Players come to poker from all walks of life. Some thrive studying mathematics at university and adapt to the analytics of the game. Others finish career as sportsmen or women and integrate their competitive from the field to the felt. Just a few come to poker from the other side of the camera, and one of those members of the poker media who has successfully crossed the divide is Donnie Peters.
A long-time marketing expert in poker, Donnie is also a renowned commentator on the action for PokerGO, with whom he’s worked for many years. Now, after a consistent period of playing the game at a strong level, Donnie is making good money for investors on PokerStake. We caught with the famously pizza-obsessed poker luminary to talk achievements, aspirations and… roast beef sandwiches.
Making the Leap
“I quickly realized I could turn my love for the game into a career.”
Donnie has been on the media side of poker for many years. His love of poker, however, always came from playing it at the felt.
“I first fell in love with poker through playing,” says Donnie. “That passion is what originally drew me into the industry. I quickly realized I could turn my love for the game into a career, and working on the media and marketing side was a natural fit. It allowed me to immerse myself in poker culture and be a part of the stories that make this game so special.”
Along the way, Donnie considers himself ‘blessed’ to have learned from some of the best poker players ever.
“That’s been an enormous benefit to my game. Even when I’m not actively studying or playing myself, I’m able to learn by watching the best while doing commentary or by speaking to great poker minds on a podcast.”
Donnie loved working in poker, but he still yearned for the action.
“Over time, that pull to be more active at the felt never went away,” he admits. “Transitioning from covering the game to competing in it more has been incredibly rewarding; it’s challenged me to grow both as a player and as someone who appreciates just how much skill and mental toughness it takes to succeed. Playing has given me a deeper respect for the players I’ve covered over the years and a renewed appreciation for the game itself.”
The Growth of PokerGO
“Poker resonates with audiences because it’s not just about cards. It’s about the people.”
A key cog in the machine of PokerGO, Donnie’s role in the growth of poker’s biggest ever dedicated portal into the mindsport has been pivotal. It’s something he is right proud of.
“PokerGO has been a big influence in terms of bringing poker to more people in the past few years and a hugely positive one. Poker’s evolution as a spectator sport has been remarkable. With platforms like PokerGO making high-stakes action and gripping narratives accessible, the appeal is undeniable.”
Donnie is equally positive about the future of the game as he is the present. A second poker boom? We might be in it.
“I think poker will continue to grow as it strikes the perfect balance between strategy, competition, drama, and accessibility. Poker resonates with audiences because it’s not just about cards. It’s about the people, [their] decisions, and the stories at the table.
Poker’s return post-COVID has meant way more live events than usual. When Donnie weighs up which ones to play in, there are a number of personal and professional considerations. The ecstasy of choice, perhaps, rather than agony.
“It’s a great problem to have, isn’t it?” he smiles. “Poker is thriving, especially live poker, and the game isn’t going anywhere. There’s still plenty of action to get into and value to be had. When it comes to what I’m able to play, my first priorities will always be family and work and if I can fit poker in with those obligations. After that, I prioritize events based on accessibility, structure, location, and potential ROI (return on investment). Prestige matters too – playing iconic events like the WSOP, WPT, and NAPT will always have a special draw for me.”
Loving Las Vegas
“You get a bit of it all in Las Vegas, and the variety is the best part.”
Choice means opportunity to Donnie and he has cultivated a commitment to playing the game that allows him to be a terrific family man who can achieve his personal dreams in Sin City.
“Ultimately, I weigh how the event fits into my schedule and whether it aligns with my goals at the felt. With two young kids, it’s not really in the cards for me to travel to play poker, and that’s plenty fine because there is so much to offer in Las Vegas and online.”
Playing poker in Las Vegas is something very special and many players enjoy the game around the world but have never seen flop cards in Sin City. Donnie’s love of Las Vegas is deep and meaningful.
“Vegas is poker’s mecca, let’s make no mistake about it,” he says. “There’s an energy in the city that’s unmatched, all built from the combination of history, world class players and storylines, and endless opportunities to test your game. My favorite thing is the diversity of experiences. Poker in Las Vegas is a melting pot. One day, you’re playing against recreational players chasing dreams, and the next you could be battling professionals.”
In Las Vegas, you can play a $100-entry nightly tournament or a $25,000 high roller at the PokerGO Studio at ARIA. There’s something for everyone and Donnie is a tournament guy.
“There always seems to be a big series going on here in the city. Of course, there’s the WSOP in the summer, but other venues have become elite at offering high quality playing experiences that offer good value. You get a bit of it all in Las Vegas, and the variety is the best part.”
From Zero (Markup) to Hero
“[It’s] my way of showing appreciation to the community and keeping it accessible for everyone who wants a piece of the action.”
Donnie has sold at zero markup (1.00) on PokerStake consistently since he joined the site on the staking basis as soon as the facility was available. He’s doing so again at the Wynn in December, but why doesn’t he charge markup where many others do?
“Selling at zero markup is my way of showing appreciation to the community and keeping it accessible for everyone who wants a piece of the action,” he tells us. “Selling off some action is a way of reducing the variance that comes with tournaments, and I don’t feel the need to charge markup when I view the action sold as a bankroll assist to keep playing. If you can get the markup and that helps you reduce the variance of the game, great. Are there people who might abuse markup? Of course, but that’s the free market.”
Donnie sees selling his action at ‘spot’ as a payback for people who have invested in him.
“I’m able to reduce some variance because of it, so there’s no need to upcharge that,” he says. “It’s been gratifying to see how well the packages are received, and I love that it creates a sense of shared excitement. For me, it’s incredible to have people along for the ride and hopefully we can all share in the success.”
Donnie sells action but has also enjoyed buying action in the past. PokerStake has made it much easier for him to do both.
“Buying action has always been a fun way to support players and sweat the game. It’s even better when you’re rooting for friends. PokerStake has streamlined the process and made it more transparent, which benefits both buyers and sellers. Of course, it’s great to buy and sell without fees. It’s exciting to think how far we’ve come in making staking more accessible to the poker community.”
Taking a Bite
“I’m not sure I’ve ever looked at a roast beef sandwich, or any sandwich, the same since that night.”
The dream for many poker media industry experts is picking up skills from those they’ve covered on streams. Donnie of course became famous when he commentated along with Remko Rinkema on Phil Hellmuth destroying a roast beef sandwich live on stream. Hellmuth went all-in on the meat and Donnie went viral in this infamous clip:
“Phil Hellmuth might be a polarizing figure, but he’s undeniably entertaining and insightful in his own way,” Donnie says, laughing all over again. “And, wow, the man can get into some food! I’m not sure I’ve ever looked at a roast beef sandwich, or any sandwich, the same since that night. I still don’t fully remember it all. I sort of blacked out and started yelling in the booth. That was one of my all-time favorite days covering poker. It was truly wild.”
While that commentary was all fun and frolics, Donnie has taken a huge amount from the top poker professionals he has observed over the years.
“So many players excel in different aspects of the game,” he eulogises. “Jeremy Ausmus is top of mind for how he’s able to adjust his game between theory and exploit based on the types of players he’s playing against. Jason Koon, Stephen Chidwick, Nick Petrangelo, and Brian Kim are some of the players who always appear to have the answers to the test no matter what questions are asked.”
Other big names have given Donnie insights into his own game’s potential improvements along the way.
“Adrian Mateos, Alex Foxen, Shaun Deeb, and Patrick Leonard are players that certainly have ‘it’ and a tremendous understanding of player tendencies. These players always seem to crush the large-field tournaments that are similar to the ones I play in, so I’m drawn to watch their games closely to see what I can learn.”
Living the Dream
The dream situation for players such as Donnie who have come to playing big game poker from covering it in the media is Garry Gates’ performance in the WSOP Main Event of 2019 when he came fourth for $3,000,000.
“Garry’s run was incredible. It’s the kind of story every poker enthusiast dreams of. I can only imagine that sort of run and the rush you get from it with so many people in support.”
Donnie cashed in the WPT World Championship back in 2022 and hopes to do so again this December.
“Cashing in the WPT World Championship in 2022 was a special moment for me, and it gave me a taste of what it’s like to perform on a bigger stage. That tournament was a battle. I encountered many tough players along the way, especially on Day 2. I was thrilled with how I played and the result. That experience will certainly be something to lean on. The dream is always to make a deep run and prove to yourself and others that you belong at the table with the best, especially in the bigger events you play.”
When considering wish fulfilment – or perhaps a Daniel Negreanu inspired declaration of intent – we pitched the poker dream of Donnie winning $2 million at the final table of this year’s WSOP Paradise Main Event. Having sold 50% on PokerStake, his backers are over the moon, he’s a millionaire… so what where’s he going for pizza?
“(Laughing) I likely get in my car and drive off the Strip, heading to a spot like Good Pie or Pizza Rock,” he says. “There’s a lot of variety at those two places and everything is tremendous. I’m also going to need a spot that is big enough for the celebration that comes with a run like that. As for my order, I’m always partial to a classic New York-style pizza. It’s simple, timeless, and can be celebratory. I don’t need much more than that.”
With modesty, humility and a deep (dish) grasp of exactly what the public want to see from poker players, Donnie Peters is used to giving poker fans exactly what they want. When those fans become his investors, he’s every bit as determined to pay them back with profit.
With big events coming up on his personal PokerStake page, Donnie Peters is looking good for a huge slice of the action.
