Regardless of the sport, even the legends must eventually retire at some point in their careers – think of icons like Michael Jordan in basketball, Joe Montana in football, Pele in soccer, and Wayne Gretzky in hockey.
Even the legendary boxer George Foreman decided to retire after a remarkable career that included 81 fights and two comebacks. However, poker carries its own unique dynamic. Although players do face physical and psychological challenges, these factors may not heavily influence their reasons for departing from the game.
Individuals may leave the poker scene for a myriad of reasons – from losing interest in the game to seeking new job opportunities or focusing on family aspirations. For some, unexpected business prospects may redirect their paths significantly.
Some poker players may still engage with the game on a casual basis, but they no longer consider it their primary occupation. Others might grow weary of the variance of the game, constant travel, and the inherent financial fluctuations associated with being a full-time poker player.
Living the life of a professional poker player can be challenging, prompting many to explore alternative career options in the last decade.
Here, we explore the stories of several players who have chosen to seek new opportunities outside of the poker world.
Table of Contents
Vanessa Selbst
One of the most accomplished female poker players, Vanessa Selbst, announced her departure from the game and from her sponsorship with PokerStars at the beginning of 2018. With nearly $12 million in live tournament winnings, she had established herself as a prominent figure in poker, boasting three World Series of Poker bracelets, multiple World Poker Tour final tables, and several other championships.
At just 34, Selbst took a position at Bridgewater Associates, a hedge fund, while still intending to continue playing poker occasionally. Her career transition and the implications of moving away from poker were highlighted in a newspaper article.New York Times .
Selbst expressed excitement about her new professional path, yet she grappled with some conflicting feelings due to her previous criticisms of players who left the game for finance roles. Along with the desire to travel less, she and her wife were also planning to expand their family.
She candidly shared her thoughts with the media regarding the lack of job security in professional poker, revealing, \"You have no job security, no health insurance. You’re constantly traveling and live a life full of unpredictability. Financial swings can be significant, especially now that more individuals have the ability to win, making it easy to experience a financially tough year.\"
In addition to her new role, Selbst shares her discontent with the evolving gambling landscape on social media. While she still partakes in poker from time to time, her position now revolves around a typical work schedule.
Phil Gordon
Gordon, a notable figure during the poker craze of the 2000s, entered the poker arena after a successful stint as an entrepreneur in the tech sector. He began playing poker after banking millions from his tech ventures and is now the CEO of Chatbox.com, a company specializing in integrated messaging solutions for businesses.
On the poker scene, Gordon has accumulated nearly $2.8 million in tournament earnings. He made a memorable splash by securing fourth in the WSOP Main Event in 2001, earning $399,610, and claimed a WPT title in 2004 at the Bay 101 Shooting Star event. His WPT victory is especially noted for him eliminating both of his last opponents simultaneously, which included the 2003 WSOP champion, Chris Moneymaker.
In conjunction with his poker career and business pursuits, Gordon has authored multiple works and co-hosted ESPN’s Poker Edge podcast. Additionally, he provided commentary for Bravo network’s Celebrity Poker Showdown. He is also the founder of Bad Beat on Cancer , an initiative where players contribute 1 percent of their tournament winnings to the Prevent Cancer Foundation . books on poker The reasons behind his departure from the game are not entirely clear; nevertheless, Gordon hasn’t scored in any tournament since 2011. One potential factor could be the aftermath of Black Friday, as he was a member of Team Full Tilt and was involved in the company's software development. Others speculate his responsibilities as a husband and father of two may have influenced his decision.
He could have simply lost interest in poker, feeling somewhat disenchanted with the Las Vegas lifestyle, which he has alluded to in past writings. With a multitude of commitments in business, family, and philanthropy, Gordon may have decided to pause his poker involvement, as he detailed in a 2014 blog post discussing his experiences.
Though he officially retired from playing, Gordon expressed excitement about contributing to the game in different ways. \"I want to initiate a weekly Google Hangout to discuss poker. I miss my podcast on ESPN radio and aspire to bring that experience back.\"blog post in 2014 Running Chatbox has kept him occupied, and in the past four years, Gordon hasn't made significant moves to return to either the poker table or poker media.
A well-known presence during the peak of the poker explosion in the early 2000s, Gouga was recognized for his animated table banter and playful jabs at rivals, including the renowned Phil Hellmuth. This Lithuanian player has accrued $6.1 million in live tournament earnings, along with a significant number of competition victories and final table appearances, including notable performances in the World Poker Tour.
As a tech entrepreneur, Gouga launched the European gambling and poker platform TonyBet.com in 2009, which was later acquired by the Swedish gaming company Betsson in 2016. He transitioned away from poker in 2014 when he was elected to the European Parliament, focusing on improving the business environment in Europe, especially in technology.
Tony Gouga (Tony G)
Gouga made headlines recently as he teamed up with Mark Cuban, the owner of the Dallas Mavericks and a prominent investor known from \"Shark Tank,\" to collaborate on the blockchain fitness application Lympo. This app incentivizes users to complete fitness challenges by rewarding them with crypto tokens that can be exchanged for fitness-related products."Our aim is to promote health and keep people motivated,\" he stated while at the Mavericks' training facility. \"The idea behind Lympo tokens is to offer a kind of rewards system for maintaining good health. It’s akin to earning frequent-flier points for being active, all accessible through your phone. We want users to monitor their data and take control of their health information; every workout they do will be tracked.\" Although he stepped back from poker to delve deeper into politics, Gouga made a partial comeback to the poker world, participating in tournaments in 2017 and 2018, achieving several cash finishes for the first time since 2013. During just four high roller events, Gouga managed to secure a title, a second-place finish, and two fourth-place finishes, amassing a total of $1.25 million.
While poker may not occupy his primary focus anymore, it appears that he retains significant skills and competitive prowess.
A prominent figure in the poker scene over the past several years, Polk garnered attention in September for his announcement to step away from the game. He has established himself as one of the top players in recent times, accumulating $9.5 million in live tournament earnings, including three coveted WSOP bracelets. His career pinnacle occurred in 2017 when he triumphed in the $111,111 High Roller for One Drop at the WSOP, taking home an impressive $3.7 million.
Polk has shown a diverse range of interests, recently venturing into the realm of stand-up comedy, investing in cryptocurrency, and even launching a new venture to complement his already successful poker channel.Dallas Morning News In a statement on his platform, Polk expressed immense gratitude for the opportunities poker has afforded him. \"For some time now, I’ve lost enjoyment in playing poker. It feels much more like a grind, like a job rather than a passion.\"
After over a decade of involvement in poker, Polk conveyed that the joy he once derived from the game has diminished, prompting him to explore other endeavors. He noted that many of his poker acquaintances have also moved away from the game and transitioned into different careers.
Recently, Polk has shared a few poker-related videos, but it’s been since September 2017 that he has earned any tournament cash. Although he’s currently stepping back from poker, he did leave the possibility open for a return if his enthusiasm were rekindled.
Doug Polk
"I don’t envision myself returning to poker for the foreseeable future,\" he remarked. \"I’m not declaring I’ll never play again. I refuse to be among the many who say they are retiring only to immediately jump back into competition. I want to avoid that kind of scenario. So, for now, I’m just stating that I will take a break from poker and reevaluate later.\"
After a successful poker career, Duke found herself embroiled in two controversial initiatives that left a negative impression on many enthusiasts—UltimateBet and the Epic Poker League. The latter was short-lived, filing for bankruptcy less than a year in operation, and she hasn’t made any tournament cashes since 2011.comedy and news video channel Duke has earned nearly $4.3 million in live tournament play, which includes a 10th-place finish in the WSOP Main Event in 2000 while she was nine months pregnant. She claimed a WSOP bracelet in 2004 during a $1,500 Omaha Hi/Lo event and won the NBC National Heads-Up Poker Championship in 2010.
At 53, Duke is a mother of four and the sister of poker player Howard Lederer, and at one point, she was recognized as the leading female money winner in WSOP history until she was surpassed by Vanessa Selbst.YouTube channel In her 2005 autobiography, Duke reflected, \"Achieving my success not only secured my status among the best female players, but it also validated my skills as one of the top players, regardless of gender.\"
Following the collapse of the Epic Poker League, Duke appears to have made the decision to distance herself from the poker world altogether. She has since reimagined her career as a corporate speaker and strategist. In 2018, she published the book \"Thinking In Bets: Making Smarter Decisions When You Don’t Have All the Facts\" and continues to excel in the field of business strategy.
Players often leave the game of poker for multiple reasons; they might find themselves losing interest in the gameplay or deciding to focus on different career paths. 888poker explores the various motivations behind these departures.
Is leaving poker truly a step towards better opportunities for those who choose to walk away?
Annie Duke
Regardless of the sport, even the top athletes eventually need to step back – think of Michael Jordan in basketball, Joe Montana in football, Pelé in soccer, and Wayne Gretzky in hockey.
Similarly, boxing icon George Foreman also chose to retire after an impressive 81 bouts and two returns to the ring. However, poker differs in that it requires less physical stamina, and thus the leave-taking may stem from different personal reasons.
There are numerous reasons why players may choose to step away from poker – be it a lack of excitement for the game, shifting focus to career aspirations, or prioritizing family. Business prospects can pull some individuals in new and unexpected directions as well.
“My win in the Omaha Hi-Lo Some former pros continue to play occasionally, though they no longer pursue it as their main source of income. Many players grow weary of the unpredictable nature, extensive travel, and the financial ups and downs typical of full-time poker.
The life of a professional poker player can be quite challenging, leading many to explore alternative paths over the past decade.
Alex Jacob
Here’s an overview of various players who opted to leave poker behind in search of more stable and promising opportunities.
One standout female player, Vanessa Selbst, made headlines in early 2018 when she announced her exit from poker along with her sponsorship from PokerStars. With nearly $12 million in live tournament earnings, Selbst had made a name for herself by winning three WSOP bracelets and reaching two final tables at the World Poker Tour, among other accolades.
At just 34 years old, this New Yorker accepted a position at Bridgewater Associates, a prominent hedge fund, yet still intended to compete casually. Her career shift and departure from poker even attracted coverage from a major publication.
Selbst expressed excitement about her new job but also harbored doubts, especially given her past criticisms of players transitioning to the finance sector. Alongside her desire to travel less, she and her spouse had future plans for starting a family."There’s no job security or health benefits,” she explained in an interview, reflecting on the life of a professional poker player. \"Constant travel leads to instability in your life. And the unpredictable nature of the game can result in very low points, especially with more players entering the scene. draft forTeam Buzzy .
In addition to her new role, the Yale-educated lawyer shared her growing frustration with the evolving poker landscape in a post on social media. While she now plays sporadically, her daily routine has shifted to a more traditional work schedule.
Mark Vos
Known widely during the poker boom, Gordon entered the world of poker after successfully making millions in the tech industry. He has since become the CEO of Chatbox.com, a company dedicated to creating seamless communication systems for businesses.
Gordon boasts nearly $2.8 million in tournament earnings, with a notable fourth-place finish in the WSOP Main Event in 2001, earning $399,610, and a title from the WPT in 2004, where he eliminated both of his final opponents simultaneously, including Chris Moneymaker, the 2003 WSOP Main Event champion.wrote an article for Hendon Mob In addition to his business endeavors, Gordon has authored multiple books and co-hosted ESPN’s Poker Edge podcast. He also provided commentary for the Bravo network’s Celebrity Poker Showdown and founded Bad Beat on Cancer , a charitable initiative where poker players donate 1% of their tournament winnings to the Prevent Cancer Foundation .
While the reasons for his withdrawal from poker are somewhat unclear, it’s worth noting that Gordon hasn’t registered any tournament earnings since 2011. One potential factor could be the aftermath of Black Friday, as he played a vital role in Team Full Tilt and contributed to their software. His family commitments, including raising two sons, might also have influenced his decision.
Gordon may have simply lost interest in the poker scene, as he hinted in an article. With a multitude of business engagements, family responsibilities, and philanthropic interests, he seems to have paused his poker endeavors, as he mentioned in a blog post back in 2014 about his future in the game. called . So, you need to be very aware of the size of your stack \"Although I’m ‘retired’ from active play, I still feel like I have plenty to contribute,\" he stated. \"I’d love to revive a weekly Google Hangout to discuss poker. I really miss my radio show on ESPN.
Haseeb Qureshi
Managing Chatbox keeps him quite occupied, and it appears that Gordon hasn't returned to poker tables or the related media scene very much over these past four years.
A familiar face on televised poker events during the height of the 2000s, Gouga was characterized by his lively table interactions and his playful banter with opponents, including renowned player Phil Hellmuth. With $6.1 million in live tournament winnings, he has enjoyed numerous victories and final table appearances, notably at the World Poker Tour.wrote in his blog Gouga, an entrepreneur in technology, launched the European gaming site TonyBet.com in 2009, which was later acquired by the Swedish gaming company Betsson in 2016. He stepped away from poker in 2014 when he was elected as a member of the European Parliament, focusing on enhancing the business environment in Europe, specifically within the tech industry.
Recently, Gouga made headlines by collaborating with Mark Cuban, owner of the Dallas Mavericks and host of 'Shark Tank', to develop the Lympo blockchain fitness app. This application motivates users to complete walking and running challenges by offering crypto tokens that can be exchanged for sports and fitness products."We want to encourage healthy lifestyles,\" he shared during a visit to the Mavericks' training facility. \"Motivation is key. The Lympo tokens act like frequent-flyer points for achieving health goals, and we aim to help people track and manage their health data through their exercise activities. While Gouga shifted his focus towards politics, he did make a return to poker in 2017 and 2018, securing his first tournament cashes since 2013. In just four high roller events, he garnered impressive results, achieving a victory, a runner-up finish, and two fourth-place finishes, totaling $1.25 million.
Although poker may no longer be his primary focus, he evidently retains sharp skills.
Recently in the spotlight, Polk stirred interest by declaring his withdrawal from poker after a fruitful few years in the game. As one of the standout players, the 30-year-old holds $9.5 million in tournament earnings, highlighted by three WSOP bracelets. His largest payday came in 2017 when he won the $111,111 High Roller for One Drop at the WSOP, netting $3.7 million.
Polk appears to have diverse interests these days, branching out into stand-up comedy, cryptocurrency investments, and even launching a new venture alongside his already well-known poker channel.