Poker Players Share Wild Stories of Extreme Frugality

Poker players are known for their strategic thinking and calculated risks, but when it comes to saving money, some of them take frugality to extreme levels. A recent discussion among players revealed some of the most absurd attempts to maximize savings in any situation.

One player requested $7 to split an Uber ride the day after winning $500k. Another player ordered 4-6 lobster dishes to go, costing the casino $600 a day, leading to the cancellation of the free food promotion. Martin 'alexeimartov' Bradstreet recalled ordering a large bowl of cereal with various fruits and leaving only $5 as a tip. Andrew Barber stayed in a hostel with a shared bathroom to save money during a $3k MTT. A player walked from Aria to Rio during the WSOP to avoid paying for a taxi.

A player kept a $1 chip as a card protector after losing a $400 all-in bet. Another player refused to pay $1.67 for soda because it usually cost $1. A player avoided driving to the casino to save on fuel, missing out on late-night games. Maria Ho used a trash can to vomit during a hand instead of going to the bathroom. Max Silver made his online horses leave tips from their own money. Lisa Silver's husband drove an hour to save €1 on batteries. Ivan Zarate inserted a $100 bill into a slot machine to avoid breaking it for a tip. A regular game at Bethlehem Casino moved from Tuesday to Wednesday for free parking. Rob A wore all his clothes to avoid baggage fees on a flight to the Dominican Republic. A player took $5 from his stack for a tip and later had to return it after losing a big hand. Jimmy 'riendeer' saw an unfinished Caesar salad at a neighboring table and ate it without changing the fork. Will Ma moved to a sauna to save money on accommodation during a tournament. A professional player tried to steal cookies from a closed McCafe. Matt Salsberg received a call from Mike McDonald asking him to pay for the call after a big tournament win. Joe Mobley avoided looking at his cards to minimize the chance of paying the time pot.