Million Dollar Buy-In Cash Game Set for Hustler Casino Live
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The world of “high roller” poker was eventually going to reach this point. $250,000 buy-ins for a tournament are not enough – how about a million (The Big One for One Drop at the WSOP)? Now the cash games are going that route, with twelve players with either deep pockets or deep skills stepping into the streaming show Hustler Casino Livein what is purported to be the first million-dollar buy-in cash game.
“Rampage,” Rob Yong Among Players in Field
Confirmed on the table right now is one of the top “high rollers” in the game today, Ethan ‘Rampage’ Yau. Yau has become somewhat of a fan favorite because he has truly worked his way up the ladder in the cash game world. Over the past four years, Yau has battled on the felt beginning at the Encore in Boston, where his first tournament cash was in a microscopic $150 buy-in event. Fast forward four years and Yau is now considered one of the biggest players in the game and a staple on the PokerGO Tour circuit.
There are a few other major players in the mix. Nikhil ‘Nik Airball’ Arcot uses his chips, his mouth, and his skills on players at the nosebleed stakes. Two players have a background in the tournament poker world, Brandon Steven and Canada’s Mark Radoja. Stevens was the runner-up in the $250,000 High Roller at the 2022 World Series of Poker, while Radoja is the proud owner of two WSOP bracelets.
When big money is bandied about, then the big businessmen will bring their stacks of cash to the baize. Investment banker Ben Lee, one of the former partypoker executives in Rob Yong, and casino magnate Eric Persson will be ready to get on the table. Venture capitalist Chamath Palihapitiya, who had a hand in Facebook’s founding, will also presumably get involved in this match, as will DoorDash creator (and HCL stalwart) Stanley Tang and Sprout Social co-founder Justyn Howard. There are a few other billionaires in the mix, but their backgrounds and names are not being revealed currently.
Mark Your Calendars for Memorial Day Weekend
If you’re looking to round up a million dollars to get in the game, you’re going to have to do it quickly. “The Million Dollar Game” is set for Hustler Casino Live on Memorial Day weekend. From May 27-29, HCL will broadcast at least ten (10) hours of play per day (hence the need for a pool of players) each day. The game will be $500/$1000 No Limit Hold’em with a $1000 big blind ante, but with eight or nine players each stacked with $1 million in cash, you can be sure they are going to want to get that money into action.
The announcers for the weekend are also top quality. David Tuchman and Bart Hanson will add their commentary. Also serving as the hosts for the weekend’s festivities are Joe Ingram and Veronica Brill, who certainly will not hesitate to add their two cents to what Tuchman and Hanson are talking about.
Believe it or not, some are complaining about the lineup. One Twitter user posted “Where are the crushers?” indicating that the lineup is too businessman-friendly and not filled out with enough “real” poker players (whatever that may be). Others are noting the lack of notable names like Fedor Holz, Justin Bonomo, or even Michael Addamo. Still more are lamenting the fact that Garrett Adelstein has not been invited to play in the event (and, considering some of Adelstein’s statements, it is highly unlikely he would play anyway).
There are indications that the player list could still grow, even at this late date. Fans will have to tune in for the fun and games a month from now when Hustler Casino Live will command the eyeballs of the poker world for “The Million Dollar Game.”
