Here’s a shot of the $300k before it was returned.
It’s the feel-good story of the season. In fact it’s just about the ONLY story of the season. The taxi cab driver who found $300,000 in his cab and did the right thing by turning it in and finding its rightful owner finally gets what he deserves.
As many had hoped, that man, Gerardo Gamboa, was thanked and rewarded from the as-of-yet unnamed 28 year old Las Vegas poker professional. The poker pro cut out $10k from his stack and gave it to the cabbie as a reward for doing the right thing and, according to the Las Vegas Sun, a thrilled Gamboa took that $10k to the bank. Literally.
“I’m taking it to the bank for now. But after that, I don’t know what is going to happen,” he said.
Additionally, the cab company itself reportedly awarded Gamboa with an extra $1000, gave him a gift certificate to some steakhouse and named him “Employee Of The Year.”
Gamboa also noted that a piece of the reward was being kicked upstairs to his church.
The last piece to the puzzle, for inquiring minds is, who is the forgetful prominent poker player? Justin Bonomo? Ike Haxton? While a number of poker professionals as well as authorities know who it is, that name has yet to be leaked to the public.
published
5 years, 7 months ago •
by Jeff •
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If you like to watch other people laugh at things that, for you, have almost zero context, then you are going to adore this cute video of the Royal Flush Girls messing up their lines, making funny faces and getting a serious case of the giggles in what the World Poker Tour is calling “the best” of their 2013 bloopers.
RIP (some other) Jeffrey Pollack and confirming pics before posting article. (h/t @mikecraigisamok) http://t.co/YEYfkks520— AlCantHang (@AlCantHang) December 27, 2013
Former World Series of Poker Commissioner turned Epic Poker Executive Chairman (and poker persona non gratis), Jeffrey Pollack was mistaken for another semi-famous Jeffrey Pollack this week when online publication The Atlanta Blackstar posted the photo of the still living poker Pollack in a story about the recently deceased Pollack that is best known as being an Executive Producer of “The Fresh Prince of Bel Air.”
Of course, this has very little to do with either Pollack and more to do with the fact-checking of the publication. But for what it’s worth, Pollack, the Hollywood director/producer died in Hermosa Beach, CA, likely due to natural causes after a career that included directing three feature films and producing a host of television shows.
Speaking of lack of fact-checking, we just assume that Epic Poker’s Jeffrey Pollack is alive and kicking. We can confirm that Epic Poker still is not.
Las Vegas veteran cabbie Gerardo Gamboa must have done a double take when he haphazardly discovered that the brown paper bag found in his cab had a wad of cash inside that would likely take him 6 or more years to make on the job. Six bundles of hundreds totaling roughly $300k were left in the back seat of his ride on Monday morning and he had no idea how it got there.
According to the Las Vegas Journal Review, Gamboa was alterted to the nondescript bag by a hotel doorman after pulling into the Bellagio to pick up a fare. It wasn’t long before he looked inside to discover the small fortune. While perhaps in the City of Sin some may have been tempted to keep the cash, Gamboa immediately notified his dispatcher and drove straight to home base so they could find its rightful owner.
“Even though I am a poor guy I don’t need money that doesn’t belong to me,” said Gamboa to the LVJR.
The police were brought in and eventually the money was traced to a “prominent poker player” that the police refused to identify publicly. All Gamboa could remember was that he believes the passenger was taken from the Cosmopolitan and dropped off at the Palms Tower, for which he received a $5 tip (which means that we know it wasn’t Adam “Roothlus” Levy – way too much of a tip to be him.)
No word as of yet on whether the honest cabbie will get a little bonus reward for his good deed but assuming this story is on the up and up, let’s hope so.
If you are in the mood for some sexually suggestive double entendres about the language used in the poker world, then we have found the perfect video for you. It’s WSOP.com's follow up to their somewhat successful “How To Poker: Talk Like You Have A Pair” video commercial series and it’s packed with hilarious double-speak.
It’s short, sweet, well made and shows that every so often these giant corporate money making machines have a sense of humor. How good is that sense of humor? Well, you have to judge that for yourself.
This video is for everyone out there who at one time folded a certain two face cards and declared to the table “I had Jack King off.”
In case you missed part one of this series, you can check it out right here:
The best thing Qureshi ever did was inspire the SrslySirius’ classic “What’s My [Screen] Name?”
In 2011, in a post Black Friday haze, one of the biggest scandals/dramas in online poker was the Rise and Fall of Lock Poker Pro “Girah“. The mastermind of the whirlwind story, which included chip dumping, teamviewing and more lies than Jim Carey in a lawyer movie, was online poker pro and amateur author Haseeb “DogIsHead” Qureshi. This weekend, on his blog, the one time self proclaimed “liar and dishonest person” has opted to try and “start over” by giving away nearly $500k to his family and charity, leaving only $10k for himself to try and get a new start (and promote his new book.)
We’re NOT going to lie – this is pretty involved and has a lot of moving parts so only jump in if you have time. But, since it’s the holidays, you might just have that time. Here is some background for you:
It’s the end of the year when we all assess what we’ve done and how it’s all gone down. The good guys over at the iconic poker site Wicked Chops Poker decided to take a look back at the state of poker media and gave our big brother pokerfuse some mighty high praise.
Bravo. Add a few pics of hot girls and a snarky comment here and there, and Poker Fuse feels like what WCP would be if we had ever dedicated ourselves 100% to the site. Given our opinions of ourselves, that’s high praise. Also, having met Michael Gentile and Jeff Walsh, the Fusers are among the more “normal” guys we’ve met in the industry.
Phil Ivey has taken a new approach to his image in 2013. He’s been looser, more available and, at times, even playful, and it has been quite a departure from the stonewalling enigmatic persona he’s put forth for most of his career.
Take this photo for instance: we all have embarrassing photos lurking in a yearbook or our parents photo albums, but Ivey not only ships that photo out to his social media stream – but he contemplates taking a bet that would take his haircut back to the old school.
How much cash would it take to get Ivey to let it all go for a calendar year? We’re guessing there’s not enough on the table to let something like that happen but it’s fun to take a look at the past and see what the future of poker looked like back then.
High stakes poker pro and three time WSOP bracelet winner, Antonio Esfandiari has won yet another prop bet. He took comedian Kevin Hart down in just three rounds, as part of a boxing prop bet.
PokerStars gave away 320 free entries to the $25,000 buy-in PokerStars Players No Limit Hold’em Championship (PSPC) over the course of the previous year via Platinum Passes that after accomodations and spending money were valued at $30,000.
In case you missed out on the Final Table stream of the PokerStars Players No Limit Hold’em Championship (PSPC) event, here are clips of some of the most crucial hands at the Final Table of the event.
Joey Ingram sat down with Bill Perkins at the PokerStars Players No Limit Hold’em Championship (PSPC) for a podcast that would almost hit the three hour mark.
It was during day 2 of the history-in-making $25,000 buy-in PokerStars Players No Limit Hold’em Championship when a Vietnamese lady by the name of Thi Xua Nguyen stunned everybody by making this incredible laydown versus Athanasios Polychronopoulos, a Greek-American professional poker player with two WSOP bracelets.
A historic moment was created on December 4 as partypoker pulled off an incredible feat by setting the record for the biggest tournament in the history of online poker.
Jennifer Carter knitted her way to a $30,000 Platinum Pass from PokerStars, granting her entry into the PokerStars Players No Limit Hold’em Championship (PSPC) taking place in the Bahamas in January.
Short Deck Hold’em, AKA 6+ Hold’em, is one of the hottest poker variants being played today, and courtesy of these highlights from the HKD 500k ($64k USD) buy-in Short Deck Event at the Triton Poker SHR Jeju 2018 series, you can learn from one of poker’s all-time masters, Phil Ivey.
OP-Poker, a team of Twitch streamers and official ambassadors of PokerStars’ Power Up, was recently invited to have a look at PokerStars’ brand new upcoming Virtual Reality Product PokerStars VR held at EGX conference at Birmingham.
PokerStars Team Pro Liv Boeree in her latest TED Talk gave a six-minute speech on how poker taught her three important lessons that can be used in life.
Continuing the celebration of Rounders turning twenty this year, The Ringer now brings us “Going All In: An Oral History of Rounders” —which doesn’t disappoint.
Unibet has announced that the Poker Princess, Molly Bloom, who’s “Hollywood high stakes poker game was the subject of the Oscar-nominated and critically acclaimed film Molly’s Game“ will be their special guest!
This story still has the poker community talking. Real life poker couple Kristen Bicknell (who is signed by partypoker) and Alex Foxen made the final table of a tournament at The Venetian in Las Vegas last month. Their alleged soft-play and collusion has the poker community riled up with the likes of Doug Polk and Justin Bonomo still talking about it long after play finished up.
It has only taken 7 years for Chris “Jesus” Ferguson to apologise for his part in the Full Tilt fiasco that followed Black Friday. He has finally commented via Vimeo. Check it out below.
A year on from agreeing to a crazy prop bet with billionaire Bill Perkins, the Staples brothers have walked away with $150,000 and won their bet to get within 1 lb of each other.
Missed the Global Poker Awards? Watch It Free Here!
High Stakes Poker Pro Antonio Esfandiari Kicks Movie Star Kevin Hart's Arse
High stakes poker pro and three time WSOP bracelet winner, Antonio Esfandiari has won yet another prop bet. He took comedian Kevin Hart down in just three rounds, as part of a boxing prop bet.
Lex Veldhuis Ships Sunday Warm-Up Live on Twitch
Last night, Lex Veldhuis took down the PokerStars Sunday Warm-Up Live on Twitch for over $34,000.
#10YearChallenge: PokerStars
Let's have a look at how PokerStars has changed in 10 years.
Just How Much Did Platinum Pass Holders Win at the #PSPC?
PokerStars gave away 320 free entries to the $25,000 buy-in PokerStars Players No Limit Hold’em Championship (PSPC) over the course of the previous year via Platinum Passes that after accomodations and spending money were valued at $30,000.
Watch: Crucial Hands at the #PSPC Final Table
In case you missed out on the Final Table stream of the PokerStars Players No Limit Hold’em Championship (PSPC) event, here are clips of some of the most crucial hands at the Final Table of the event.
Bill Perkins Dishes Out The Wisdom At The PSPC
Joey Ingram sat down with Bill Perkins at the PokerStars Players No Limit Hold’em Championship (PSPC) for a podcast that would almost hit the three hour mark.
This is Why One PSPC Platinum Pass Winner Tanked Two Minutes with Aces Preflop
With life-changing money on the line, one Platinum Pass winner genuinely considers folding aces pre-flop!
Watch: One of the Best Laydowns at PSPC, and Possibly of All Time
It was during day 2 of the history-in-making $25,000 buy-in PokerStars Players No Limit Hold’em Championship when a Vietnamese lady by the name of Thi Xua Nguyen stunned everybody by making this incredible laydown versus Athanasios Polychronopoulos, a Greek-American professional poker player with two WSOP bracelets.
MILLIONS Online Will Return in 2019
A historic moment was created on December 4 as partypoker pulled off an incredible feat by setting the record for the biggest tournament in the history of online poker.
Knitting Mom Scores $30,000 Poker Package
Jennifer Carter knitted her way to a $30,000 Platinum Pass from PokerStars, granting her entry into the PokerStars Players No Limit Hold’em Championship (PSPC) taking place in the Bahamas in January.
Watch & Learn: Phil Ivey Playing Short Deck Hold'em
Short Deck Hold’em, AKA 6+ Hold’em, is one of the hottest poker variants being played today, and courtesy of these highlights from the HKD 500k ($64k USD) buy-in Short Deck Event at the Triton Poker SHR Jeju 2018 series, you can learn from one of poker’s all-time masters, Phil Ivey.
OP-Poker Takes a Look at PokerStars VR
OP-Poker, a team of Twitch streamers and official ambassadors of PokerStars’ Power Up, was recently invited to have a look at PokerStars’ brand new upcoming Virtual Reality Product PokerStars VR held at EGX conference at Birmingham.
Watch: PokerStars Team Pro Liv Boeree's Recent TED Talk
PokerStars Team Pro Liv Boeree in her latest TED Talk gave a six-minute speech on how poker taught her three important lessons that can be used in life.
Rounders Turns 20
Continuing the celebration of Rounders turning twenty this year, The Ringer now brings us “Going All In: An Oral History of Rounders” —which doesn’t disappoint.
Molly Bloom To Speak At Unibet Open Bucharest
Unibet has announced that the Poker Princess, Molly Bloom, who’s “Hollywood high stakes poker game was the subject of the Oscar-nominated and critically acclaimed film Molly’s Game“ will be their special guest!
ICYMI: Phil Hellmuth's Grand Entrance at 2018 WSOP Main Event
Words escape me. Prepare yourself for the grand entrance from WSOP 14 time bracelet winner, Phil Hellmuth (as captured by PokerNews).
Do You Think This is Collusion?
This story still has the poker community talking. Real life poker couple Kristen Bicknell (who is signed by partypoker) and Alex Foxen made the final table of a tournament at The Venetian in Las Vegas last month. Their alleged soft-play and collusion has the poker community riled up with the likes of Doug Polk and Justin Bonomo still talking about it long after play finished up.
Doyle Brunson Will Retire From Poker After Last WSOP Outing This Summer
*Doyle “Texas Dolly” Brunson has announced his retirement from poker so that he can spend more time with his wife, who is in failing health.
Watch Chris Ferguson's Nothingburger Full Tilt Statement
It has only taken 7 years for Chris “Jesus” Ferguson to apologise for his part in the Full Tilt fiasco that followed Black Friday. He has finally commented via Vimeo. Check it out below.
Jaime & Matt Staples Win Prop Bet!
A year on from agreeing to a crazy prop bet with billionaire Bill Perkins, the Staples brothers have walked away with $150,000 and won their bet to get within 1 lb of each other.