It’s been almost 37 years since a fresh-faced Phil Hellmuth announced himself on the world stage with victory in the 1989 WSOP Main Event. Many of the toughest opponents he faces these days weren’t yet born the day he strapped on the first of his 17 WSOP bracelets.
While he has previously hinted at slowing down, going so far as to tell us his plans to skip the 2025 Main Event — plans which he eventually rowed back on — in the here and now he’s gearing up to play some serious poker in 2026.
And as well-known as he is for his tournament prowess, it’s the cash game arena where Hellmuth is setting his sights. And where better to make a splash than one of the biggest televised cash games of all: The Million Dollar Game at Hustler Casino Live.
Hellmuth confirmed his intention to take part in the game after revealing in a recent interview that he has set aside $1.5 million for cash game buy-ins this year: “If the blinds are $500/$1,000, that’s a thousand big blinds… I’ve lost a thousand big blinds before in a session, but it’s rare.
“A million the way I play poker is a lot more than a million the way other people play poker.”
Fires back at cash game critics
As one of the most famous players in the game, Phil Hellmuth’s presence in the Million Dollar Game has the potential to draw in a wider viewership than usual.
It could also attract some other big players, whether seeking some time in a brighter spotlight or keen to take on the all-time leader in WSOP bracelet wins, given that his stellar tournament reputation has not always carried over to his cash games.
In fact, Hellmuth has many critics of his cash game play, who suggest he is outclassed at the elite level. It’s a criticism that Hellmuth is, unsurprisingly, keen to fire back at.
“Let’s be honest. I’ve made at least $10 million playing in cash games,” Hellmuth said, “but there are some who still think that I am horrible with cash.”
Officially a Las Vegan
Hellmuth is never shy about sharing his success, either as a player or as an investor, and recently revealed a windfall courtesy of the $4.1 billion sale of Daily Fantasy Sports site PrizePicks, in which he was an investor.
That payday could be a factor in his recent spending: In addition to his $1.5 million cash game bankroll for the year, Hellmuth has announced an investment in Under Armour, the clothing brand he has been seen wearing frequently of late, and has also acquired a new property in Las Vegas.
As reported in the Las Vegas Review-Journal, Hellmuth has also dropped $2.8 million on a four-bedroom apartment in the luxury Park Towers high-rise near the corner of Paradise and East Flamingo Road. The condo was previously owned by the late Elaine Wynn, co-founder of Wynn Resorts.
Hellmuth confirmed that he and his wife officially moved to Las Vegas in December, saying, “Vegas has been very, very good to me, and I love it here.”
So it seems the ‘Poker Brat’ is in town for good, and up for throwing down at the cash game tables. Where to go first?
Matt Berkey has an idea…
