He Turned a $75 Satellite Into $620,000 at This Venue

Hey Poker Fam! The WSOP just wrapped in Vegas, and Canada is about to host the biggest tournament series in its history. Playground is putting up CAD $14 million in guarantees, including a $10 million Main Event—numbers that don't usually happen north of the border.

Daniel Negreanu and Phil Hellmuth have both weighed in on why this year's Hall of Fame vote only produced one inductee, a look back at the boom through the eyes of one of the few women working the WSOP media room, and a story out of Don Nelson's home game.

We're also talking about note taking. It's the least glamorous habit in Poker and probably the highest-leverage one, especially if you're still building your game.

This Week in Poker

Strategy Corner

Note Taking: The Habit That Actually Builds Your Game

Taking notes in Poker is super important, especially if you're just starting out. It's not just about jotting down information about your opponents or the big hands you play—it's also worth recording how you were feeling, what you ate, and anything else that could affect how you played that day. Write down everything you can recall about a hand and you'll start spotting patterns and figuring out what works and what doesn't.

Pay close attention to every detail, including stack sizes and positions. Small things make a big difference. And here's the part people miss: applying that level of focus doesn't just help you record the hand later. It actually makes you better at ranging your opponents and hand reading in the moment.

How to Actually Remember the Hand

By the time a hand is over, it can be hard to remember every detail. Here's something I used to do when I was working on hand retention. I'd announce the action very quietly to myself as it was happening. If the player under the gun raised to 300, I'd whisper "UTG raise 300." It helps the action stick. As you practice, you won't need to say it out loud anymore—you'll be able to do it in your head.

The second the hand is over, take out your notepad and write down everything you remember. Do it right away. The longer you wait, the more you lose. If you miss a detail, ask your neighbor—they may remember exactly what happened.

If you're still struggling, record the action on your phone. I sometimes record hands for YouTube, and when I do, I'll have my AirPod in and open my video camera. I record myself quietly speaking out the action, then I have it saved and can review it later or plug it into a replayer after the session.

Build Yourself a Template

You can also make a template so you're just filling in blanks. Before your session, fill out about 20 pages like this. Then when an interesting hand is over, fill in the gaps:

Whether you're brand new or you've been playing for years, keeping a record of your hands and observations helps you find the strengths and weaknesses in your game, spot patterns in how you play, and make better decisions at the table.

Don't be afraid to break out the pen and paper—or whatever electronic note-taking tool you like—and start taking notes.

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Clip of the Week

▶ WATCH NOW Brandon Steven Quads Up Against Peter! @HustlerCasinoLive New this week · Watch on YouTube →

Peter calls preflop with pocket kings (K♠K❤) but Brandon's showing serious strength (5♠5♦) by betting into multiple opponents on the flop and continuing the aggression on the turn—and when Brandon fires 50k on the river, this is where Peter's decision becomes absolutely critical!

YouTube Channel → https://www.youtube.com/@LexyGavinPoker

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In the Know

Solana Processed $23 Million in Buy-Ins at the WSOP

If it felt like Solana branding was everywhere at the WSOP this summer, there was a reason. Chief Product Officer Vibhu Norby told the PokerNews Podcast the blockchain platform processed $23 million in Solana-based payments into the series—roughly 6% of all 2026 WSOP buy-ins, and more than double what Lucas Jumalon won for the Main Event. Norby said it was the company's first-ever sponsorship and that they only did it because there was actual product work to do, not just a logo to place. The deal also produced the first $100,000 WSOP Solana Showdown, a nine-player freeroll for crypto personalities hosted alongside 2006 champ Jamie Gold, won by trader Rasmr for $50,000.

Source: Poker News

Colorado Bans Credit Card Deposits for Sports Betting

New rules took effect in Colorado this week banning credit cards as a funding method for sports betting accounts, including credit-funded transactions routed through electronic payment systems. Operators face $25,000 fines for violations. The law also caps bettors at six deposits per day, bars operators from using push notifications or texts to promote betting or deposits, and prohibits advertising aimed at anyone under 21. Sponsor Sen. Matt Ball framed it around problem gambling as the state's handle grew from $1 billion to more than $6 billion. Colorado joins Maine, Virginia, Massachusetts, Iowa, New Hampshire, Oregon, Rhode Island, Tennessee, Connecticut, and Vermont on credit card bans, with several more states considering them.

Source: Card Player

Baltimore Sues Kalshi and Polymarket as Legal Pressure Mounts

Baltimore became the first city to take prediction markets to court, filing suits against both Kalshi and Polymarket over sports event contracts the city says amount to unlicensed gambling under Maryland law. It was a rough week elsewhere too: a Utah judge ruled the state's anti-gambling laws apply to prediction markets, and a Washington court ordered Kalshi to geofence sports, elections, politics, and other markets by Sept. 2 or face $120,000 in daily fines. New York's suit landed the same week, with the CFTC filing to compel Kalshi to keep operating there. The federal picture points the other way—the CFTC has sued New York, Arizona, Connecticut, Illinois, and New Mexico over state enforcement, and the White House is hosting prediction market executives this week.

Source: Card Player