January 26, 2026

PokerStars reloads its Live League.

PokerStars is rolling out its Live League for another spin in 2026, starting with the Open Campione, Italy, in January.

The new season boasts over €250,000 in prizes and some tweaks to reward more players throughout the year. The festival at Casino di Campione will feature a range of events, from a €400 Mystery Bounty Cup up to a €5,500 Super High Roller.

Last year’s season broke records and marked PokerStars’ much-anticipated return to Italy. The company says they’re focusing on “community engagement” and making the circuit more rewarding for players who stick around all year.

“Players can earn points across every major festival, chase leaderboards throughout the year, and turn consistent results into meaningful rewards on the live stage.”

Whether you’re a seasoned grinder or just looking for an excuse to visit Lake Lugano, PokerStars thinks they’ve got something for everyone this season.

January 30

WTAF. Dentistry at the poker tables?

I have only ever seen dentistry at the Dentist. Never anywhere else. This is totally grim and out of line for the other players imo! Absolutely astounded.

AI glasses spotted over at PartyPoker Live Sheffield.

What’s your take? I think it’s a definite no-no.

Barry Carter back at it again with strategy advice.

We’re not going to read the whole article, but if you want satellite strategy this latest post from Barry Carter over on PokerStrategy is for you!

Will prediction markets change the landscape of live poker?

Paul Seaton at Pokerati wonders if the recent partnership between prediction market operator Kalshi and big poker names is just the start of a new era for the WSOP Main Event.

For over fifty years, the Main Event has been a $10,000 freezeout, almost untouched by the evolving world of betting.

Now, with Kalshi posting odds on whether there will be 10,000 entrants, the line between poker and sportsbetting is starting to blur. As Seaton puts it, this could be 'the first move in a series of changes to the way live poker and sportsbetting merge.’

I personally don’t see the rise in prediction marks changing the landscape of the WSOP — but never say never.

Use poker streams to your own advantage.

Most poker fans treat livestreams as background entertainment, but in this latest episode of Smart Poker Study Podcast suggests there might be a better way.

The host outlines how top players use these streams for focused training, not just passive viewing.

The main idea: take notes, pause the action, and ask yourself what you would do in each spot.

Honestly, this is a great idea!

PokerStars’ Winter Series for 2026 is halfway done, and this year, things are a bit more compact.

Anuj reports for pokerfuse that each regional series is offering 50 tournaments, down from last year’s 89, so the total prize money guaranteed just tips over $1.5 million.

Buy-ins now start as low as $7, with some new price points mixed in. The Main Events, still to come, will see $200 buy-ins with guarantees between $70K and $100K.

January 29

GGPoker’s new rewards program is going live tomorrow!

Just a reminder: GGPoker’s new rewards program, Ocean Rewards, replaces Fish Buffet tomorrow 🌊

Check out everything you need to know here ⬇️

🎙️New podcast in the works from Adam Schwartz.

This time it will be industry-focused. Hoping our very own Anuj and Nick will be hit up for their takes, as there are none better in the industry than them.

Well… That’s One Way to Celebrate.

ClubWPT Gold going down for maintenance on day one of their anniversary celebration is… a choice 😂

Maybe this means something huge is coming 👀

I have been in the industry 10+ years and never heard this story.

Once-upon-a-time, back in 2008, Betfair Poker players stumbled onto a bug that would make even the calmest developer sweat. If everyone moved all-in on the first hand of a six-player sit and go, the winner got first place money, and everyone else received second place payouts.

Forums erupted with stories of players quickly climbing the stakes and raking in money.

Betfair’s offices were closed overnight, so the bug went unchecked until the following afternoon. After discovering the losses, the site quickly shut down the affected games and froze some accounts. The company eventually demanded repayment from players it accused of collusion, even threatening legal action.

Where are all the WSOP documentaries?

As we all know, the groundbreaking het-hum WSOP documentary was pulled in early December for using AI. Apparently, it was being edited and then reissued? But now, it’s crickets. If the WSOP waits any longer, it is going to be totally obsolete. (As a reminder it focuses on WSOP Paradise 2024.)

The same goes for the GG Millions documentary. The first episode came out (featuring Alex Theologis) over two months ago now. Where are the other episodes?

Again, I feel there is always so much hype, and then everything goes off the boil. So disappointing.

This is a far reaching interview with Andy Stacks, and it’s a long one. But if you have time it is definitely worth the watch.

Andy sits down with podcast host Alex Duvall to talk about all things poker, including why he has given up cash games.

I first became familiar with Andy during GGPoker’s Game of Gold and found this conversation really interesting.

BetRivers Poker just introduced three new promotions across its US markets, with two of them making their debut.

The highlight is the Double Glitch, Double the Comeback promo, which targets Cub3d SNG players. In this format, even if you finish second or third, you might get a Glitch prize.

That means if you collect $8.30 in Glitch prizes in a day, you get an additional $8.30 in SNG tickets. No opt-in is needed, and tickets are credited within 96 hours. The promotion runs through February 11 in all four states where BetRivers operates.

For more details, check out Anuj’s full article below.

If you are eyeing a seat at the Irish Poker Open 2026, PokerStars has you covered.

Their online satellite program is running strong, with qualifier tournaments for every bankroll and a new Emerald Pass package that rolls travel, entries, and perks into one.

The festival itself promises a packed schedule along with a really comprehensive off felt selection of activities, like stand-up comedy and game nights. I have never been to the IPO, but everyone raves about it! So if you get a chance, definitely go!

January 28

Tax law changes: poker pros might be drawing dead.

Lee Jones warns tournament grinders on PokerOrg that the 2026 US tax law could be a real game-changer. The short version: starting in 2026, players have to report all their winnings, but can only claim 90 percent of their losses. That means even if you break even at the felt, the IRS still expects a cut.

But for mid-stakes and high-roller events, the impact could be severe. Pros who live off the tournament circuit will have to take a hard look at whether the grind is still worth it.

Andrew Lichtenberger started the 2026 PokerGO Tour just as he finished 2025—winning.

He took down the $5,100 No-Limit Hold’em opener, besting 135 entries and earning $162,000.

This event was the second-largest $5,100 tournament in PGT’s history and, thanks to double leaderboard points, Lichtenberger soared to the top of the standings with 324 points. He’s now tied for fourth all-time in PGT wins.

Last year, he won this very event for $117,000.

The latest Super High Roller Cash Game on PokerGO features a $500/$1,000 No-Limit Hold’em game with a $250,000 minimum buy-in.

Headliners Alan Keating and Andrew Robl are joined by Sam Kiki, Kirk Brown, Justin Gavri, Sameh Elamawy, and Darin Feinstein.

The video is pitched as a battle of titans, but for these guys, it’s just the cost of doing business.

We know we’ve covered it before, but we will say it again.

WSOP Online is going all-in on cash games, but not in the way you might expect. This week, they’re basically paying you to play, with a 50 percent rakeback weekend, a $500 reload bonus, and a cash game challenge.

Toronto fans hoping for an early WSOP Circuit stop in 2026 will have to be patient.

The anticipated WSOP-c Toronto leg was missing from the first half of the schedule.

However, sources told us over on pokerfuse that the WSOP Circuit is likely to return to Toronto between June and December. Nothing has been officially confirmed, but the expectation remains.

Last year’s event exceeded all expectations, with over 7.5 million Canadian dollars paid out and a Main Event prize pool that surpassed projections.

PokerStars is bringing the European Poker Tour back to Paris after an unexpected break last year.

The festival, which runs from February 18 to March 1, will host 52 events at the Le Palais des Congres. Highlights include the €1,650 PokerStars Open Main Event, the €5,300 EPT Main Event, and a high-roller lineup that climbs up to €100,000.

After regulatory concerns led to a cancellation in 2025, the EPT is hoping for a smoother ride this time.

Daniel Negreanu has announced, via PokerNews, a new Kalshi partnership where one lucky predictor will snag a seat to the 2026 WSOP Main Event.

All it takes is a $10 deposit on Kalshi using his promo code. Once entered, you are eligible for what PokerNews calls 'free access to this summer’s showpiece occasion.’

Closer to the event, there will be plenty of online satellites and packages giving away Main Event entry for less, so if prediction markets are not your thing, don’t worry. There will be more ways to win your way to WSOP 2026 as the year gets underway.

January 27

A fox running in the snow, because the news cycle is too bleak.

What with the news being dominated by ICE shootings, protests, winter storms in both the US and UK, and Alex Honnold scaling the Taipei 101 tower there is barely any fun poker news to report today.

So I bring you a fox. In the snow. With the zooms. You’re welcome.

PokerNews takes a stroll down memory lane, celebrating the bluffs that helped shaped the game.

The centerpiece is Chris Moneymaker’s iconic 2003 WSOP Main Event moment, now forever known as the 'bluff of the century.’ As the article recounts, Moneymaker went heads-up against seasoned pro Sammy Farha with nothing but K7 and a dream, making what many call the most important bluff in poker history.

We’re always a sucker for a Chris Moneymaker story, and this one doesn’t disappoint.

Prediction markets and poker are colliding, with Kalshi opening a market on whether this year’s WSOP Main Event will attract over 10,000 runners.

The odds, according to Kalshi, sit at 52 percent that the field will be bigger than last year. Only $762 has exchanged hands so far, so it’s anyone’s guess how accurate these odds really are.

The full WSOP schedule isn’t even out yet, but apparently that hasn’t stopped the market from dreaming big.

Love these shorts from 888poker.

Concise, to the point and always really helpful. At under 5 minutes long, treat yourself.

Suddenly, everyone’s a poker room owner.

Melbourne’s poker scene just got a makeover, with Alex and Kristen Foxen, Jeremy Ausmus, Eric Baldwin, and Abby Merk now part-owners of the PlayLive poker room.

The new venue is already smashing guarantees at its inaugural Melbourne Millions series, making January a busy month for poker in the city.

Question, where is the investment from Australian poker pros? How much did these guys have to front? How does it work logistically with most of them being American? What’s the catch?

No debt too small for Jungleman to swing in on the vine.

Apparently, there’s a 15-year-old, $15k (or $8k? as per the shared screenshots) debt owed by Dan Heimiller to Phil Gordon. And the Jungleman is here to arbitrate by sharing some text messages.

Seems like small fry to us, but we’re at 50k views on this tweet already, so people obviously care. Dan is in there defending his position. Lawyers are getting called. Lawyers don’t have to bill many hours to cross over a $15k debt, so this fight feels more about principle.

Click thru if you really want. We’ll keep this one at arm’s length.

(side note: Full Tilt didn’t pay anyone back — the company was insolvent when it was shut down by the Department of Justice. PokerStars stepped in, purchased the company, and immediately returned all money to non-US players. It paid hundreds of millions to the DOJ to settle their case, money of which was then used to repay US players.)

MSPT: Just incase you want another poker tour to follow.

The MSPT has had more names than most poker players have had screen names: it started as the Minnesota Poker Tour, became the Mid-States Poker Tour, and since 2025, we get the Major Series of Poker: The Tour.

Ivan lays out the 2026 schedule, which is packed with over two dozen stops across the US. Buy-ins hover between $300 and $700, but the Main Events keep things spicy at $1,110 a pop.

After 8 years at PokerGO, Jeff Platt joins WSOP team full time.

As well as working on player engagement, I guess it means we can expect more Platt at this year’s WSOP — be it in the commentary booth and in front of the camera — which hopefully won’t be a bad omen for players looking to make a deep run.

If you know, you know.

January 26

Hellmuth’s real addiction might not be poker.

Phil Hellmuth is racking up DoorDash orders the way he racks up bracelets: relentlessly. Over 4,500 deliveries in 12 years is impressive, but the real kicker is that he’s averaged more than one order per day, even though he claims to be on the road over a third of the time. The only thing bigger than his poker winnings might be his takeout bill.

Just your regular $10,000 grandma story.

We know we’ve already covered this story before, but it’s just too good.

PokerNews recaps how an octogenarian grandma just sauntered into a poker tournament, scooped up five figures, and left the pros looking for excuses.

Learn from the best, with Phil Galfond’s Beyond the Game.

Taking lessons he has learned throughout his life, Galfond has incorporated all he has learned into 'Beyond the Game’, a one-year poker training program.

I started Beyond the Game because I realized so many of the lessons I’ve learned from outside of poker are ones I desperately needed during the early and middle parts of my career. And nobody was teaching most of them—at least with the infrastructure I wanted to create.

The great thing about the program is also that it is done remotely, so it is accessible no matter where you live.

BTG is a one-year program, centered around weekly 90-minute calls led by me, and a Discord community. We’ve added another couple of calls a week, on average, with guest experts and poker study leaders.

NBA betting fraud: Two years behind bars, more sentences on the way.

A two-year prison sentence has been handed down to a gambler involved in an NBA betting fraud case, according to NEXT.io.

McCormack, who has openly described himself as a long-term gambling addict, admitted to using confidential information about NBA players to place lucrative bets. Prosecutors argued for a four-year sentence, but McCormack’s legal team said his addiction and limited role meant he shouldn’t go to jail.

The judge, LaShann DeArcy Hall, ultimately gave him two years. She acknowledged McCormack’s history of compulsive gambling, saying his criminal conduct was serious but didn’t define him as a person. Still, the court agreed with prosecutors that the scheme undermined trust in professional sports.

“The broader case also implicates current and former NBA players. The court ultimately settled on a reduced sentence while still affirming the seriousness of the offence.”

More convictions are expected as the investigation continues.

Ren Lin is back in the winner’s circle, and apparently, controversy is his lucky charm.

The public backlash against Lin has not hindered the high stakes pro performance.

Lin recently picked up two titles at the King Poker Cup in Korea, all while sporting a fresh WPT Global patch.

Sometimes, the only thing quicker than a poker comeback is the drama that comes with it.

Lex Veldhuis records the agony and the (partial) ecstasy.

Lex Veldhuis documents what he describes as his worst poker session in years, battling through rough luck and mounting frustration. The video follows his steady downward spiral at the tables, where nothing seems to go his way. As the session drags on, Lex’s mood dips, punctuated by a few choice sighs and muttered complaints.

But the story doesn’t end there. In the final stretch, Lex manages to turn things around, clawing back some dignity (and chips). As he puts it,

“Sometimes, you just have to outlast the bad beats.”

It is a tale familiar to anyone who has played poker for any length of time—sometimes the best you can hope for is surviving the storm.

A masterclass in how to lose $50,000 without trying.

Sometimes fortune favors the bold, but PokerNews makes it clear that Justin Gavri’s night was less 'bold strategy’ and more 'how not to win at poker.’ Apparently, betting blind while drinking isn’t the secret to success, unless your goal is to make someone else richer.

Forget the bracelets, grab the cash.

WSOP Online is making it rain for cash game grinders, rolling out a week-long Cash Game Festival with more bonuses than a loyalty card at your favorite coffee shop. Rakeback hits 50 percent, reload bonuses cap at 500 dollars, and there is even a challenge to keep you glued to the table.

It is almost enough to make you forget about chasing bracelets.

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