Shaun Deeb is betting huge towards Phil Hellmuth’s son within the World Series of Poker most important occasion. After the elder Hellmuth introduced that Phillip Hellmuth III could be charging a 1.4 markup when promoting motion for the event, Deeb and others shortly pounced on that quantity from a participant with lower than $27,000 in event winnings.
The elder Hellmuth went on to problem others who may need to wager towards his son. He supplied to subject wagers towards Phillip cashing towards the quantity he may earn within the event. That may probably be round $10 million if Phillip truly turned the second Hellmuth to win.
“I told my son Phillip Hellmuth to charge 1.4 mark up in WSOP Main Event,” Hellmuth posted on X/Twitter.
“If you think it unfair, then put your money where your mouth is. I’ll put up $14K on my son: you post $10M (1st place). Talk is cheap: you MUST post $10M to bet. Shaun Deeb, your credit is good.”
As an instance of how the wager would work, if Phillip have been to win $20,000, Deeb and firm would owe Hellmuth $6,000 after subtracting the $14,000 he initially put up within the deal. That may very well be far more if the youthful Hellmuth may make a deep run.
Markup is the added price buyers pay for the flexibility to purchase a bit of a poker participant. In this case, the youthful Hellmuth is charging 40% markup. If somebody purchased 10% of his most important occasion motion, they might pay $1,400 as an alternative of $1,000.
Over the final a number of years, it has grow to be a sensitive topic within the poker world. Many imagine gamers are overestimating their edge and overcharging markup. In Hellmuth’s instance, if he has a 40% ROI in the primary occasion, his buyers aren’t turning a revenue in the long term.
Deeb Takes The Bet
As an everyday critic of others’ markup by the years, Deeb tagged Jason Mo, asking for credit score to get in on the motion. Mo is a former high-stakes poker professional who turned very profitable investing in cryptocurrency and crypto start-ups.
Mo agreed to the deal, and they’re now betting towards Phillip, probably risking as a lot as $10 million if Phillip have been to take the title to win $14,000. The group additionally appears to include Jake Abdalla.
Hellmuth defended his son’s markup and famous that Phillip has been enjoying no-limit maintain ’em professionally 300 days a yr for the final three years.
Phillip’s greatest event win got here final June in an $800 occasion on the WSOP, the place he took 51st for $7,149. He completed tenth in January in a WSOP Circuit occasion in Las Vegas for $3,600. He additionally made his debut within the PokerGO Studio in 2025 and received $27,050 on Poker Night in America.
Hellmuth was fast to defend his son in addition to his personal popularity after the “markup police” mentioned his personal charge for backers was too excessive.
My wager w “Mark Up Police”@PhillipHellmuth posted at 1.1 mark up for @WSOP Main Event, I informed him to cost 1.4! I imagine it’s a nice deal for purchasers
The haters: 😡🤬
Me: “Bet your money”
Bet on!$14,000 max threat for me
$10M max threat for themPhillip performs NLH 300 days… pic.twitter.com/MQNN1IVE3L
— phil_hellmuth (@phil_hellmuth) June 18, 2026
Becoming A Poker Villain
Other execs have been principally important of Hellmuth’s markup recommendation. Daniel Negreanu doesn’t imagine including the stress of getting others cheering towards Phillip is a good suggestion.
“So you look at the kid’s results, they’re not there yet. He doesn’t have any,” he said on his vlog. Negreanu went on so as to add: “I spoke to Phil privately and I said, ‘Listen, you’re used to the flack. You’re used to the needles and all that other stuff. Your son … you’re literally setting him up to be the villain.’”
Negreanu added that it was as much as particular person gamers to cost no matter they need, however he felt Hellmuth’s recommendation to his son wasn’t a good suggestion. He suggested not charging a markup in any respect and producing some buzz about simply backing the subsequent Hellmuth poker professional.
“It’s Phil being Phil and Shaun Deeb being Shaun Deeb,” Negreanu mentioned.
After current information of Negreanu and his spouse now anticipating a child, Negreanu additionally poked some enjoyable at Hellmuth by posting about his personal son enjoying in the primary occasion in somewhat over twenty years.
Early Bird Special!
My son is scheduled to play the WSOP most important in 2048 and you should buy a bit now at simply 1.6 markup.
By the time 2048 rolls round he’s going for 4.0 so greatest to get your piece early!
Want a bit @phil_hellmuth?
You get the household & buddies low cost
😂— Daniel Negreanu (@RealKidPoker) June 18, 2026
Tilly Touts Hellmuth Move
Actress and poker professional Jennifer Tilly pointed to the complete situation as a traditional Hellmuth transfer to construct some drama and curiosity within the sport and the WSOP.ing,” she wrote on X/Twitter. “Which is a good thing.”
Another Hellmuth son has additionally introduced plans to comply with within the poker professional’s footsteps. Nick Hellmuth introduced final yr that he plans on taking over the sport.
“My youngest son Nick has decided to become a professional poker player,” the senior Hellmuth mentioned on X/Twitter. “He loves the game, he loves learning the game, and he loves connecting with his older brother Phillip around game strategies. He is improving rapidly.”
