The More Rake Is Better Giveaway: https://table1.vegas/rake
Play with us at Table 1: https://table1.vegas

Imagine this:

You’ve got $1,400 to your name. Twins on the way. You’re not a household name. And you’re trying to make it in the most brutal game on earth: tournament poker.

Most people fold. Jesse Lonis didn’t.

In this episode of the Table 1 Podcast, Jesse drops a heater of a story. It's got all the hits:

• 🧓 Poker tips from Grandma
• 🏀 Streetball mindset from the Bronx
• 💔 Getting kicked out of college
• 💰 Turning $1,400 into $250K when everything was on the line
• 🍼 Becoming a dad of twins and leveling up instantly

Oh — and $21M in live earnings later, he’s still real, raw, and building his brand without faking a damn thing.

This episode is grit + heart + humor in podcast form. You’ll walk away inspired, entertained, and probably Googling “Vanilla Gorilla Poker” just to see him in action.

👇 Hit play. You won’t regret it.

Show Notes

• 0:00 – Poker Needs More Characters
• 5:00 – Upbringing: From Alaska to Upstate NY
• 10:00 – Basketball in the Bronx, Getting Jumped in College
• 15:00 – Turning Stone Poker Loop
• 20:00 – Limit Hold'em Rescue Mission
• 25:00 – First Tournament Spark
• 30:00 – $1,400 to $250K with Twins on the Way
• 35:00 – WSOP Breakout Year
• 40:00 – First High Roller, First Backer
• 45:00 – $1.6M Makeup, $5M Heater
• 50:00 – Crushing Live Poker with Intuition
• 55:00 – Social Media Strategy & Brand Building
• 1:00:00 – GPI POY, Travel, & Family Balance
• 1:05:00 – Managing Variance with a Backer
• 1:10:00 – WSOP High Roller Swings
• 1:15:00 – Dangerous at 25/50 PLO Online
• 1:20:00 – Building a Brand Without Being Fake
• 1:25:00 – Family Life, Future Plans & Closing Thoughts

Jesse's Links:
https://x.com/JesseLonis
https://www.instagram.com/jesselonis
https://www.youtube.com/@JesseLonis

Table 1 Links:
https://table1.vegas
https://x.com/table1vegas
https://instagram.com/table1vegas