HighRoller Larry Flynt

Larry Flynt wears many hats – pornographer, civil rights activist, casino owner, philanthropist and highroller. Born in a poor family Flynt achieved fame and wealth with the publication of the pornographic magazine Hustler. An assassination attempt in an obscenity trial left him paraplegic. Today Flynt’s life style is the envy of the rich and famous.

Flynt began playing poker in the Navy. After Hustler made him a millionaire, he became a highroller in Las Vegas, at the Golden Nugget and the Mirage. But because of his disability it became inconvenient for him to travel to Vegas. So Flynt started his Hustler Casino in Gardena, California, where he could play as much as he wanted. Flynt has a specially designed gold plated wheelchair that cost $80,000. He has a wooden panel that prevents him from accidentally exposing his hole cards to other players as he picks them up. This much he has conceded to his disability. At Casino Hustler he plays with the best poker players and the biggest highrollers in the world. David Oppenheim, Phil Ivey, Chip Reese, Barry Greenstein, Frank Thompson and Danny Robison are some of the names that grace his table. His game is Seven Card Stud and his stakes are $2000-$4000 with a $500 ante. He plays with lavender colored  $500 chips and burgundy colored $5000 chips. The average pot per game is about $40,000. The combined bankroll on the table exceeds a million dollars and the winnings or losses each time he plays amount to as much as a quarter million dollars.

Flynt is known for his quick and confident play. He does not believe in prolonged decision making or staring down his opponents. Flynt’s biggest strength is his money. He believes that it is impossible to give ones best if one is short on money. A $40,000 loss does not make an iota of difference to his lifestyle. Better players than him are unable to perform at the table because they are worried about their short bankroll, short by their standards.

Flynt does not usually play in tournaments, except the Seven Card stud in the World Series of Poker. He was ranked 8th in 2000. He however held a tournament to inaugurate the Hustler Casino in 2001. The winner had the privilege of playing against Flynt heads-up for a $50,000 prize. Flynt lost the match, but the launch was a huge success.