Roy Choi

It wasn't really an obsession more than it was a last cry for help. So I was here in Los Angeles. This was 1995. I had just come off of a four year deep addiction dive into gambling. What was your game of choice? It went from this game called Pan 9, which is kind of a card interpretation of Paigao. And it's similar to Baccarat, but you use four cards.

It wasn't really an obsession more than it was a last cry for help. So I was here in Los Angeles. This was 1995. I had just come off of a four year deep addiction dive into gambling. What was your game of choice? It went from this game called Pan 9, which is kind of a card interpretation of Paigao. And it's similar to Baccarat, but you use four cards.

You use three in the hole and you can pull one. Are you getting chills right now explaining that? Yeah. Getting nine, pictures are zero, it's the whole thing. And then eventually led to poker and then high limit poker. Texas Hold'em? Texas Hold'em. Yeah, yeah, yeah. And then playing like- At Commerce every day? At Commerce every day, yeah. Bicycle club, Commerce.

You use three in the hole and you can pull one. Are you getting chills right now explaining that? Yeah. Getting nine, pictures are zero, it's the whole thing. And then eventually led to poker and then high limit poker. Texas Hold'em? Texas Hold'em. Yeah, yeah, yeah. And then playing like- At Commerce every day? At Commerce every day, yeah. Bicycle club, Commerce.

You use three in the hole and you can pull one. Are you getting chills right now explaining that? Yeah. Getting nine, pictures are zero, it's the whole thing. And then eventually led to poker and then high limit poker. Texas Hold'em? Texas Hold'em. Yeah, yeah, yeah. And then playing like- At Commerce every day? At Commerce every day, yeah. Bicycle club, Commerce.

Back then it was before the whole World Series of Poker Day, so it was like- Just Doyle Brunson was popular. Yeah. It was me against Doyle Brunson. And Stu Unger. Yeah, Stu Unger and Telly Savalas. That was basically it. There was no like real no limit games. It was all structured. And it was a big game. I eventually made it to like 2040, which is a pretty big game.

Back then it was before the whole World Series of Poker Day, so it was like- Just Doyle Brunson was popular. Yeah. It was me against Doyle Brunson. And Stu Unger. Yeah, Stu Unger and Telly Savalas. That was basically it. There was no like real no limit games. It was all structured. And it was a big game. I eventually made it to like 2040, which is a pretty big game.

Back then it was before the whole World Series of Poker Day, so it was like- Just Doyle Brunson was popular. Yeah. It was me against Doyle Brunson. And Stu Unger. Yeah, Stu Unger and Telly Savalas. That was basically it. There was no like real no limit games. It was all structured. And it was a big game. I eventually made it to like 2040, which is a pretty big game.

And in your 20s, you know, losing $10,000, $20,000 is a lot of money. And a lot of that money sometimes is borrowed. So I burned a lot of bridges over those four years. And I was basically couch surfing. And I didn't have many other options left. The only other options were pretty much being a rail bird at the casino. That was all I had left.

And in your 20s, you know, losing $10,000, $20,000 is a lot of money. And a lot of that money sometimes is borrowed. So I burned a lot of bridges over those four years. And I was basically couch surfing. And I didn't have many other options left. The only other options were pretty much being a rail bird at the casino. That was all I had left.

And in your 20s, you know, losing $10,000, $20,000 is a lot of money. And a lot of that money sometimes is borrowed. So I burned a lot of bridges over those four years. And I was basically couch surfing. And I didn't have many other options left. The only other options were pretty much being a rail bird at the casino. That was all I had left.

And a rail bird is they toss you a $5 chip to get a water or coffee or something like that.

And a rail bird is they toss you a $5 chip to get a water or coffee or something like that.

And a rail bird is they toss you a $5 chip to get a water or coffee or something like that.

Because it actually not only destroys you, but it's a forest fire. It will destroy everything around you.

Because it actually not only destroys you, but it's a forest fire. It will destroy everything around you.

Because it actually not only destroys you, but it's a forest fire. It will destroy everything around you.

Yeah. Did you have that? I have it every day still. You don't even think about the money. There is no value in the currency at all. And all you do every single day when you look in the mirror is just promise yourself when you get even that you'll quit.

Yeah. Did you have that? I have it every day still. You don't even think about the money. There is no value in the currency at all. And all you do every single day when you look in the mirror is just promise yourself when you get even that you'll quit.

Yeah. Did you have that? I have it every day still. You don't even think about the money. There is no value in the currency at all. And all you do every single day when you look in the mirror is just promise yourself when you get even that you'll quit.