Political Podcaster Tim Pool Says He Wins $100 An Hour Playing Poker

Podcast microphone beside a poker table with cards and chips during a game.

Tim Pool says he plays roughly 20 hours a week, mostly in low-stakes cash games.

Tim Pool told PokerNews he won $100 to $150 an hour last month in low-stakes cash games.
The TimCast host plays about 20 hours a week and favors $1/$2 and $1/$3 Texas Hold’em.
He made Day 2 of the 2026 WSOP Main Event before busting outside the money.

Political podcaster Tim Pool has a second life away from the microphone. In an interview with PokerNews at the 2026 Potomac Summer Poker Open, the TimCast host said he won as much as $100 to $150 an hour last month in low-stakes cash games.

Pool, who has more than 2.7 million YouTube subscribers, told the outlet he plays roughly 20 hours a week and considers himself a profitable player. He has also started showing up at major festivals, including the 2026 World Series of Poker. Here is what he shared about his results, his approach and his tournament run.

Who Is Tim Pool?

Tim Pool is a political commentator and host of the TimCast podcast, with an audience of more than 2.7 million YouTube subscribers. He is a polarizing figure who draws criticism from across the political spectrum.

At the table, he is easy to spot in his trademark black beanie and gray plaid flannel. PokerNews caught up with him at the Potomac Summer Poker Open, held at MGM National Harbor in Maryland.

What Tim Pool Says About His Poker Results

Pool told PokerNews he is a profitable player who won between $100 and $150 an hour last month in low-stakes cash games. He usually sits in $1/$2 or $1/$3 Texas Hold’em games.

In July, he said he tracked about 50 big blinds an hour. “On low stakes. I was doing pretty well,” he told the outlet. He is candid about his level, saying, “I think I’m slightly better than average.”

How Tim Pool Learned The Game

Pool traces his poker roots back to childhood. “I’ve been playing poker since I was a little kid,” he told PokerNews, recalling early games of Five Card Draw. He later moved to Texas Hold’em and played online with play money on the Play WSOP app.

He got serious during the COVID pandemic around 2020, when he began putting in about 20 hours a week. “About six or seven years ago, I started playing consistently,” he said. He remains mainly a cash game player who studies the game and watches poker online.

Tim Pool’s 2026 WSOP And Tournament Run

Over the past year, Pool has appeared at major festivals and played several streamed World Poker Tour cash games. This summer he tried the 2026 World Series of Poker, where he said he won “a couple grand” in $5/$10 cash games in Las Vegas before entering the $10,000 Main Event.

He made Day 2 of the Main Event, then busted outside the money when he ran ace-king into pocket aces. “Maybe I shouldn’t have called his jam,” he told PokerNews. His deep-run luck did not improve in Maryland.

Pool’s summer featured several near-misses in tournament play.

At the Potomac Summer Poker Open, Pool busted just outside the money in the $500 Opener. He flopped a jack with ace-jack, but his opponent rivered a set of nines. In the $3,000 Main Event, he got all in with ace-five against pocket kings and flopped two pair, only for a king to arrive on the river.

At the time of the interview, Pool was grinding Day 1b of the $750,000 guaranteed Main Event. He expects to attend more stops, including the upcoming WSOP Paradise in the Bahamas. On tournament breaks, he spends time on video poker and blackjack machines.

What This Means For Players

Pool’s story is a reminder that consistent, low-stakes cash games can produce steady results for a dedicated player. His reported win rate of roughly 50 big blinds an hour is strong, and it comes from volume and study rather than high-stakes swings.

If his run has you curious about playing legally where you live, check our guide to Maryland online poker and your own state’s rules before you sit down. Want to sharpen your game without risking a bankroll? Sign up to join the poker community and receive exclusive bonuses, tips, and strategies.

Paul Seaton, an esteemed figure in the poker community with over ten years of experience, has provided live coverage from renowned poker tournaments like the World Series of Poker, European Poker Tour, and World Poker Tour. His involvement goes beyond observation; he has served as the Editor of BLUFF Europe Magazine and Head of Media for partypoker.