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History of the World Series of Poker Main Event

Watch Poker: Best Poker Shows, Streams and Videos 2026

Without the groundwork laid by Somerville, we might not have some of today’s top streamers like Spragg, Staples, and Martin. Want to get set up with the perfect streamer set up like Robin Poker? You will also see Robin Poker on the new Game of Gold Series by Poker After Dark streaming in November 2023. Thanks to the ambassadorship with PokerNews, fans can easily follow Robinson at the tables and expect plenty of giveaways and promotions through his Twitch channel. This led Simpson to swap the classroom for the online felt. The streaming veteran dropped his Twitch Partner status in early 2023 but continues to stream on YouTube.

History of the World Series of Poker Main Event

With only a handful of exceptions, I don’t think any player really struck me as wildly different from how they were on television. Working directly for the WSOP did give me a great appreciation for the importance of logistics which were often lost on the larger poker community. When you later worked on the official WSOP side, how did your understanding of the event change?

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His Run It Up Challenge on Twitch.tv had the simple but compelling premise of turning $50 into $10,000 playing on WSOP.com NV. He also does ridiculous challenges like trying to turn 3,000 play money chips into 20,000,000 in 24 hours (he came close!). He also interviews well-known poker pros like Doug Polk and Fedor Holz on his video podcast regularly. Joe Ingram is all about Pot-Limit Omaha and challenging himself to marathon feats like playing the most hands in one day or reaching Supernova Elite in 80 days. Schneiders offers a calming presence compared to some of the more frenetic streamers but that doesn’t mean his stream is boring.

Coverage started May 29 and runs daily for the full 51 days of the series, with multiple concurrent streams covering action at featured and final tables. Daily free coverage is now live across four platforms — YouTube, Twitch, Facebook, and X — covering all 99 non-Main Event bracelet tournaments for the full 51 days of the series, at no cost. One thing you can be sure of when watching Poker at the Lodge is that the pots will get juicy, and the action will be wild, as that’s the only way poker players in Texas know how to play.

High Stakes Duel — a unique heads-up format that sees challengers take on previous winners, with stakes getting higher with each new round. The poker vlogging space has truly exploded in recent years, becoming one of the largest sources of entertainment for countless fans out there. You’ll not only get a notification when a new episode is out, but there is often a countdown 24 hours before a new release so you can watch it as soon as it becomes available and before any spoilers hit social media. Most of them also come with a twist or a plot of some sort, which may make watching more enjoyable.

live poker coverage

On my first day I remember the time for the first post was drawing near and I just sat at the computer afraid I would mess it up. Your first WSOP job was near the bottom of the poker-media ladder, but you treated it as an opportunity to prove you belonged. The behaviors I observed and wrote about certainly happened at the series, so I guess I didn’t get anything ‘wrong’ per se? However, if you are asking about pokernewsdaily.com my academic research, the paper I had written was about non-verbal communication among poker cohorts, so that really didn’t address the scope of the WSOP.

live poker coverage

Hustler Casino Live is probably the most active of the three, with a game happening almost every day of the week. Although there is an ongoing debate if all poker shows should be available for free, that’s not something we’ll get into here. All content on this site is intended for those 21 or older or of legal gambling age in their jurisdiction.

I’ve done a couple of one-off gigs with Mori’s (Eslkandni) production team when I still lived in Vegas, and I can imagine a world where I offer my services as a spotter for production for the Main. This summer I saw my former WPT colleagues, Mickey Doft and BJ Nemeth, both working with the streaming crew in Vegas. If they want only the fun and sanitized poker stories, that is what you write. You are also beholden to your client to deliver a product they want. Interviewing them, I got to see a bit of personality that didn’t necessarily come out at the tables, but I don’t know if ‘concealed’ is the word I would use.

The Festival Rozvadov, The Hendon Mob Championship

live poker coverage

Join James Hartigan, Joe Stapleton and guests on the PokerStars Twitch Channel as they follow the action of some of the largest tournaments both online and live. PokerStars has the best online tournaments, with more games and bigger prize pools! PokerStars-sponsored live events and card rooms have become the standard-bearers for top quality live poker around the world. The annual migration cycle of poker players to Las Vegas for the WSOP is now over, and runners are now returning to the other poker hot spots for more action.

The first two weeks of December may not have enough players for two giant festivals at the same time, but there’s still plenty of interest to go around if they all learn to share. After winning two APT events earlier this year, did you decide to play more APTs? With his vibrant, playful personality both on and off the tables, he’s a star in demand by fans here as well, taking time away from the tables to chat and pose for pictures. There were some reporters who refused to do chip counts because they thought it beneath them even though tournament coverage without chip counts is like a baseball game without a scoreboard. So, if livestreams are paramount, they can demand you delay your updates and you have to say yes.

The likes of Garret Adelstein, Phil Ivey, Tom Dwan, Daniel “Jungleman” Cates, Ethan “Rampage” Yau, Phil Hellmuth, and Mariano Grandoli are only a few of the big name pros who have played on HCL shows. Yet, for many years, all poker available on various platforms was pre-recorded. Check out the best no deposit online casino bonuses for August 2026. All games are lottery games controlled by the Delaware Lottery.

live poker coverage

Check out the latest tournament coverage from PokerNews! The BSOP is Brazil’s biggest poker tour and invites you to visit beautiful and exciting cities as you chase BSOP success across the country. And we want you to join the action. In 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic forced the postponement of the World Series of Poker for the first time in its history. Phil Hellmuth has the most bracelets of all-time, having won 17 between 1989 and 2024.

Have you talked to American players about coming to play APT events? The tables are livelier; they’re more willing to chase draws and take gambles, and their fundamentals are still a bit weaker compared to US players. The biggest difference between tournaments in Asia and those in the US is that Asian players tend to play more aggressively. Tony ‘Ren’ Lin has become one of the most recognizable and successful players in the world, crushing the high-stakes tournament scene to the tune of over $20M in Hendon Mob-recorded earnings. Catch all the action LIVE now on the APT livestream with Punnat Punsri at the feature table.

Twitch is regarded as the platform for interaction with the streamer, with its funky chat box, stream-specific emojis, and interactive options such as polls and channel points. There was some scare in late 2022 when Twitch banned streaming of unlicensed gambling sites, but those worries were cleared up when Twitch clarified that poker streaming would still be allowed. With categories such as Music, Sports, Talk Shows or Just Chatting, you can tune in to live entertainment and support your favorite content creators with the click of a button. Twitch is an online platform allowing millions of people to come together and share their passions collectively, whether as a viewer or a content creator. Jaime Staples, also known as PokerStaples, is often regarded as one of the pioneers of Twitch Poker, first streaming the card game back in 2015 with his channel picking up momentum instantly. He’s known for his positivity and visually vibrant streams.

If you prefer your poker action a bit more streamlined, there are several poker shows on YouTube that we expect to feature with new seasons in 2026. In addition to regular games, they also have many specials featuring higher stakes, deeper stacks, and nail-biting action. Today’s poker shows blend professional gameplay with reality TV drama, celebrity appearances, and innovative formats that keep viewers engaged. Live streams show every hand as it happens without editing, providing complete transparency and authentic poker experiences. Most major tours offer extensive satellite programs starting 2-3 months before live events. The transition from online to live poker involves adjusting to different pace, physical tells, and social dynamics that can significantly impact performance.

Here a quick primer on the various ways that you can stream live content on the web. Previous WSOP bracelet winner Jason Somerville paved the way for what we see today—streaming some of the highest buy-in games online, mixing all disciplines and game types. Robinson made a name for himself in the streaming community in 2021 when he became the first player to stream his poker sessions for over 1,000 hours across 100 days. Back in July 2023, Lukas “RobinPoker” Robinson was announced as the first PokerNews Ambassador, a role that sees him streaming online poker on Twitch. Now an 888poker ambassador, Simpson streams almost daily and has a core audience that tunes in regularly.

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Traditional TV shows condense hours of action into highlight reels featuring the most exciting moments. Develop proper satellite strategy focusing on survival over chip accumulation, and consider playing satellites across multiple platforms to maximize opportunities. Focus on learning proper etiquette and procedures while building your bankroll through consistent, conservative play. Bankroll management for satellite play should account for the variance involved in qualification attempts. Interview shows featuring poker celebrities and industry figures provide behind-the-scenes perspectives on poker business and culture.

Beyond the major international circuits, numerous regional tours provide accessible live poker experiences with lower buy-ins and local appeal. EPT events are distinguished by their €5,300 Main Event buy-ins and multi-million euro guarantees. The 2025 schedule features five major stops, including the iconic EPT Barcelona and EPT Monte-Carlo events that consistently attract the largest fields outside of Las Vegas. PokerGO’s new PokerU offering provides access to leading strategy content to help you improve your game. PokerGO is home to the largest library of poker content.

  • He also interviews well-known poker pros like Doug Polk and Fedor Holz on his video podcast regularly.
  • The series travels to exotic locations worldwide, often partnering with luxury resorts and exclusive venues that provide exceptional experiences beyond poker competition.
  • With free coverage across four platforms and the Main Event back on ESPN, this is one of the most fan-friendly packages the series has put together.
  • There are loads of poker content out there to keep you entertained pretty much around the clock, from full-fledged poker shows and daily live streams to individual vlogs.
  • But, as someone who walked by the media room a half dozen times this summer and never saw a soul inside it, I doubt people would grasp just how many people were in there.

“Down here in Florida, I don’t feel like I’ve ever done as well as I should have,” McKeehen told SHRPO live reporter BJ Nemeth. As it turns out, it’s been a long time coming for the North Wales, Pennsylvania pro. Players will be able to play multiple Venom starting flights and combine their stacks for Day 2. Meanwhile, the PLO event features a $3M prize pool, with bounties that range from $5K to $250K. No matter what happens with the season finale, it’s clear that WPT is intent on establishing a greater presence in Las Vegas, especially during the times of year when WSOP isn’t around.

All streamed from the luxurious live stream room at LA’s Hustler Casino, HCL is the one live stream poker show you don’t want to miss! If you watch regularly, you will see this cast of professional players joined by the likes of Alan Keating, Miki Masse, Nik Airball, and other exciting characters whose stories make for amazing TV. Since the early days, the show has brought together some of the best professional poker players, the world’s biggest gamblers, and famous characters from other areas of life to battle it out at the green felt. Poker has been a spectator sport for some time, with the biggest tournaments in the world shown on TV for decades. A classic poker game that does not involve a flop and is often played as a limit game. Live streams typically broadcast multiple times per week on regular schedules.

As well as hosting exciting live poker tournament festivals, PokerStars Live is also home to high-quality poker card rooms around the world. Experience top-tier gameplay and the energy of a tour that brings players together from across the world! With record-breaking events in some of the region’s most dynamic destinations, including APPT Manila and the APPT Championship, it continues to shape the Asia-Pacific poker scene.

When people remember the boom-era WSOP, they tend to focus on famous players and televised hands. Black Friday didn’t help, as the affiliate model in the US just can’t survive promoting solely regulated online poker, and there isn’t money to have competing updates teams at the WSOP anymore. On the flip side, I think poker tours consolidating media in house or to official contractors has really killed the rest of poker content. Towards the tail end of my career, as Black Friday’s immediate effects had worn off and people realized the new status quo was never going to be the boom again, players became very wary of the media. What did interviewing them face-to-face reveal that the public version of those players concealed? Everyone on the team at that time really was committed to putting on the best event they could and doing so in a way that revered the brand.

Poker Arena.tv works on any modern browser — desktop, tablet, or mobile. Yes, you can set notifications for any upcoming event. The Bulgarian’s first bracelet win came in a WSOP Online $10,000 heads-up event on GGPoker in August 2022, in which he won a $327,668 first-place prize. Danchev navigated through an expanded 128-player field, defeating Nikita Kuznetsov in the finals to seal his victory. Viewers can support your streaming journey by gifting, subscribing and donating. There is an ongoing discussion in the world of content creation on which platform is best, and they both offer opportunities to distribute content to the masses.

Staples does a great job of explaining his actions while playing and has developed a devoted group of followers from all over the world. From the way he interacts with his community and fans, it’s no surprise that Fintan is one of the top and most popular Twitch poker streamers in 2026. He started as a poker dealer before switching to a full-time pro and racking up a huge Twitch following. EasyWithAces is a Team PokerStars Online player hailing from Ireland, who final tabled the Irish Open and scooped up two SCOOP titles. Another addition to Team PokerStars online, “Spraggy” has built up a big following quickly alongside his frequent streaming partner and fellow PokerStars pal Fintan Hand.

The way I would describe it is that preflop, when you’re playing no-limit hold’em, you can make some really big mistakes. It took just over three hours of play to knock out the first seven players, but McKeehen and Greufe were very deep, so finding a winner lasted even longer than that. McKeehen outlasted a wild final table that included Loni Hui, Darren Rabinowitz, Jose Nadal, Eddie Pak, and eventual runner-up David Greufe.