In this episode Chad Disante, the Horseshoe Bossier City's cardroom manager, joins the podcast to tell us how things are going at the Louisiana State Poker Championship. We also discuss the WSOP Main Event final table, an epidemic of hacked Twitter accounts, and how Chad got into poker.

1:00: Intro

• https://southernpoker.net/
• Lucas Jumalon wins the WSOP Main Event: https://www.espn.com/espn/betting/story/_/id/49554787/world-series-poker-2026-final-table
• hacked Twitter accounts: https://x.com/ToddWitteles/status/2091930999899009151?s=20

29:00: Interview

Gene, Ben, and Bill recap an action-packed summer in Las Vegas, including the big winners, a harrowing robbery, and the WSOP Main Event. We also chat with BJ Cockrell, one of the bigwigs at the Horseshoe Tunica's poker room and a veteran on both sides of the felt.

1:00: Intro

• The GCP Tour in Tunica—July 16-26
• Kristen Foxen and Adrian Mateos win 6th WSOP bracelets
• SoCal Pro allegedly hogtied and robbed of winnings: https://nypost.com/2026/07/15/us-news/socal-poker-pro-allegedly-hogtied-and-robbed-in-las-vegas/
• Lexy Gavin on the stone bubble: https://x.com/LexyGavinPoker/status/2077090153940861072
• Shot clocks implemented deep in the Main Event: https://www.pokernews.com/news/2026/07/wsop-main-event-shot-clock-debate-51856.htm
• Jonathan Tamayo reflects on the health of poker: https://x.com/Table1Vegas/status/2078869712382132575

1:20:00: Interview

On the eve of the 2026 WSOP, who better to offer a preview of the action than Chad Holloway? An industry veteran heading into his 18th straight summer in Las Vegas, Chad's also an accomplished player who won the 2013 Casino Employees Event and a WSOP bracelet. In this episode, Ben and Bill talk with Chad about dropping out of law school, the Harrah's New Orleans cardroom in the mid-aughts, life as Pokernews's PR and Media Manager, interviewing Maurice Hawkins, comic books, live reality games, the future of Texas poker, and more.

Hope you enjoy, and best of luck this summer!

1:00: Intro

• GCP Tour Mystery Ticket at MGM Grand—June 6–9
• GCP Tour Golden Event at Golden Nugget—June 17–20

4:00: Interview

• https://www.pokernews.com/podcast/pokernews-podcast/

In this episode, Gene, Ben, and Bill sat down with John Cressend, a Nola native and a regular on the Gulf Coast tournament scene for over twenty years. John told us about how he got into poker, balancing tourneys with his day job as a certified public accountant, the tax implications of the Big Beautiful Bill, and the next time we might see his alter ego—the Butler—immaculately dressed and stacking chips.

1:00: Interview

• for more on the tax implications of the BBB: https://www.thinkingpoker.net/2026/01/episode-492-russ-fox/

In this in-person interview, Ben and Bill sit down with the Beau Rivage's cardroom manager Adam Nash to discuss how the first weekend of the Heater went—as you might have guessed, the Gulf South's biggest tournament series got off to a blazing start—and what to expect heading into the second weekend.

1:00: Interview

• Adam's Tebow speech: https://www.facebook.com/share/v/175M9PwCcM/

Having covered major Los Angeles sports for over 30 years, Eric Geller brings a wealth of experience—and plenty of stories—to the poker world. He currently reports for Gulf Coast Poker and covers tournaments across the Southern U.S. In this episode, Bill, Ben, and Gene have a wide-ranging conversation about Eric's background in both poker and the wide world of sports.

1:00 interview

As the Poker/Sportsbook Manager at Horseshoe Tunica, Dan Higginbotham has over thirty years of experience in the casino industry, working in both commercial and tribal casinos across different jurisdictions. He's seen and done a lot, in other words, and in this episode Dan sits down with Gene, Ben, and Bill to discuss how running tournaments and cardrooms has changed over the years, and what to expect in the future.

1:00: Interview

With just over a week until the WSOP Main Event gets going, we invited Will "Monkey" Souther, the founder of the staking group Monkey's Minions, for a preview of his summer crew and how you can support them. John "Cakes" Auville, co-host of the longrunning radio show The Sports Junkies and a first-time Minion, also joined the conversation. Enjoy the episode, and best of luck to anyone heading out to Vegas!

1:00: Interview

• Monkey's first appearance on the podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/dk/podcast/3-will-the-poker-monkey-souther/id1674014548?i=1000601300035
• The Sports Junkies: https://www.audacy.com/thefandc/authors/the-sports-junkies

You'd be hard-pressed to find someone with more intimate knowledge of the Gulf Coast poker scene than Darrell Guillory. A dealer for over thirty years—not to mention a tough tournament player in his own right—Darrell's currently wrapping up his career at Caesar's New Orleans, where he plans to retire at the end of this year. He's also working as a supervisor at this summer's World Series of Poker. We hope you enjoy this conversation with Darrell and our preview of the 56th WSOP.

1: 00: Roundtable

• GCP's revamped website: https://gulfcoastpoker.net/
• https://www.pokernews.com/news/2025/05/electronic-devices-dodging-the-blinds-and-more-6-wsop-rule-c-48524.htm

34:00: Interview

We're pulling out a throwback episode with Tom "Dr. Dialtone" Darce, a regular on the Gulf Coast Poker scene for many years. When Tom passed away in March at the age of 58, the community lost an avid poker player and a dear friend. We hope that you enjoy this conversation with him.

1: 00: Roundtable

• July 10-20th: GCP Event at the Horshoe Tunica
• https://www.pokernews.com/news/2025/05/ali-imsirovic-kicked-out-of-florida-poker-tournament-48500.htm
• https://www.pokernews.com/podcast/pokernews-podcast/pokernews-podcast-episode-889-denise-pratt-maurice-hawkins-48494.htm
• https://www.cardplayer.com/poker-news/30147-poker-community-concerned-following-cryptic-posts-from-tom-durrrr-dwan

31:00: Interview

Joel Doney is a familiar face on the Gulf Coast poker scene. He got started in New Orleans before moving with his wife to Austin, where he's currently a regular at both the Lodge Card Club and Texas Card House. In this conversation, Joel talks about how he got into poker, how he splits his time between tournaments and cash, two recent big scores—for $90K and $300K, respectively—and last but not least, his big bushy beard.

1:30: Interview

42:00: Roundtable

• Million Dollar Heater: https://www.cardplayer.com/poker-news/29718-rookie-william-oertling-wins-2025-beau-rivage-heater-main-event
• Cheating on the Gulf Coast? https://forumserver.twoplustwo.com/29/news-views-gossip/cheating-gulf-coast-1844520/
• Milly in Philly returns March 19-31

Evan Benton hails from a little southeast Louisiana town called Houma—also Gene D's hometown—and he grew up in a poker-playing family. Last summer, in the first WSOP tournament that he played, Evan cashed for  $412,484 in Event #28, a $1,500 freezout. We caught up with Evan to talk about growing up in Houma, winning a bracelet, turning pro, getting into the world of private games, and much more.

1:00 Roundtable

• 2025 Million Dollar Heater at the Beau Rivage

27:00 Interview

• Evan Benton Goes From Poker Beginner to WSOP Bracelet Winner

If you've spent time in the Gulf Coast poker scene, odds are that you've seen—or heard—Steve Bierman. A native Louisianan and a cardroom regular for over a decade, Steve has always been quick with a joke and eager to laugh. He also boasts an impressive poker resume, with over $770,000 in Hendon Mob cashes and two WSOP final tables. Steve sat down with Ben, Bill, and Gene to discuss his poker origin story, his deep run in this summer's WSOP Main Event, how his background as an entrepreneur helps him on the felt, and much more.

1:00 Roundtable

• The Russian Bot Army That Conquered Online Poker
• Legendary Gambler, Poker Player Archie Karas Passes Away

29:00 Interview

• BagWow!
• Funny football fans

Gian Smith is a New Orleans-based artist whose poem "O Beautiful Storm" appeared in Season 2 of HBO’s Treme. He's also a long-time cardplayer and a former dealer at Harrah's Nola. In this conversation, Gian sits down with Gene, Ben, and Bill to discuss writing, acting, and his recent poker-themed short film The Capitalist.

1:00 Roundtable

• Historic Summer Leads to WSOP Player of the Year for Scott Seiver
• Becker vs. Tice: the crossbook is over
• Rail Helping WSOP Champ Between Hands Bad for the Game?
• GGPoker Buys World Series of Poker for $500 Million; WSOP to Remain in Vegas for 20 Years

39:00 Interview

• Treme Season 2 Trailer: O Beautiful Storm
• Black Film Festival of New Orleans
• The Capitalist (2023)

Jeff Boski (@ICuRaRook) is a poker pro, a vlogger, a Twitch streamer, and an ambassador for America's Cardroom. He also shipped GCP's Golden Ticket Event at last summer's MGM Grand Summer Poker Festival. In this episode, Jeff spoke with Bill, Ben, and Gene about how he got into poker, transitioning from online to live, tips for grinding out a successful summer in Las Vegas, and much more.

1:00: Roundtable

• Former MGM Grand casino president sentenced to probation for not reporting bookie’s bets
• Doug Polk's Plans to Open "Largest Poker Room in Texas" Denied By City
• Chris Moneymaker Kicks Off Triton Montenegro with Stunning High-Roller Win
• Maurice Hawkins Moves Into Second on WSOPC Ring List w/ Cherokee Main Event Win

35:00: Interview

• First time ACR deposit code “BOSKI” that will get you 100% match bonus up to $2,000. This bonus is released over time as you play. Gamble responsibly, do not risk more than you can afford to lose: Tinyurl.com/BoskiBonus 
• Use this link to get discounts on all of the Raise Your Edge courses: Tinyurl.com/BoskiRYE 

These days, Treva Moulton is enjoying life in Biloxi as a retired grandma. But she's also known for being the Queen of the old Grand Casino cardroom, where she worked from the mid-1990s to the summer of 2005. On this month's podcast, Treva told Gene, Ben, and Bill about growing up in Liberty, Mississippi, working at the Grand and the Beau Rivage, and organizing the upcoming Grand Casino reunion in April.

1:00: Roundtable (with special guest Adam Nash)

• The Seven Clans Poker Cup Series (April 4th-14th)
• Nik Airball Tanks for 20 Minutes in a Brutal Spot on the Lodge Poker Stream

24:30: Interview

Eric Vogel (@evbass504) is a Nola native and a musician who's toured with the Wooten Brothers, Nigel Hall, Big Sam’s Funky Nation, Fred Wesley, Tribal Gold, and the New Orleans Suspects, just to name a few, as well as with his own band, Eric’s Gonna Die. He’s also a poker pro who can mostly be found in the cash games at Harrah’s New Orleans. In this episode, Ben and Eric discuss music and poker—professions that are often romanticized, especially in New Orleans—and how Eric juggles gigging with grinding.

1:00: Roundtable

• The Milly in Philly (March 13-25)
• Wild Bill ships the Main at Southern Poker's Lagniappe Series

18:30: Interview

• Eric's Gonna Die
• New Orleans Suspects
• Tribal Gold
• Erica Falls
• The Revivalists
• Herbert Asbury's The French Quarter

Prior to this year, Matt Higgins was already an accomplished poker pro with over a million dollars in live tournament cashes. In this episode, Matt joins Bill, Gene, and Ben to discuss his career and also his blazing hot start to 2024, which includes a first-place finish in Event #1 of The Beau Rivage Heater and another first (plus his fifth WSOP ring) in Tunica.

1:00: Roundtable

• Jonathan Little Wins PokerGO Cup Title
• Police Report in Anthony Zinno Case Provides Answers, But Some Questions Remain
• Phil Hellmuth Wants Ike Haxton to Take off the Facemask

30:00: Upcoming GCP Events

31:00: Interview with Matt

Andrew Neeme is a professional poker player, a vlogger, an organizer of meetup games, a co-owner of The Lodge Card Club, a traveler, a drinker of tasty cocktails, and a brand ambassador for the World Poker Tour. He's a busy guy, in other words, and in this episode Andrew joins Bill, Gene, and Ben to chat about what he's been up to recently as well as this month's WPT Championship tournament series at the Wynn.

1:00: Roundtable

• Joel Doney Wins the Lodge's Winter Main Event
• Million Dollar Heater at the Beau Rivage
• Cheating Scandal in LA Private Game

19:15: Interview

• Andrew's 276th vlog, BIGGEST CASHOUT - My Incredible WSOP Main Event Run!
• Andrew's 283rd vlog, MY NEW BIGGEST WIN EVER!!
• Charlie Wilmoth, On Private Games and Cash Game Poker's Identity Crisis

Adam Nash, the Beau Rivage's poker room manager, is also an avid Slugfest brawler. In this episode Gene, Ben, and Bill talk with Adam about the upcoming Million Dollar Heater tournament series, his career in poker, his background in MMA, and his current bout with cancer.

1:00: Roundtable

• 2023 Gulf Coast Poker awards
• Global Poker issues expanded statement exonerating player under RTA investigation
• Rounders 25th Anniversary

23:50: Interview with Adam

• Southern Hands Slugfest