Many times in life, before you can move forward, you have to look back at where you’ve been. And quite often, you might not particularly like what you see or even where you're headed.
That’s exactly where Lex Veldhuis found himself two years ago.
One of poker's most popular and entertaining online streamers — and a player who has shared live tables with the likes of Doyle Brunson and Phil Ivey — was aware that something needed to change, both in poker and in life. He just wasn’t quite sure what that vision looked like yet.
“Toward the end of 2024, my wife, myself, and two kids decided to take a sabbatical,” says Veldhuis in our exclusive interview. “I was still working and streaming, but we decided to go to New Zealand and just travel around.”
Those months away from home base gave Veldhuis something he hadn’t necessarily thought he’d been searching for: time and space to reconsider his priorities and what he wanted the next chapter to look like.
It's good news for his fans: the next chapter involves a lot of poker.
Watch the full episode above, read on for a preview, or check the links below to listen on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.
Online vs live bracelets
“I know that family time is extremely important to me; I want to be a very present dad. So, I decided it's time for a switch-up; it's time for something new.”
After years of grinding online for an army of fans, Veldhuis didn’t just turn the page but chose to flip the script and write a whole new story.
He stepped away from the stability of a 17-year partnership with PokerStars and walked toward the unknown to see what adventures might be waiting on the other side.
Those adventures include a renewed assault on WSOP gold online. For those who cast doubt on the validity of bracelets won away from the live arena, Veldhuis makes an interesting point.
"I have to sit there and deal with Juan Pardo on my left and Lena [Niklas Astedt] and Darwin [Simon Mattson] and Pwndidi [Alex Theologis]... it's hella tough to win one. It's unbelievable, those fields. If you think an online bracelet's easy, go play and win one, right?
"We can go back to the 90s and people that won a couple of bracelets there, and you look at the events and it's like, is that really harder than what this is?"
Lesson learned from the Godfather
Speaking of those who won bracelets in the 90s, Lex also recalls playing with the legendary Doyle Brunson. They butted heads on one of Lex’s first appearances on High Stakes Poker in 2009, with Veldhuis making a brilliant hero call that left Doyle shaking his head.
Veldhuis says he always had a blast playing with Brunson and was adamant about picking up as much wisdom about life in poker as he could whenever they battled.
"I remember sitting in those games and thinking, 'Holy sh*t, I'm sitting next to Doyle.'"
On another occasion, while filming The Big Game, Lex deliberately hung back during a dinner break because Doyle had no plans to leave the table. Brunson shared a slice of wisdom during those moments together that Lex will never forget.
Doyle said, “I can see fire in you, but keep in mind: nobody remembers the bullsh*t.” In other words, when all's said and done, what remains is what you’ve built for yourself.
Lex says that brief conversation with Doyle changed his perspective on the game and his life. And after all these years pursuing the ‘dream’ or seeking ways to reinvent himself, Lex realized he could evolve as a person without leaving the game he loves behind.
The kicker is that, after all these years, Veldhuis knows the game will always have a big slice of his heart, no matter which direction he heads in. “I'm definitely a lifer when it comes to poker.”
Turning a corner, looking ahead
Lex doesn't romanticize his early poker career: “I was just kind of behaving like an idiot a lot of the time.”
Veldhuis reveals that he took stupid risks, never believing things could go south. The aim at the time was to reach the highest stakes as quickly as possible. Eventually, that recklessness took away the very thing he cared about most: the ability to compete at those stakes.
"I really value streaming now so much because I think that it's sort of the second chance I've gotten in my career," says Veldhuis. "The high-stakes poker scene is crazy now. I can play anywhere, anytime."
With zero regrets and the past in the rearview, Lex’s recent move to Costa Rica has rekindled his love of the WSOP summers he spent grinding in Las Vegas and renewed his excitement about the future of livestreaming.
Does that mean that WSOP gold might be front and center as we slide into 2027?
The answer from Lex is a resounding yes: “I miss it, and I have insane FOMO every time I see Negreanu posting his vlogs... Bracelets are a big thing for me. WSOP is one of those things for me, I'm like, listen – I can play the WSOP again, and I'm going to try and f**king kick the WSOP's ass."
The Interview — Lex Veldhuis
Highlights from our in-depth conversation with Lex Veldhuis include:
- What was the turning point that helped Veldhuis decide to leave PokerStars after 17 years?
- Why did he choose to make Costa Rica his family's new home?
- Will Lex continue to livestream as much as in previous years?
- What are his thoughts on Lucas Jumalon's recent WSOP Main Event win?
- Which sites is he considering partnering with for his streams in the near future?
- Why does he regard the recent life changes he's made as a ‘second chance’ in the game?
- And much more...
Watch Lex Veldhuis's full interview with PokerOrg’s Craig Tapscott in the video above or listen now on Spotify or Apple Podcasts.
Explore more extensive interviews with some of poker’s biggest names below, including episodes with Lucas Jumalon, Kristen Foxen and Daniel Negreanu.
Images courtesy of Manuel Kovsca/Lex Live.
