Leaving Las Vegas: A Doug Polk Story

[Dan Druff]

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https://twitter.com/DougPolkVids/status/1375208026844487680

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https://twitter.com/DougPolkVids/status/1375208402251436032


Doug strikes me as a guy who is never satisfied with where he is, or what he's doing. I've known others like this. No matter how successful they are, they get bored/restless/depressed with what they're doing, and chase the next phase of life. The grass is always greener on the other side.

Doug has had a lot of success in the poker world:

1) Won a lot of money playing

2) Started a successful training site

3) Has a successful YouTube channel with a big following (by poker standards)

4) Has become one of the bigger names in poker, over the past 5 years


Yet at the same time, he hates poker, actually got depressed when he played the WSOP Main Event in 2019 despite not really wanting to (and punted off his stack as a result), and keeps searching for new things to do with his life.

While I can't fault people for wanting more out of life than poker, the problem is that Polk isn't really anything special in any other realm.

He tried to convert his channel into a general video channel (with the plan to cover politics), and it never got going.

He tried to get heavily into crypto. First he made money, then he lost a bunch, then I lost track of what happened after that. But it seems like he kinda lost interest in that world, too.

What's his plan now? I just don't think he can reinvent himself in any way which would translate to anywhere near the level of success he had in poker.

Incidentally, I'm not a big fan of Austin. To me, it combines all the worst features of both Texas and the west coast. Apologies to Bart Hanson.

[Suttree]

Some people, especially the young and ambitious, need to have a sense of "being on a journey" or whatever you want to call it, to give their life purpose. Not sure if you know David Goggins the Navy Seal guy but he said something like he doesn't have meaning in his life unless he's working toward the next big thing. Even after he went through hell week 3 times, he went to Ranger school, then he wanted to join Delta Force. Then he set the world-record for pull-ups, then it was 100 mile marathons. [Not sure on the chronology of all this obv] Always onto the next project...

[MrTickle]

Whats the deal with West Coast libs moving to Texas? is it a tax thing?

[JeffDime]

Whats the deal with West Coast libs moving to Texas? is it a tax thing?

Nevada has no state income tax so highly doubt taxes are a part of this. If he was moving from California then for sure that could be a component.

[LobsterMac]

Whats the deal with West Coast libs moving to Texas? is it a tax thing?

CHEAPER COST OF LIVING
LOWER TAXES
EVERYTHING IS NEW AND SHINEY
JOB PROSPECTS UP AND COMING

LIBERAL COCKSUCKERS LIKE YOU ARE IN FAVOR OF CONSERVATIVE POLICIES BUT VOTE AGAINST THEM AND RUIN EVERYTHING. TEXAS IS SLOWLY TURNING PURPLE AND IN THE NEXT 8-12 YRS WILL MOST LIKELY TURN BLUE BECAUSE YOU DUMB FUCKS DON'T REALIZE YOUR POLICIES ARE HORRIBLE BUT YOUR NEED TO BE WOKE OUTWEIGHS WHAT YOU TRULY WANT. STAY IN RUSSIA WE HAVE ENOUGH LIBERAL FUCKS RUINING EVERYTHING FOR US.

[splitthis]

What will lap boy do?

[Dan Druff]

[MrTickle]

Whats the deal with West Coast libs moving to Texas? is it a tax thing?

CHEAPER COST OF LIVING
LOWER TAXES
EVERYTHING IS NEW AND SHINEY
JOB PROSPECTS UP AND COMING

LIBERAL COCKSUCKERS LIKE YOU ARE IN FAVOR OF CONSERVATIVE POLICIES BUT VOTE AGAINST THEM AND RUIN EVERYTHING. TEXAS IS SLOWLY TURNING PURPLE AND IN THE NEXT 8-12 YRS WILL MOST LIKELY TURN BLUE BECAUSE YOU DUMB FUCKS DON'T REALIZE YOUR POLICIES ARE HORRIBLE BUT YOUR NEED TO BE WOKE OUTWEIGHS WHAT YOU TRULY WANT. STAY IN RUSSIA WE HAVE ENOUGH LIBERAL FUCKS RUINING EVERYTHING FOR US.

Haha, brilliant. I'm a socialist, I hate liberals, and I have no plans to move to US. Either way it certainly wouldn't be to Texas. (Btw, if you hate liberals and want low cost of living and a right-wing conservative government, you might like Moscow. The vast majority of expats here are republican Americans and I do not get along with them at all.)

Also, woke isn't a slur. It's a compliment. So thanks.

[garrett]

Im actually surprised hes moving to LOL Austin, but i guess that's a trend at the moment too. That is also where Elon Musk is moving Tesla too. So must be a smart move Tax wise of course, and business wise.

I dont know this but id imagine his wife has some ties there, or is a big deciding factor in this one. Just a guess but what a shit hole compared to living in South Florida imo lol..

But maybe im bias as a Floridian myself now hehe....

[Dan Druff]

BTW, I would classify Doug's politics as "liberal" or "center-left". He's not one of those crazy woke poker guys.

Even though the political takes he posts tend to be left-of-center, he sometimes will take positions on the opposite of the poker woke crowd, such as the recent controversy with Vanessa Kade. He was on GGPoker's side the entire time there, even though he had no connection to them. In fact, he was far more pro-GGPoker in that situation than I was, as I was in the middle. While all of the white knights and woke poker dudes were virtue signaling their heads off in that situation, Doug took the complete other side.

So I'll give him credit for being his own man politically and not letting the woketards control his thoughts/speech, even if I disagree with a lot of his politics otherwise.

[garrett]

Also this is actually where SrslySirius is from correct. Isn't he from Texas, but LOL yeah maybe he had a hand in this too lmao. Polker doesn't strike me as the type of guy to actually be a follower type. Although honestly ive seen weirder shit in my life tbh LOL..

[TheXFactor]

Get Doug on the radio show this week.

How much money has Doug Polk made off online poker, live poker and his online training site upswing poker?

If Doug leaves the poker world, who's going to needle and make fun of Daniel Negreanu?

It is also fucking hilarious that his ex-girlfriend is a pornstar.

[Daly]

“ He tried to get heavily into crypto. First he made money, then he lost a bunch, then I lost track of what happened after that. But it seems like he kinda lost interest in that world, too.”

Because of my connections to sports information I’m able to pick up the occasional nugget of information that’s not widely public. Sometimes it’s bullshit. Sometimes I find out Quarterback X is going to not play a week before everyone else and can hammer the game with Y points of CLV. Lot of it ends up being true but not 100%.

I’ve been told through a Chanel that I generally trust that the above is categorically false. He’s done well with poker but found BTC and as an “early adopter” and has made way more money via crypto then poker and by a wide margin.

Don’t take it as a fact. It’s just what I’ve been told. My understanding is he has fuck you money and is looking to do more than “just be a poker player”. Which from what I can see out of him seems like a reasonable line. He strikes me as an intelligent guy, and at the end of the day poker is faggot.

[JeffDime]

“ He tried to get heavily into crypto. First he made money, then he lost a bunch, then I lost track of what happened after that. But it seems like he kinda lost interest in that world, too.”

Because of my connections to sports information I’m able to pick up the occasional nugget of information that’s not widely public. Sometimes it’s bullshit. Sometimes I find out Quarterback X is going to not play a week before everyone else and can hammer the game with Y points of CLV. Lot of it ends up being true but not 100%.

I’ve been told through a Chanel that I generally trust that the above is categorically false. He’s done well with poker but found BTC and as an “early adopter” and has made way more money via crypto then poker and by a wide margin.

Don’t take it as a fact. It’s just what I’ve been told. My understanding is he has fuck you money and is looking to do more than “just be a poker player”. Which from what I can see out of him seems like a reasonable line. He strikes me as an intelligent guy, and at the end of the day poker is faggot.

This would certainly fit the bill. If he hasn’t had to worry about money for a while now, he clearly has been stuck in this rut about what to do with his life. He really doesn’t have to follow through on anything because making money doesn’t really matter. He also didn’t come to poker from a gambling background. He never talks about any sort of pit or sports gambling. I am getting a bit of a “nerd in high school” type vibe from him.

I also think his old lady has something to do with this for sure. Think he’s been in a long time relationship. Like most have said, moving creates the illusion of forging forward, the hope to start fresh and get out of this funk. We know how that will go. He will always circle back to poker. He likes the shine. He’s not going to sail away and become an unknown.

[BCR]

As long as he doesn’t self-immolate in a shed, he’s got the Zappos guy beat and we’ll call it young mid life wanderlust.

[Texter]

Headed to Austin next weekend...traffic is brutal there, and I live in Houston.

But Austin’s mix of outdoor activity is tons better....unless you are allergic to cedar...then you’re screwed

[BartHanson]

Incidentally, I'm not a big fan of Austin. To me, it combines all the worst features of both Texas and the west coast. Apologies to Bart Hanson.

There's a big difference between the northern affluent suburbs of Austin and Austin City proper. I haven't stepped foot in the downtown area besides getting some take out at Micklethwait Craft Meats and having to go to the Capitol--just like I never frequented Skid Row when I lived in LA for 17 years.

The Austin area is definitely not cheap as it's the most expensive area in Texas. I would say it's now definitely more expensive than Las Vegas but of course doesn't compare to California or the northeast. Real Estate has absolutely skyrocketed here over the past few years, specifically in the last year. I got SUPER lucky with COVID as I had a pre-market offer in on my house at $675k on March 1st 2020, for 4800 square feet that the owners didnt take, and I ended up buying it for $620k in June after I pulled my offer and the shit hit the fan. Zillow now estimates my house at $760k. I got shut out of another house in Feb '20 that I really liked that ended up selling for $709k that is now estimated on Zillow for $910k. Apple, Oracle, Dell, Tesla are just some of the companies that are moving or have moved to the area in this Silicon Valley flight. The only bad part is that I have to deal with Ted Cruz as my senator for another four years.

I will say in general I am fairly bearish on home purchasing as a primary residence. People take on mortgages to convince themselves that they have "made it" in life not realizing that they have sunk money into a liability not an investment. And their thoughts are reinforced by the mouth droolers that proudly proclaim, "renting is throwing money away". But this housing market seems to be just about as hot as it can get.

[Texter]

Incidentally, I'm not a big fan of Austin. To me, it combines all the worst features of both Texas and the west coast. Apologies to Bart Hanson.

There's a big difference between the northern affluent suburbs of Austin and Austin City proper. I haven't stepped foot in the downtown area besides getting some take out at Micklethwait Craft Meats and having to go to the Capitol--just like I never frequented Skid Row when I lived in LA for 17 years.

The Austin area is definitely not cheap as it's the most expensive area in Texas. I would say it's now definitely more expensive than Las Vegas but of course doesn't compare to California or the northeast. Real Estate has absolutely skyrocketed here over the past few years, specifically in the last year. I got SUPER lucky with COVID as I had a pre-market offer in on my house at $675k on March 1st 2020, for 4800 square feet that the owners didnt take, and I ended up buying it for $620k in June after I pulled my offer and the shit hit the fan. Zillow now estimates my house at $760k. I got shut out of another house in Feb '20 that I really liked that ended up selling for $709k that is now estimated on Zillow for $910k. Apple, Oracle, Dell, Tesla are just some of the companies that are moving or have moved to the area in this Silicon Valley flight. The only bad part is that I have to deal with Ted Cruz as my senator for another four years.

I will say in general I am fairly bearish on home purchasing as a primary residence. People take on mortgages to convince themselves that they have "made it" in life not realizing that they have sunk money into a liability not an investment. And their thoughts are reinforced by the mouth droolers that proudly proclaim, "renting is throwing money away". But this housing market seems to be just about as hot as it can get.

This California dummies always buy too much house in Texas and then shit their pants due to our ridiculous property taxes.

[BartHanson]

This California dummies always buy too much house in Texas and then shit their pants due to our ridiculous property taxes.

It's definitely a bit steep. I think my area is 2.3%. But there is no income tax and the public schools, unlike California or Vegas are very good in the burbs. My tax bill for 2021 was about $13,000 w homestead. Also there are many "entry" level houses that you can get into in the area for like $300k at 1500 sq ft.

[Texter]

This California dummies always buy too much house in Texas and then shit their pants due to our ridiculous property taxes.

It's definitely a bit steep. I think my area is 2.3%. But there is no income tax and the public schools, unlike California or Vegas are very good in the burbs. My tax bill for 2021 was about $13,000 w homestead. Also there are many "entry" level houses that you can get into in the area for like $300k at 1500 sq ft.

Yes but the CA person sells their hovel for $600k and buys a similarly priced McMansion here only to take in in the nuts on property taxes and the property value goes up 10% each year...blech