide seek out the Canadian for autographs wherever he plays. So, as you might expect, ‘Kid Poker’ is prone to playing himself on the big screen. His IMDB database profile highlights 10 credits. He’s played the role of a poker player in numerous movies, including Bodied (2017), The Grand (2007) and Lucky You (2007).

His most prominent role, albeit a brief one, has to be from the 2009 blockbuster hit X-Men Origins: Wolverine. He didn’t get much screen time, but it is worth remembering. The scene revolves around Wolverine (Hugh Jackman) and his clash with Gambit (Taylor Kitsch). A quiet little poker game turns into a highly charged battle between the two superheroes. And Negreanu is in the game, a witness to the ensuing madness around him.

Fun Fact: The Toronto native tested his acting chops for real in Detention, a 2011 comedy, horror, mystery, where a copycat killer named Cinderhella stalks the student body at Grizzly Lake High School. Negreanu played a news reporter.

Phil Laak

A great player, who’s appeared in great games? Yes. A great actor, who’s appeared in great movies? No. Phil is affectionately known as the ‘Unabomber,’. This is for his habit of wearing hoodies, sunglasses and even masks to hide his face at the poker table. He’s got one World Poker Tour title and a WSOP bracelet to his name. He will not, however, be adding an Academy Award to his mantle. Most notably, he played a poker player in Runner, Runner, about a shady online poker cat-and-mouse game between a student and a shady offshore entrepreneur.

To Laak’s credit, he has given Hollywood a serious go. Perhaps fueled by the backing of his girlfriend actress Jennifer Tilly, Laak has also landed roles in Freelancers (2012), where he plays an undercover detective, Setup (2011) and The Grand (2007).

Fun Fact: In 2008, Laak secured a bit part on the hit television series Knight Rider.

There’s no question poker players are great actors in their own element. At the poker table, where they are bluffing and check-raising. But it’s a whole different skill set when a director screams, “lights, camera, action”. While it’s nice to watch them on the big screen, let’s just leave the big-time starring roles to the professionals. Which poker pro cameos are your favorite?

Derrick Oliver Dewan is the founder of High Roller Radio, and has interviewed a number of the world’s top poker players including Chris Moneymaker, Greg Raymer and Barbara Enright. A former, long-time radio and television broadcaster, Derrick has always had a passion for all things gambling (and darts too). He has even played at the World Series of Poker and other cash games all around the world.

To see more of Derrick is up to on a day-to-day basis, go follow him on Twitter @HighRollerRadio

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5 Best Poker Movies of All Time

Poker movies just don’t get it right most of the time. Poker is a fascinating game filled with great real life characters. Doyle Brunson, Stu Unger, Phil Hellmuth, Phil Ivey, Scotty Nguyen and Daniel Negreanu to name just a few. What’s even more amazing is that most small stakes poker rooms are filled with more of the same. Complex, interesting characters that can’t possibly be real. Only they are.

Despite such a rich landscape, there are precious few good poker movies. Sports like boxing, basketball, and baseball have produced a stunning number of good films. But poker seems to be resistant to the movie genre. There may be more good chess films than quality poker movies. There are a few nuggets out there, and we hope the recent release of Molly’s Game brings renewed interest, but it won’t take you very long to work your way through the entire poker oevre. We think these five movies are the best out there. And we’ll be watching and re-watching them until we can live our own poker travel dream.

5. Big Hand for a Little Lady

Big Hand for a Little Lady portrays the Western archetypal spin on poker with a side of comedy. The iconic American journey of a couple and their son moving west to buy a farm (of course) near San Antonio is interrupted by a poker game in Laredo (where else?). Meredith (Henry Fonda) is a recovering gambling addict who wanders into a, you guessed it, saloon. He extracts permission from virtuous wife Mary (Joanne Woodward) to watch a high stakes poker game. You can probably guess where it goes from there. Meredith enters the game, ends up putting the entire family fortune at risk. Then there is a big hand….and the “little lady” takes over when Meredith suffers a sudden attack.

Every Hollywood trope is hauled out for this one. But it is an unapologetic old school comedy that leans on the likability of its two stars. Get into that frame of mind and it’s good silly fun. The twists from a modern perspective may seem fairly obvious. But if you can put yourself in “old-time” movie goer mode, you will enjoy the flourishes.

Poker Reality Grade: C. Poker nuance is not the point of this movie, so reality is pretty much an afterthought. The climatic hand lacks credibility on a number of dimensions, but the movie is fun and enjoyable despite the poetic license taken by the writers.

Where You Can Find It: Not currently playing on any of the streaming services. However, you can buy it on DVD through Amazon. (Note: Amazon links are all affiliate links).

4. All In: The Poker Movie

All In: The Poker Movie does not enter our Top 5 for cinematic quality. Truthfully it’s a fairly pedestrian documentary and it has a clear agenda. Ken Burns is not rethinking his artistic vision after seeing this one. But it’s an earnest recount of the game’s history, particularly how and why poker had a burst of interest in the 2000s. There have been precious few poker documentaries attempted, so this one gets the prize, if only for the effort.

The commentary from an array of poker professionals and influencers (see Matt Damon and Rounders below), provides a roadmap of how poker become so popular in current culture. When you throw in Doris Kearns Goodwin you get instant credibility! And therein lies the problem. This movie is not only an overly romanticized look at poker’s place in our culture, it’s a political statement.

Online poker was effectively shut down nationally via a combination of 2006 legislation (the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act [UIGEA]) and the Justice Department’s 2011 shut down of the three largest online poker sites. The crux of the matter is the answer to the question “Is playing poker luck or skill?” For most players, the honest answer seems clear: it is both. All In advocates strongly for poker’s skill dimension (thus, it should not fall under the UIGEA). The creators saw what was coming and were trying to get ahead of it.

That said, if you stick with the poker history and culture pieces, this movie provides a nice condensed look at the game.

Poker Reality Grade: B+. It’s a documentary about poker so hard not to give it an A on that dimension. However, because it took such a strong angle on the game it loses reality points.

Where You Can Find It: Not currently playing on any of the streaming services. However, you can rent it on Amazon Prime Video.

3. The Grand

More of a freelance improv experiment, The Grand nonetheless ranks as one of the better poker movies of all time. This despite the fact we’re not sure it even had a theatrical release. The Grand is a small, insular film. Among these five poker movies, it is probably the one mostly attractive solely to those who play. Filled with comedians who actually play poker in real life – Ray Romano, Woody Harrelson, Cheryl Hines, Jason Alexander, Hank Azaria, and Gabe Kaplan – the movie reveals a keen understanding of a poker tournament in action. Then it adds the comedic pathology of a sister/brother/father poker playing family.

As you would expect in a largely improvised movie, great lines and truly funny moments are mixed with those that fall flat. But it’s all good fun, and the campy aspects allow enjoyment of the cameo festival the movie becomes. For poker fans, there are professional players sprinkled everywhere. For German cinephiles, there is the omnipresent Werner Herzog. We kid you not.

Poker Reality Grade: A. From reading the background of the film, it appears they may have actually played a real tournament during filming. It certainly felt like it. As we said, many of the actors play poker for live stakes on the side. That aspect helps give the film an air of authenticity.

Where You Can Find It: Not currently playing on any of the streaming services (starting to see a pattern? We poker players get no love). However, you can rent it on YouTube.

2. The Cincinnati Kid

If anyone was born to depict a poker player it is the King of Cool, Steve McQueen. McQueen delivers a typically riveting cocky. but tormented performance in The Cincinnati Kid. Reminiscent of an even better film about games and gambling, The Hustler, McQueen wants to take on the best and beat him. While others want to con Edward G. Robinson’s big fish, McQueen’s Kid wants to beat him fair and square. Like Newman’s Fast Eddie Felson in The Hustler, the Kid has a self-destructive streak. That destructiveness envelops all around him, particularly women who enter his downward spiral. This move is classic 1960s male machismo, with all the good and bad that comes with it.

What makes it one of the best poker movies of all time is the cast. McQueen and Ann Margaret provide the star power. The supporting cast is a hall of fame of character actors. Robinson, Karl Malden, Tuesday Weld, Rip Torn and Jack Weston provide nuance to the stars’ broader acting styles. All this is orchestrated by the A list director Norman Jewison and sprung from a script by the legendary Hollywood 10 member Ring Lardner Jr. There are a lot of layers of quality to this film.

Poker Reality Grade: B. Like many poker movies, the key scene involves a crazy “bad beat” (a hand when someone loses a very strong hand to a very unlikely stronger hand). Which, before we played a lot of poker, we thought was pure Hollywood. Having been through many bad beats, we now empathize with the Kid. The Cincinnati Kid also gets poker points for capturing the smoky backroom environment of an earlier culture.

Where You Can Find It: Not currently playing on any of the streaming services. However, you can purchase the DVD on Amazon Prime.

1. Rounders

OK, totally unoriginal choice. We get it. But while not academy award material, Rounders is both entertaining and very well-made. It has also become embedded in the poker culture, highly quotable and memorable. The desire among poker film fanatics for Teddy KGB to be an actual person is palpable.

In many ways Rounders is reminiscent of The Cincinnati Kid. There is star power in the two leads Matt Damon and Gretchen Mol. The supporting cast of scene stealers gives Kid a run for its money. Finding a trio of more admired modern character actors than John Malkovich, John Turturro, and Edward Norton in a single film would be hard. And hovering over all is the avuncular, calming influence of Martin Landau.

The Rounders script gives the actors plenty to work with, especially Malkovich and Norton. No one else in the world could have played Teddy KGB with the crazed charisma of Malkovich. Rewatching the film is challenging, only because you just want to skip to Malkovich’s scenes. Norton’s Worm is typical of many of his roles: a character with multiple dimensions all subtly integrated. Alternately charming, devious, compassionate, selfish and pathetic, Worm brings out a protective instinct in the viewer.

Poker Reality Grade: A-. Rounders gets the underground poker scene down well. In addition, the movie gives a glimpse of how poker pros like Johnny Chan become deities to young players. It also portrays well the allure of the game is to many, from street hustlers to aspiring law students. The poker world is full of former students who took a career u-turn after falling in love with the game.

Where You Can Find It: At the moment, you can watch Rounders on Starz and Hulu. If you do not subscribe to either service, you can rent it on Amazon Prime Video.

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The Top 10 Poker Movies of All-Time

Poker has a long tradition of being used in movies for dramatic effect.

When done right, these movies do a lot more than just showcase the game accurately. A great poker movie gives viewers a sense of poker subculture, and how it affects those who play it.

Loosely defined, there are probably hundreds of ‘poker movies’. Poker is, after all, now a global phenomenon. But here I’ll showcase and rank my top ten poker movie recommendations for your viewing pleasure.

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10. Molly’s Game (2017): Life Can Only Knock You Down if You Let It

Synopsis: Molly Bloom was an aspiring olympic skier until an accident crushed those dreams forever. Alone and with no direction in life, she finds she can make good money by organizing high stakes poker games.

At its core, Molly’s Game is about rebuilding yourself even when life insists on taking breaking down. Throughout the movie, Molly goes through rewarding highs and free falling lows, she never stays down long.

For an in-depth look at this movie, check out Upswing Poker’s Molly’s Game movie review.

9. The Grand (2007): Just What The Hell were the Boom Years?

Synopsis: During the height of the Poker Boom, a documentary crew follows several players as they enter ‘The Grand’, a winner-take-all poker tournament. Hilarity ensues.

I hesitated to add this to the list, but I actually love this bizarre movie. It’s a perfect reflection of the poker boom era, the most ridiculous time in poker’s history.

Had director Zak Penn pretended the boom was anything like real life, the movie would be a lie—it would have felt artificial, like ‘Lucky You’ or ‘The Deal’. Instead, it’s a veritable time capsule.

Think I’m exaggerating? Have a look at this:

Hoyt Corkins Figurine from the poker movie

This is a lovingly hand-crafted Hoyt Corkins figurine—someone had Hoyt Corkins figurines as part of their business plan.

That didn’t happen in the movie. That was what real life was like during the boom years. Now tell me again how the movie is not an accurate representation of that collective fever dream we all had.

For a more in-depth review of The Grand, check out Upswing Poker’s 3 Hands from Poker Movies That You Probably Have Not Seen.

8. Mississippi Grind (2015): The EV of Toxic People

Synopsis: Gerry, a losing poker player, meets Curtis, a traveling gambler. The two become fast friends until Gerry convinces Curtis to stake him in poker games as they road trip to New Orleans. Throughout the journey, Gerry shows himself to be a terrible investment but Curtis keeps him around for the sake of friendship.

The movie then applies the concept of expected value (EV) to relationships. Curtis is lonely, so he ignores every good instinct and takes a chance on Gerry. He knows Gerry is awful—he sees red flags throughout the movie—but he just won’t let go. He needs a friend.

7. Poker King (2009): It’s Good, I Swear!

Synopsis: A man-child and online poker player will lose his inheritance if he can’t prove he’s mature enough to run his father’s company.

No, this is not an Adam Sandler movie that you missed. It‘s a Hong Kong movie set in Macau. While I see eye rolls every time I describe this movie’s plot, once people give it a chance they can’t help but get into it. It’s so relentlessly earnest and treats poker with such love and passion that some of it rubs off on you.

The execution is far superior to what the concept could ever hope to be. It’s simply an earnest love letter to poker from a culture that didn’t have access to it until recently, and which enjoys it with fresh eyes.

6. Smart Money (1931): The Poker Dream Lives During the Great Depression

Synopsis: Nick the Barber is the best poker player in his hometown, so he tries his luck on a big city game and gets cleaned by shady pros. Not discouraged, he dusts himself and bounces back through a series of heads-up matches against the best and builds a $400k bankroll. He then uses his money to build a series of underground casinos where elites and common folk both have a fair chance to win. All seems well until the campaigning district attorney stops tolerating the lovable gambling kingpin.

On its own, Smart Money is nothing special. But it deserves a spot on this list for coming out during the great depression. This was a time when the system screwed the little guy, and here’s a story of someone beating the system by being great at poker. It’s the poker dream before being a professional poker player was even a thing.

Now, Smart Money is terribly dated, and it needs context to be good. As a poker player, however, Nick the Barber built a gambling empire with nothing but his wits and integrity. He’s a legend.

5. Finder’s Fee (2001): A Poker Game for the Soul

Synopsis: A group of friends have a weekly home game where they all buy lottery tickets and the winner of their sit-and-go gets to keep them all. It stops being fun when one of them finds the winning ticket in a lost wallet, and its rightful owner is coming just in time for the game to start.

The only big names at Finder’s Fee’s time were James Earl Jones and Robert Foster, but it also features before-they-were-famous Ryan Reynolds, Dash Mihok, and Matthew Lillard.

At its core, Finder’s Fee is a gritty exploration of how greed poisons good people’s souls and turns them into monsters. Throughout the movie we see kind-hearted people devolve into scheming psychopaths who don’t care who gets hurt as long as they get paid.

Jeff Probst, better known as the host of Survivor, wrote and directed this movie, and his inexperience as a director shows despite a great script. Thankfully, the writing outweighs the directing in the end, and we are completely taken in with a poker game where $6 million and human decency are at stake.

This movie was completely ignored by audiences and critics alike, with only 5 reviews on Rotten Tomatoes. Well, here’s a sixth one: it’s good. If you can find it, go watch it.

4. Cincinnati Kid (1965): To Be The Man you Gotta Beat the Man

Synopsis: A poker player nicknamed “The Kid” wants to challenge another player nicknamed “The Man” in order to stop being known as The Kid and take over the title of being The Man. There might be some symbolism in this movie.

The story of the Kid, played by Steve McQueen, is the least realistic depiction of poker on this list, but it’s also the most unromantic, uncompromising, and raw portrait of a poker player’s life. The ending scene is especially memorable for being true to the poker experience despite being crazy unrealistic.

If you haven‘t checked this masterpiece already, I recommend you get to it.

3. California Split (1974): Is the Degen Life for You?

Synopsis: Bill Denny hates his job and likes poker. He meets world-class degen Charlie Waters in a card room while playing Razz and decides Water’s way of life is better. Together they embrace the life of a professional gambler in 1970’s America.

Poker culture glamorizes degen life, and you can see why—it looks crazy fun! But is it what you want? Can you handle that lifestyle? Deep down, what do you want to be?

California Split asks all these questions and places no judgement on the answers. However, it shows that the degen lifestyle is indeed crazy fun, and it can be the life you’ve always wanted! But it also shows that such a lifestyle requires a lot of energy to maintain. It can become a nightmare with no escape!

2. Luna’s Game (2001): Sometimes You Have it in Your Blood

Synopsis: Luna is following her father’s footsteps as a professional poker player. The only problem is that a loan shark murdered her father, and she’s following those footsteps too.

Underground poker took everything from Luna, but she still needs poker. It’s not something she rationalizes herself into. Rather, she tries to rationalize herself out of it. But she has no choice. Poker in her blood. She would feel incomplete without it.

1. Rounders (1998): Why is it the best?

Synopsis: Are we seriously going to pretend you don’t know the plot of Rounders?

When people think of poker movies, Rounders is usually the first that comes to mind.

Yes, Rounders is number one. It wins the perfect poker movie award. Again.

Rounders does something others are not brave enough to do: it doesn’t ask for your approval.

While every other poker movie tries to get the audience to understand poker and its players, Rounders doesn’t have to. All you need to understand is that Mike McDermott (Matt Damon) wants to be the best.

It’s as clear as Rocky’s desire to go the distance with Apollo. He wants to be the best because not being the best implies losing. And that just sucks. Simple.

That’s why Rounders connects with audiences better than any other poker movie. We all have reasons to love what we love, and perhaps we share them with a fictional character. But probably not. However, one thing we all probably want is to be the best, and we respect the effort it takes to get there.

Did we miss your favorite movie?

Do you have a hidden gem we don’t know about? Do you have a Hoyt Corkins figurine and love it dearly? Let us know in the comments!

Note: Want to upgrade your poker skills? Get free preflop charts and start playing like a pro before the flop. Download now!

Top 9 Poker Movies Every Player Should Watch

Old-school video camera filming a room filled with poker players

Sean Chaffin

Poker has always offered plenty of opportunities for unique and exciting stories. From its Old West roots to underground games to the World Series of Poker to the online poker boom, there have been numerous opportunities for some great filmmaking.

The bright lights of a Las Vegas casino can also make for an excellent setting.

Here’s a look at the top 9 poker films any player wouldn’t want to miss:

ROUNDERS

MOLLY’S GAME

THE CINCINNATI KID

HIGH ROLLER: THE STU UNGAR STORY

MAVERICK

ALL IN: THE POKER MOVIE

MISSISSIPPI GRIND

KID POKER

CALIFORNIA SPLIT

5 Poker Books That Would Make Great Movies

1 – ROUNDERS

This film is a poker classic and remains one of the top films in the genre. Rounders was one of the first movies to take a look into the modern game and the World Series of Poker.

�� Synopsis: This film takes a look at the underground poker scene as young Mike McDermott (Matt Damon) must play some high stakes to help his friend Worm (Ed Norton) pay some heavy debts to loan sharks.

Players will enjoy the underground scene and some insight into the WSOP just before the online poker boom. John Malkovich as Teddy KGB makes for a fantastic poker villain. Two-time WSOP Main Event champion Johnny Chan is even featured.

It’s also noting that Roundersis a rare film that offers a realistic look at poker play on the felt.

��Setting: New York; Atlantic City

��Release date: 1998

��Box office: $23 million

��Major quotes: Mike says: “It's immoral to let a sucker keep his money.”

He also says: “You can’t lose what you don’t put it in the middle, but you can’t win much either.”

2 – MOLLY’S GAME

Fans of underground and celebrity poker may want to check out this film, inspired by the book of the same name.

��Synopsis: Molly Bloom leaves law school behind and heads to L.A. The film tells her story of hosting some of the biggest and most exclusive high-stakes Hollywood poker games. Her games include a cast of celebrities, professional athletes, wealthy businessmen, mobsters, and more.

The money flows in, but so does the attention of the FBI. The film received excellent reviews and was nominated for numerous awards. It becomes one of the best-received poker films.

��Setting: Hollywood; New York

��Release date: 2017

��Box office: $59.3 million

��Major quotes: Molly says: “I was in a room with movie stars, directors, and business titans. They were going all-in, all the time.”

3 – THE CINCINNATI KID

This movie is another poker classic starring acting legends Steve McQueen and Ann-Margaret. This masterpiece is one of the films that portrayed poker even before the WSOP.

��Synopsis: Eric "The Kid" Stoner (McQueen) works on his skills at the poker table as he continues to move up in stakes. In The Cincinnati Kid, Five-Card Stud is featured with Stoner involved in several big games.

Ann-Margret plays the femme fatale, and the action culminates in a massive hand against the older and wiser Lancey "The Man" Howard. The film received favourable reviews, but players might scoff at the realism of certain hands being dealt and whether they would occur in a real-life game.

⚜️Setting: 1930s, Depression-era New Orleans

��Release date: 1965

��Box office: $7 million

��Major quotes: Lancey says: “You're good, Kid. But as long as I'm around, you're second best. And you might as well learn to live with it.”

4 – HIGH ROLLER: THE STU UNGAR STORY

This film takes a look at one of poker’s most tragic figures – a great player with some serious issues.

��Synopsis: Stu Ungar was a poker superstar before there were superstars and this film starring The Sopranos’ Michael Imperioli does a perfect job of capturing his life. One of only two players to have won the WSOP Main Event three times (along with Johnny Moss), Stu was as sharp and aggressive on the poker felt as they get.

After winning the Main Event in 1980 and 1981, he won again 16 years later in 1997. Drugs and financial strain took their toll, however. Less than a year later, he was found dead in a cheap hotel in Las Vegas. The cause was a heart condition attributed to drug use.

The film moves from his life growing up in New York as the son of a bookie to big wins in Sin City to events leading to his sad demise.

��Setting: Las Vegas

��Release date: 2003

��Box office: NA

��Major quotes: Stu tells an opponent: “I know you … so I know what you got.”

5 – MAVERICK

Fans of the original series from the 1950s and ‘60s may have been pleased to see Brett the card-playing Bret Maverick return to the silver screen.

��Synopsis: Mel Gibson takes on the title role of Maverick in this comedy, along with Jodie Foster and James Garner (who played the cardsharp in the original TV series). Maverick hopes to enter a poker tournament but needs some cash to do so.

He faces many pitfalls and pratfalls towards earning the money – both at and away from the table. The film received favourable reviews and offered a humorous take on the life of an Old West cardsharp and con artist.

��Setting: Fictional town of Crystal River in the American Old West

��Release date: 1994

��Box office: $158 million

��Major quotes: After a testy opponent takes issue with losing a big pot, Maverick says: “I’m a gambler, not a gunfighter.”

6 – ALL IN: THE POKER MOVIE

This film may not get the hype that films like Roundersand Molly’s Game have achieved but stands out as a realistic look at the game’s explosive growth during the 2000s.

��Synopsis: The game of poker got the documentary treatment with All In, and director Doug Tirola did a fantastic job in capturing the essence of the modern game. That includes plenty of poker history and amplifying the game’s surge after Chris Moneymaker’s historic 2003 WSOP Main Event win. The movie incorporates interviews with some of the biggest names in the game, including Phil Hellmuth, Daniel Negreanu, Antonio Esfandiari, and numerous others.

Some industry insiders like WPT creator Steve Lipscomb also offer insight as well as few players not held in as high regard since Black Friday – Chris Ferguson and Howard Lederer. It’s a brilliant look at the modern history of the game.

��Setting: U.S. during the poker boom

��Release date: 2009

��Box office: NA

��Major quote: Scott Nguyen boasts: “Poker right now is bigger than the Super Bowl.”

7 – MISSISSIPPI GRIND

Another modern take on the poker life, this time we’re mixing in a road trip motif.

��Synopsis: Down on their luck, two gamblers and poker players hit the road, hoping to turn their fortunes around. More gambling ensues as well as interactions with loan sharks, hustlers, criminals, and more in their pursuit of a big score.

Despite poor box office receipts, the small-budget film starring Ryan Reynolds received kind reviews.

��‍☠️Setting: American South

��Release date: 2015

��Box office: $422,746

��Major quotes: Curtiss (Ryan Reynolds), sitting down at a new poker game, says “Aces are good, right?”

8 – KID POKER

With six WSOP bracelets and seen by many as the face of poker, it may be only fitting Daniel Negreanu has his own film documenting life.

��Synopsis: This documentary offers Negreanu’s complete backstory as one of the winningest and most popular players in poker. The film tracks his roots from playing crazy games with friends in Toronto to his first forays on to the tournament scene in Las Vegas.

It also includes his family’s route to and living in Canada. It’s an alternative look at a modern player – the highs of winning the ultimate poker prizes and the lows of busting out in those early years. It’s a great look at a colossal name in poker.

��Setting: Toronto, Canada; Las Vegas

��Release date: 2016

��Box office: NA (Netflix film)

��Major quotes: Negreanu notes: “I always felt I was going to be successful no matter what I did.”

9 – CALIFORNIA SPLIT

A buddy film that mixes in plenty of poker and gambling, California Split was one of the first movies featuring a look at a gambling lifestyle.

��Synopsis: Two men, Bill and Charlie (played by George Segal and Elliot Gould), meet after being falsely accused of collusion at a poker table. They then embark on a series of gambling and drinking adventures. There are big wins and losses, bookies, and even a game with poker legend Amarillo Slim. Gould later admitted that his character mirrored his own life in his love of gambling.

��Setting: California; Las Vegas

��Release date: 1974

��Box office: $5 million

��Major quotes: Elliot Gould, playing the character Charlie tells a bartender as a juicy cash game plays out nearby: “My partner here’s a player, and I guess I’m a drinker.”

Book open with image of poker player rising up off the pages

5 Poker Books That Would Make Great Movies

Books can serve as the inspiration for some great films, and there are several great ones in the poker genre that could still be adapted to the screen.

Positively Fifth Street (By Jim McManus) – The author chronicles the 2000 murder trial of Ted Binion, the son of Benny Binion who was allegedly murdered by a stripper and her boyfriend. McManus used his magazine advance for the story to play in the WSOP Main Event and finished fifth for $247,760. Released in 2003, it’s considered one of the best poker books ever written.

Ship It Holla Bollas! (By Jonathan Grotenstein and Storms Reback) – The authors chronicle the online poker boom through the eyes of some brilliant college dropouts who take the poker world by storm. The non-fiction narrative moves from million-dollar swings to partying to trips to Las Vegas. It’s a read that’s hard to put down.

The Biggest Game in Town (By Al Alvarez) – This book is considered the seminal work in the poker genre. First published in 1983,the book tells the story of the game’s early days in Las Vegas at the World Series of Poker. It’s a great look at afascinating cast of characters playing at the Horseshoe.

The Professor, The Banker, and the Suicide King (By Michael Craig) – Craig offers a great retelling of the high-stakes Limit Hold’em battles in the 2000s. The story occurs between wealthy Dallas banker Andy Beal and a group of las Vegas poker pros including Todd Brunson, Howard Lederer, Jennifer Harmon, Barry Greenstein, Ted Forrest, and more. It’s a fascinating read about a truly unique series of poker matchups and the big bucks behind them.

Moneymaker (By Chris Moneymaker) – The 2003 WSOP Main Event champion tells the story of his own rise from a $40 online poker entry into $2.5 million and the biggest story in poker. It offers some subtle behind-the-scenes insights on the poker tournament that changed an industry.

For even more analysis of great poker book, take a look at 888poker’s look at some of the most influential poker books in history.

Top 10 Poker Players by Winnings (2021)

Who are the world’s best professional poker players? This page lists the top 10 male poker players in the world based on how many millions they’ve pocketed. We’ve also had a look to see how they could spend their winnings - it’s staggering!

Check out our list of the Best Female Poker Players , too.

A HUGE 2019 sees Kenney jump from 8th place in 2018 to top of the list. Previously a Magic: The Gathering player, Kenney transitioned to poker in 2007 and by 2014 he had won his first WSOP bracelet. Kenney claimed several major wins over the years, but 2019 changed everything, bringing over a third of the Mega Crusher’s total wins in one night.

Kenney picked up the largest prize in poker tournament history, over $20 million, for taking second place at the Triton Million in 2019.

What his winnings could buy

Top 3 Biggest Tournament Wins

€1,050,000 No Limit Hold'em - Triton Million (Runner-Up)

€100,000 No Limit Hold'em - Super High Roller Eight MaxPoker Stars Championship

$100,000 No Limit Hold'em - Super High Roller 8-Handed PCA

Formerly 1st place on this list, Justin Bonomo's career in poker started at 16, when he impressively transformed a $500 deposit at Paradise Poker into a huge $10,000 pot. A few years later, he became the youngest player to feature at a televised final table event taking home $40,815.

Since then, Bonomo has won first place at over 20 events including the 2012 EPT Grand Final and the 2018 WSOP Big One for One Drop. 2018 saw ZeeJustin take $20 million in winnings across three tournaments.

What his winnings could buy

Top 3 Biggest Tournament Wins

$1,000,000 No Limit Hold'em - The Big One for One Drop WSOP

$300,000 No Limit Hold'em Super High Roller Bowl

HK$2,000,000 + 100,000 No Limit Hold'em Super High Roller Bowl China

Named by the Global Poker Index as the player of the decade from 2004-2013, and winning WSOP Player of the Year in the first and last years of that decade, Kid Poker was inducted into the Poker Hall of Fame in 2014.

The Canadian currently holds six World Series of Poker bracelets, two World Poker Tour titles and seven cashes for $1 million or more, none larger than the $8.28 million he took for 2nd place at the Big One for One Drop at the 2014 WSOP. He's also the only player to win World Series bracelets in Las Vegas, Europe, and Australia.

What his winnings could buy

Top 3 Biggest Tournament Wins

$1,000,000 No Limit Hold'em - The Big One for One Drop WSOP (Runner-Up)

$300,000 No Limit Hold'em Super High Roller Bowl

$15,000 + 300 No Limit Hold'em Five-Diamond World Poker Classic

Seidel began his career before the internet poker boom, first making a name for himself with a second-place finish at the 1988 WSOP Main Event. His knockout hand was even immortalized in the movie 'Rounders'.

The New Yorker has won 8 WSOP bracelets and was inducted into the Poker Hall of Fame in 2010. His career year came in 2011, when he took home more than $6.5 million, including two wins in less than a week – putting him number 1 on the all-time money list. He remains the only player to win over $5 million in multiple years (2011, 2016, 2017).

What his winnings could buy

Top 3 Biggest Tournament Wins

$250,000 Super High Roller No Limit Hold'em Aussie Millions Poke Championship

$300,000 No Limit Hold'em Super High Roller Bowl

€98,000 + 2,000 No Limit Hold'em EPT

The man they call Cowboy Dan has made quite the name for himself in a surprisingly short space of time. He made a splash as far back as 2014 when he picked up over $2 million at the Bellagio Super High Roller $100,000. Despite never picking up a WSOP bracelet, playing little and often is the way for Smith. He never breaches the $5 million mark but has accumulated over $36 million in prize money!

What his winnings could buy

Top 3 Biggest Tournament Wins

WSOP $1 million Big One for One Drop

WSOP $111,111 No Limit Hold'em High Roller for One Drop (Runner-Up)

Bellagio Super High Roller $100,000

British player Stephen Chidwick saw the run of his life between December 2018 and August 2019, with his biggest prizes to date being won during that period. In fact, despite winning tournaments as far back as 2013, it is from 2018 onwards that made Chidwick prolific.

It’s easy to see why ‘Stevie444’, as he is known online (with over 2,000 online cashes), is a new name on this list, but the way recent years have gone, it doesn’t look likely he’ll leave it any time soon.

What his winnings could buy

Top 3 Biggest Tournament Wins

£ 1,050,000 No Limit Hold'em - Triton Million for Charity

$ 25,000 Pot Limit Omaha - High Roller 8-Handed

Bellagio $300,000 No Limit Hold'em

Known as: Silent Assassin

A self-confessed convert to online poker after seeing Chris Moneymaker win big in 2003, David Peters has gone on to have his own impressive career. The Silent Assassin is one of the most prolific tournament players and numerous successes have seen his name placed among the greats, despite his relatively young age (he was born in 1987).

Despite only winning two bracelets (2016 and 2020), Peters has bagged himself over 50 cash finishes in the WSOP alone along with making it to eight final tables.

What his winnings could buy

Top 3 Biggest Tournament Wins

$196,000 + 4,000 No Limit Hold'em WPT

€95,000 + 5,000 No Limit Hold'em - Super High Roller WSOPE

$500,000 No Limit Hold'em Super High Roller Bowl

German high roller Fedor Holz has seen a meteoric rise to fame with 2016 being a huge year for the young player. The 2016 season saw Holz pick up his first WSOP bracelet with his win in the $111,111 No Limit Hold'em for One Drop, just weeks after he secured 2nd place at the Super High Roller Bowl.

And his winnings continue to grow thanks to a brilliant 2nd place cash win in the 2018 WSOP that saw him take home $6 million.

What his winnings could buy

Top 3 Biggest Tournament Wins

$1,000,000 No Limit Hold'em - The Big One for One Drop WSOP

$111,111 No Limit Hold'em - High Roller for One Drop WSOP

$300,000 No Limit Hold'em Super High Roller Bowl

Known as the Tiger Woods of poker, Ivey won his first WSOP bracelet in 2000 and went on to win nine more. He's also bagged cash wins of $1 million or over on seven different occasions.

Ivey spent several months away from the poker limelight after Black Friday but returned in style by placing first in the Aussie Millions $250,000 Challenge in January 2012. He also went on to become the first two-time winner of the event in 2014, the $3.5 million prize being the biggest win of his career.

What his winnings could buy

Top 3 Biggest Tournament Wins

$250,000 No Limit Hold'em - $250,000 Challenge Aussie Millions Poker Championship

$245,000 + 5,000 - The LK Boutique Challenge Aussie Millions Poker Championship

After stumbling across online poker while studying and realizing he had the skill for cards in 2006, Koon is now one of the most successful live tournament players in poker. In 2009 he won a SCOOP tournament for $302,000 on PokerStars and then went on to win the Seminole Hard Rock Poker Open for $1,000,000 in 2016. Since then, Koon’s focus has been on high roller tournaments as he regards them as more profitable.

He won $1,079,443 at the Triton series’ events in 2018, closely followed by his big win at the Short Deck Triton Super High Roller tournament in Montenegro, where he pocketed $3,579,836.

So, let's define, what was the most valuable conclusion of this review: Professional poker players live fairly glamorous lifestyles, which is ideal for Hollywood. Find out which pros have made cameos in movies and music videos. at The 5 Best Poker Pro Cameos in TV and Film in Canada