Digital Social Hour: How I Handle $200K Poker Swings | Rampage Poker DSH #1411

Released on June 21, 2025

Introduction

In the latest episode of Digital Social Hour, host Sean Kelly sits down with Ethan, also known in the poker world as Rampage Poker. The conversation delves into Ethan's intense poker routines, his strategies for managing significant financial swings, and the challenges of balancing a professional poker career with content creation. Throughout the episode, Ethan offers candid insights into the highs and lows of tournament play, his approach to mental resilience, and his aspirations within the poker and digital content landscapes.

A Grueling Poker Schedule

Ethan discusses the demanding schedule that comes with being a professional tournament poker player, especially during the World Series of Poker (WSOP) season. Playing 10 to 12 hours a day over a six-week period requires immense dedication and stamina.

"It's the summertime is like the most busy for poker players and tournament players because there's just always something to play and then if you want to win and do well, then you have to... hopefully you last the whole day." (00:34)

Handling Losses and Financial Swings

Ethan recounts a particularly challenging day at the Aria, where he faced a series of losses, rebuying six times and not winning any pots, highlighting the volatile nature of tournament poker.

"Yesterday was probably one of the worst days I had in poker. I fired so many bullets. I just kept rebuying and rebuying... I bought in six times." (00:56)

Despite these setbacks, Ethan maintains a positive outlook, emphasizing the importance of persistence and the potential for one significant win to offset numerous losses.

"It takes one. Yeah. It's hard to win, but it's just about showing up every day and just trying to just be there." (01:57)

Tournament Strategies and Experiences

Ethan shares his approach to tournament buy-ins, discussing a unique prop bet where his buy-ins are doubled, effectively allowing others to bet on his performance.

"Everything that I've bought in is doubled. So I allowed people to fade me who think I'm bad at poker. So I actually have more action on myself." (02:12)

He reflects on past experiences, such as playing high-stakes tournaments like the $25,000 buy-in events, and the emotional toll they can take.

"Last year I played the 25k, I was on the bubble and... it was the most anxiety I've ever felt in my life." (03:09)

Balancing Poker with Content Creation

Ethan elaborates on his dual role as a poker player and a content creator, highlighting the challenges of dedicating time to both endeavors. He discusses the importance of vlogging his tournaments and the impact of content on his poker career.

"I'm investing a lot more into trying to put more effort into the videos... I'm trying to split my time as efficiently as possible with both, and something has to give." (27:56)

Ethan expresses a desire to expand his content strategy by exploring shorts and other digital media formats to reach a broader audience.

"I want to like put more time and effort into the videos, experiment with like shorts and stuff, which is a huge opportunity that I've been ignoring for the past few years." (28:15)

Emotional Control and Tilt Management

The conversation touches on the psychological aspects of poker, particularly dealing with tilt and maintaining emotional control during high-stakes play. Ethan admits that emotional regulation is an area he's actively working on.

"I don't think I've ever been known to have good emotional control, but I'm working on it." (39:25)

He shares personal strategies, such as taking extended breaks to decompress and managing his mental state to stay focused during tournaments.

"I took a break for like 45 minutes, called some people, said happy Father's Day and stuff like that. But long break." (39:43)

Future Aspirations and Goals

Ethan outlines his ambitions within the poker world, expressing a strong desire to participate in elite tournaments like the Triton series, which he considers the pinnacle of poker competition.

"I need a Triton tournament. I would consider Triton to be like, at the top of the industry history with how the events are run, the buy-ins, the prize pools." (33:56)

He also discusses his aspirations related to content creation, aiming to build a robust media team to enhance his digital presence.

"I'm in this process now trying to like, hire a media team or internally at least, and slowly build it out." (27:43)

Conclusion

Ethan's candid discussion on Digital Social Hour offers a transparent look into the life of a professional poker player navigating the turbulent waters of high-stakes tournaments and the demanding world of digital content creation. His resilience in the face of financial swings, dedication to continual improvement, and strategic approach to balancing multiple career paths provide valuable insights for aspiring poker professionals and content creators alike.

Notable Quotes:

• "It takes one. Yeah. It's hard to win, but it's just about showing up every day and just trying to just be there." (01:57)
• "Everything that I've bought in is doubled. So I allowed people to fade me who think I'm bad at poker." (02:12)
• "I think I'm... I have to be down. I've lost so many big pots versus him." (16:30)
• "The gap between like the best player in the world and like a bottom tier player, I guess we'll say is, is shrinking for sure." (18:45)
• "I need a Triton tournament. I would consider Triton to be like, at the top of the industry history." (33:56)

Key Takeaways:

• Persistence Pays Off: Despite facing significant losses, Ethan emphasizes the importance of persistence in tournament poker, highlighting the potential for one big win to make up for multiple losses.

• Balancing Dual Careers: Managing a career in professional poker alongside content creation presents challenges, but Ethan is actively seeking strategies to optimize his time and efforts in both areas.

• Emotional Resilience: Maintaining emotional control is crucial in high-stakes environments. Ethan acknowledges his ongoing journey toward better emotional regulation to enhance his poker performance.

• Aiming for Excellence: Ethan's goal to participate in elite tournaments like Triton reflects his ambition to compete at the highest levels and solidify his standing in the poker community.

Final Thoughts

Ethan's insights offer a window into the complexities of professional poker and the dedication required to excel both at the table and in the digital realm. His experiences underscore the importance of mental fortitude, strategic planning, and adaptability in achieving long-term success.