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Steve Aoki is an American DJ and record producer who has played poker since 2004. He started in low-stakes cash games at the Commerce Casino in Los Angeles, later played $50/$100 No-Limit Hold’em on PokerGO’s Poker After Dark, and in January 2022 became a brand ambassador for the World Poker Tour. [2][4][6]
Steve Aoki: key facts
| Name | Steve Aoki |
|---|---|
| Country | United States [2] |
| Main career | DJ and record producer; founder of Dim Mak Records [13] |
| Playing poker since | 2004 [4] |
| Preferred format | Cash games [5] |
| Poker TV | Poker After Dark (PokerGO), 2021; WPT cash game episodes, 2022 [6][10] |
| Ambassador role | World Poker Tour brand ambassador from January 2022 [2] |
| Live tournament earnings | No verified tournament results as of October 10, 2026 |
Music career
Aoki founded Dim Mak Records in 1996; the label describes itself as an independent, Los Angeles-based record label, events company and lifestyle brand. [13] His album Wonderland was nominated for Best Dance/Electronica Album at the 55th GRAMMY Awards, the first GRAMMY nomination of his career. [14] Card Player lists collaborations with artists including Linkin Park, BTS, blink-182, Fall Out Boy, will.i.am and Afrojack. [1]
How he started playing poker
Aoki told PokerNews that he began playing cards in 2004, introduced by a close friend who was an avid player. “We would DJ together and then after our sets, we would go to Commerce Casino and play,” he said, describing his early games as “$1/$2 table and $2/$5”. [4] In a Card Player interview he named that friend as DJ AM (Adam Goldstein), who “definitely schooled me, and was kind of my first teacher”. [1]
He described those years in blunt terms: “I was a degenerate back then, playing every night.” On tour he looked for a private game or the nearest casino after each show, often playing from about 3 in the morning until 6 before catching his next flight. [1] He has said he has played in Singapore, the Philippines, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, South Africa and many places in Europe. [1]
Moving up to bigger games
For several years Aoki considered himself “just a $5-$10 player”. According to his Card Player interview, Dan Bilzerian brought him into bigger games in the 2010s: “I would never have been exposed to the bigger games without Dan.” [1]
The turning point he describes came in Bobby Baldwin’s game at Aria, with a $20,000 minimum buy-in and blinds of $100-$200-$400-$800. Holding king-queen suited on a queen-six-four flop, he called an all-in; Baldwin, holding ace-queen, folded after a long think, and Aoki won his first big pot, about $70,000. “That’s when I got the bug for playing big games,” he said. [1]
At the WSOP: a cash game player
In June 2013 Aoki visited the World Series of Poker at the Rio and provided guest commentary on the Event #25 $3,000 Pot-Limit Omaha final table, won by Jeff Madsen. He told PokerNews: “I play cash games, though, so you won’t really see me at a tournament.” Asked about Phil Ivey, he said, “We play cash games together and are great friends.” [5]
Poker After Dark and televised cash games
Aoki played in “Blitz Week” of Poker After Dark Season 12 on PokerGO in 2021, a $50/$100 No-Limit Hold’em game with a $500 big blind ante and buy-ins from $15,000 to $40,000. The lineup included Dan Bilzerian, Bill Perkins, Jamal “Mally Mall” Rashid and boxer Chris Eubank Jr. [6]
- First episode: with king-jack of clubs, Aoki made two pair on the turn against Eubank Jr.’s king-queen and led for $6,000 on the river, which Eubank Jr. called. [6]
- Second episode: with seven-four on an eight-six-nine board he bet the pot, $10,000, on the river as a bluff. Eubank Jr. called and won the $30,400 pot. “I bluffed,” Aoki admitted with a laugh. He later busted and Alan Richardson took his seat. [7]
In June 2022 he appeared in two episodes of the World Poker Tour’s “WPT Cash Game $100/$200 No Limit Hold’em” series, taking Brad Owen’s seat at a table that included Darren Elias, Andrew Neeme and Maria Ho. [10][11]
World Poker Tour ambassador
On January 13, 2022, the World Poker Tour announced Aoki as a brand ambassador for Season XX, with the role of helping to raise brand awareness. “It’s such an honor to be joining the WPT family,” he said. The announcement also included plans for an invite-only charity poker event in mid-2022 benefiting the Aoki Foundation, which raises money for brain science and research. [2]
The playhouse sit-n-go with Phil Ivey
In February 2022 Aoki hosted a nine-player sit-n-go at his Las Vegas “playhouse” for five WPT contest winners, joined by Phil Ivey, Maria Ho and Vince Van Patten. Ivey eliminated Aoki first and took a one-of-one jacket from Aoki’s clothing line as a bounty. German recreational player Christophe Osse, a long-time fan of Aoki’s music, beat Las Vegas pro Kevin Osta heads-up to win a $10,000 WPT passport; Osta received a $5,000 passport. [3]
WPT World Championship at Wynn, 2022
In October 2022 Aoki joined a meet-up game at Bellagio hosted by fellow WPT ambassadors Andrew Neeme and Brad Owen. [1] In November, Phil Ivey also became a WPT ambassador, joining Doyle Brunson, Aoki, Neeme and Owen. [9] For the WPT World Championship festival at Wynn Las Vegas, the WPT scheduled Aoki for the Premier Meet-Up Game: WPT Poker Icons Experience on December 1, a one-table sit & go for ClubWPT qualifiers on December 6, and Day 1a of the $1,100 Prime Championship on December 8. WPT CEO Adam Pliska said that “Steve’s presence at the WPT Poker Icons Experience is going to add a new level of excitement”. [8]
In a March 2026 article PokerNews described him as a longtime poker player and former WPT ambassador who can be found in cash games in Las Vegas and Los Angeles. [12]
Tournament results
Aoki’s poker is played mostly in cash games, as he told PokerNews in 2013. [5] We found no tournament cash for him in WSOP, PokerNews or WPT coverage, and no published result for his 2022 Prime Championship entry, so this profile has no results table.
How he plays
Aoki says he relies on reading opponents rather than study. “I never study, man! I just need to study the human face, you know? It’s a human game,” he told Card Player. He also does not wear headphones at the table: “Never! I’m not that guy. I need to be attentive.” [1]
In his own words
- “I’d grind it out at the $1/$2 table and $2/$5, that was my game at the very beginning.” PokerNews, 2022. [4]
- “Phil is my homie.” On Phil Ivey, at the WSOP in 2013. [5]
- “Yeah, it’s been almost 20 years!” On how long he has played poker, Card Player, 2022. [1]
Videos
Steve Aoki in a Las Vegas cash game (PokerGO)
Poker night with Ninja and Phil Hellmuth (PokerGO)
FAQ about Steve Aoki
Does Steve Aoki play poker?
Yes. He has played since 2004, mostly in cash games, and has appeared on PokerGO’s Poker After Dark and in WPT cash game episodes. [4][6][10]
How did Steve Aoki get into poker?
A close friend and fellow DJ, DJ AM, introduced him to the game; after their sets they played at the Commerce Casino in Los Angeles. [1][4]
Is Steve Aoki a World Poker Tour ambassador?
The WPT named him a brand ambassador in January 2022. [2] PokerNews described him as a former WPT ambassador in March 2026. [12]
Has Steve Aoki won a WSOP bracelet?
No. He has said he plays cash games rather than tournaments, and we found no WSOP tournament results for him. His best-known WSOP appearance was as a guest commentator in 2013. [5]
What is Steve Aoki’s net worth?
There is no reliable public figure for his net worth, and his poker results cannot fill the gap: his cash game results are not published and we found no verified tournament earnings as of October 10, 2026.
What stakes does Steve Aoki play?
He started at $1/$2 and $2/$5, later played $5/$10, and has played $50/$100 on Poker After Dark and a $100-$200-$400-$800 game at Aria. [1][4][6]
Who has Steve Aoki played poker with?
Reported opponents include Phil Ivey, Maria Ho and Vince Van Patten at his 2022 sit-n-go, and Dan Bilzerian, Bill Perkins and Chris Eubank Jr. on Poker After Dark. [3][6]
How old is Steve Aoki?
PokerNews gave his age as 44 in January 2022, and Card Player described him as 45 in November 2022. [1][2]
Related Poker Legends
Read more about Phil Ivey, his friend and opponent at the 2022 playhouse game, and Doyle Brunson, a fellow WPT ambassador in 2022. New to the game? Start with how to play Texas Hold’em.
Sources
- Card Player, DJ Steve Aoki Crashes The Poker Party At Upcoming WPT World Championship At Wynn Las Vegas, November 15, 2022.
- PokerNews, World Poker Tour Signs Celeb DJ Steve Aoki as Brand Ambassador, January 13, 2022.
- PokerNews, Steve Aoki’s ‘Biggest Fan’ Wins SNG at Celeb DJ’s Crib, Outlasts Phil Ivey, February 18, 2022.
- PokerNews, Steve Aoki Dishes on Musical Inspiration, BTS, Dan Bilzerian’s Poker Skills, February 20, 2022.
- PokerNews, Steve Aoki Stops in for Some Guest WSOP Commentary; Talks About Poker and Phil Ivey, June 22, 2013.
- PokerNews, Dan Bilzerian Stars in Latest ‘Poker After Dark’, April 7, 2021.
- PokerNews, All-in Action Aplenty on Monday’s ‘Poker After Dark’, April 13, 2021.
- PokerNews, Play With DJ Steve Aoki and Doyle Brunson at the WPT World Championship, November 4, 2022.
- PokerNews, Phil Ivey Becomes Newest World Poker Tour (WPT) Ambassador, November 9, 2022.
- TVmaze, World Poker Tour, Season 19 Episode 22: WPT Cash Game $100/$200 No Limit Hold’em, Part 4, aired June 12, 2022.
- TVmaze, World Poker Tour, Season 19 Episode 23: WPT Cash Game $100/$200 No Limit Hold’em, Part 5, aired June 19, 2022.
- PokerNews, Nelly, Madison Beer, and Other Rappers and Pop Stars Who Play Poker, March 1, 2026.
- Dim Mak, official website, accessed October 10, 2026.
- Recording Academy, Exploring The Dance/Electronica Field Nominees, GRAMMY.com, accessed October 10, 2026.
Last verified: October 10, 2026. Figures that change over time, such as career earnings, are given with the date they were checked.
