Eric Persson biography
Eric Hans Persson was born in 1975 and grew up in Hoquiam, Washington. He is a member of the Shoalwater Bay Indian Nation. He graduated from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas in 1998 and earned a law degree from Georgetown University Law Center in 2001.
Persson built his career in the casino business, starting at a casino in Topeka, Kansas, and later serving as a senior vice president at Las Vegas Sands and as president and COO of Aruze Gaming. In 2017 he co-founded Maverick Gaming with Justin Beltram, buying casinos in West Wendover, Nevada, and expanding into Colorado and Washington card rooms. By 2023 the company operated 31 gaming properties; it filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in July 2025.
At the poker table Persson is a cash game player who rarely plays tournaments. He became a fixture of televised high-stakes games, appearing on High Stakes Poker from Season 9, on every season of No Gamble, No Future and on Hustler Casino Live. He has clashed repeatedly with Phil Hellmuth and was involved in one of the biggest televised pots ever, losing nearly $2 million to Patrik Antonius in 2023.
Career summary
Co-founder of Maverick Gaming, Eric Persson is a high-stakes cash game regular known from High Stakes Poker, No Gamble, No Future and Hustler Casino Live.
Eric Persson playing style
Persson plays a loose, aggressive and talkative game, happy to bluff in huge spots and to needle opponents, which has made him one of the most entertaining players on live streams.
Cash games
Plays high-stakes cash games a few times a month and has appeared on High Stakes Poker (from Season 9), all four seasons of No Gamble, No Future and Hustler Casino Live. He was on the losing side of a pot of nearly $2 million against Patrik Antonius in February 2023, described as the largest televised pot.
Business & sponsorships
Co-founder and CEO of Maverick Gaming (founded 2017), which grew to 31 gaming properties in Nevada, Colorado and Washington by 2023 before filing for Chapter 11 in July 2025; formerly a senior vice president at Las Vegas Sands and president of Aruze Gaming.
Why Eric matters
Eric Persson is a casino executive whose loud, needling table presence and huge pots made him one of the most talked-about players of the live-stream era.
FAQ about Eric Persson
What company does Eric Persson run?
He co-founded Maverick Gaming in 2017, a casino and card room operator in Nevada, Colorado and Washington.
Does Eric Persson play poker tournaments?
Very rarely. He is mainly a high-stakes cash game player seen on High Stakes Poker, No Gamble, No Future and Hustler Casino Live.
How much has Eric Persson won playing poker?
Eric Persson has won Primarily a cash game player; The Hendon Mob lists only $1,402 in live tournament winnings in live tournament earnings.
How many WSOP bracelets does Eric Persson have?
Eric Persson has not won a WSOP bracelet yet.
