At PokerStars EPT Barcelona 2025, Jason Koon didn’t fire every bullet on the schedule. But across the events he did play, things still broke his way.
“I’ve run incredibly well to get second in the PLO [€25K High Roller] tournament, that was awesome, and then yesterday I had three big blinds at one point and somehow got the money in the 50K,” Koon said. “I played three tournaments. I didn’t cash the 100K, and the other two came through for me, so it hasn’t been much work. Not big grindy days. I didn’t play the Main Event, so I haven’t put one of these five‑day sessions in.”
The only thing left on his list: the Spin & Go Championship. “Stars asked me if I wanted to do it, and it sounded fun and different, so I figured why not. Most of the time in the high rollers I’m playing guys I’ve known for 10 years, so it’ll be nice to play with some fresh faces.”
Why He Joined PokerStars
I feel like I understand the current zeitgeist of poker, what people want, and PokerStars has been open to hearing me out and letting me share my voice.
Koon’s decision to join PokerStars in November 2024 was a surprise to many. Over the years he had multiple ambassador roles including partypoker and GGPoker, but he also often described himself as fiercely independent.
“I’m a very independent person,” he explained. “Before I had any success in poker, I had a job for two weeks and I said, this is not for me. I don’t like to be here. And I gave up financial security to play poker because of that independence, that drive for just doing things the way I want. So for a while I was kind of sworn off ambassador roles. I thought, whatever, I’ll just keep playing high stakes and competing.”
That changed when he reconnected with old friends at PokerStars. “They just got me really excited to be here. And there’s a nostalgia factor too. I made my account 20 years ago—actually 20 years ago, it’s insane. I still remember the way I felt logging into PokerStars. Some of the biggest breaks I had in college were on PokerStars. They kind of rocketed my career to where it was. So to go full circle and come back and join the team that got me started, it really was a nostalgic dream.”
He also feels the timing in his career is right. “I’ve had a ton of experience in this business—I’ve seen the ins and outs, I’ve had different ambassador roles. I’m not the new guy anymore, but I’m also not the old guard. I kind of have an ear to both sides. I feel like I understand the current zeitgeist of poker, what people want, and PokerStars has been open to hearing me out and letting me share my voice.”
Game Integrity
Much of his work at GGPoker, and now in broader roles, touches on game integrity. Koon said that came naturally.
“It wasn’t because I went asking to be part of it. It’s more that I remember what poker was online, and I want that to be available to young kids today. And on top of that, I’m a stats nerd. I like looking at optimal poker and understanding the limits of human performance. Sometimes you see play at such a high level you think: is this even human? I’m not saying it’s not possible—people are getting better every year. But it’s good to have someone who knows what the peak looks like. That makes me useful for security. It’s not that I think of myself as a beacon of integrity—it just fits. I’m happy to assist.”
The Cost of Being an Ambassador
Koon was also candid about the flip side. “There’s a huge cost to this stuff. People say, oh, this guy’s getting paid to be an ambassador, that’s amazing. Well, it is nice to get a paycheck—it’s very hard to win money playing poker, so I’m not complaining. But you’re always plugged in. There are limitations on what you can do. People think you can change more than you really can. These are massive businesses; there’s a lot of red tape. I can’t just snap my fingers and say, let’s make this happen for players.”
“And you’re in the middle. Players say they want one thing. Businesses say, well, we have to make a profit. And you have to be the one saying, let’s help them a little here, let’s give a little back here. You’re never going to make everyone happy. I don’t like conflict—I’ve had enough conflict for ten lifetimes—so that part is draining sometimes.”
A Macau Night to Remember
Of the many stories from his career, Koon was happy to share one from Macau, the fabled place where some of the craziest poker games take place behind closed doors.
“One really colorful moment happened my first trip to Macau, over 10 years ago. There was a young player there, his name was Trueteller on PokerStars, one of the greatest high‑stakes cash game players of all time. And I was in over my head in that game to begin with, but I grew to really like him,” Koon recalled.
“The game was breaking, and he looked at me and said, ‘Hey, stick around for another hour. I think something good might happen.’ So it was three in the morning and I was playing three‑handed with him and a Norwegian kid, both really great players. And I was like, guys, I really don’t want to be playing this game much longer, I’m not doing good in this game. And he said, ‘Just trust me.’”
Koon did. “About 30 minutes later, he gives me a nod. I look back and there’s a guy walking in with a posse of people carrying duffel bags of Hong Kong dollars. They start emptying out the duffel bags of cash at the cage, he gets chips, and he sits down. And we played one of the best poker games I’ve ever played in my life. And Trueteller gave me a wink and a nod. I’m forever grateful for that one.”
“I Was Born to Do This”
With more than $ 66 million in live tournament winnings, Koon has nothing left to prove on paper. But he says the fire comes from somewhere deeper.
“I don’t think there’s ever going to be an end game for me. I’ll never retire from poker. I love it. I was born to do this. I play because I want to compete. Now it’s not about proving something to other people—it’s about proving something to myself. That’s a sustainable fuel. It’s healthy, it makes me feel good, and it scratches an itch I’m always going to need to scratch.”
He studies, he mentors, and he prepares. But he also sets limits now. “I won’t beat myself to death playing 340 days a year like I used to. I won’t travel to every stop. I won’t be concerned about being number one on the all‑time money list. But when I want to play, I’ll play. And I’ll never sit down without being ready to win. If I can’t produce my best version, then I’ll go do something else. Until then, I’ll keep competing.”
