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“The more money in the poker world, the better off we all are”: Josh Arieh AMA on Reddit

“The more money in the poker world, the better off we all are”: Josh Arieh AMA on Reddit
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Vasilisa Zyryanova Blog Content Editor
  • Fact Checked by: PokerListings
  • Last updated on: June 10, 2025 · 3 minutes to read

On June 8th, 2025, professional poker player and leader of the unique poker backing platform PokerStake, Josh Arieh, went to Reddit and answered numerous questions from poker players.

PokerListings chose the most interesting answers for this article, starting with the only question for Josh about PokerStake.

— If you wanted to buy a piece of a player on PokerStake, and you didn’t really know anything about anybody (you were just thinking you had enough money that you wanted to use some of it to stake players), how would you determine if somebody had a good ROI (or at least not a negative ROI) once you factored in their markup? I asked you on a space once and you said you had no idea but thought I’d ask again: do you know the approximate ROI % of the total amount won/lost via investors on PokerStake?

Again… I do not… I’m not in there crushing numbers about results…. I’m here to provide a platform for players to play events that they may not be able to play without backing. At PokerStake we are about getting as much money into the poker ecosystem as possible. The more money in the poker world, the better off we all are.

Personal Questions to Josh Arieh

— Who is a live high-stakes crusher that’s crazily underrated by both the poker audience and poker media? Who should be more in the conversation?

There are so many that come to mind. Poker has really evolved and there are 100’s if not 1,000’s great players that you’ve never heard of… A few great PLO players are Joao Simoa and Ronald Keijzer.

Joao Simao
Joao Simao
Ronald Keijzer
Ronald Keijzer

— When did you know that you made it as a professional player? Was there some moment where you said to yourself that now is a good time to go pro or was it a fluent kinda way with small steps?

It was kinda tricky actually… Back in 1998 I was working a full time job, dealing poker on the side and playing occasionally when I had extra money… I quit my job to partner with another guy and start a courier company. He kinda ended up screwing me and our handshake deal was no longer the terms that he was interested in, so now my only job was dealing poker a couple nights a week, so I had plenty of time to play. I went on a huge rush the next few months and knew that pro poker was the path I wanted to take.

Don’t be fooled tho, there were many losing streaks along the way in my 25+ years since, but with good bankroll management good players will always be able to overcome the dry spells!

— How have you navigated the changes in poker over the last 20 years to stay relevant in terms of your play?

I wouldn’t necessarily say that I’ve been able to stay relevant. There were some bad losing streaks along the way (my hendon mob is proof). It was back in 2019 when I got my personal life back together that really helped my poker careers revival.

— Your game seemed to click back into gear just before WSOP 2021, and it hasn’t seemed to stop. What specifically changed?

The most important thing for me was getting my personal life straight. My relationships with my daughters improved, I met the love of my life Rachel, and I became closer with my brother, sister and dad… I also had a circle of friends that I could be honest with and would be honest with me… I think this has been a huge factor in my success.

Josh and Rachel Arieh
Josh and Rachel Arieh from his Instagram page

— What would you consider personal success at WSOP 2025?

Personal Success for me would be to bring my best every time I sit down. The WSOP is a long grind, and it’s no secret that I’m getting older. It’s hard for me to stay fully engaged 14 hours a day for 50 days..

I don’t enjoy day 1’s (who does), so it’s important for me to really fight and take advantage of opportunities when they arise… If I do that, I’ll consider it a success.

Josh Arieh Advice to Amateur Players

— As a fellow Atlanta Georgia man, any advice on how to get the practice in? Is the best option to just drive to Cherokee every now and then or play online on ACR/Ignition etc?

I think your best practice at solid poker is going to be watching videos, using Octopi Poker trainer and occasionally playing live in Cherokee… The best times to drive to Cherokee and play are definitely during the circuit WSOP stops.

— What is one piece of advice you would give a family man with two daughters who does this for a living. I know you went through the grind with a wife and two daughters. I’m sure that came with a lot of ups and downs.

Most of my success came once my relationships with my girls were solid… The most important thing in my life is my relationships with the people that I love. For many years my foundation was cracked… Always make sure your family life is solid and your play will follow…

— What skills separate a good PLO player from a good NLHE player?

PLO can be bloody… You have to take knockout blows and get right back up… over and over again! You have to be able to bring your A game 100% of the time and you have to be willing to gamble!

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Written By: Vasilisa Zyryanova Blog Content Editor
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