In a surprising move, Ryan Feldman and Nick Vertucci, the owners of Hustler Casino Live (HCL), have decided that Garrett Adelstein, the high-stakes poker star, will not return to the popular live stream indefinitely. The announcement came during an episode of The Nick Vertucci Show on March 20, 2023, where Vertucci revealed that Adelstein would not be rejoining the show for the time being.
Why the Change?
This news comes as a shock to HCL fans, who were eagerly awaiting Adelstein’s return, especially with the highly anticipated Million Dollar buy-in cash game looming. Just three months earlier, HCL had publicly expressed interest in bringing Adelstein back, even tweeting about it in December 2022: “Now that the investigation has concluded, we want to address the numerous inquiries about Garrett and his future on the show. Simply put, HCL is open to having @GManPoker back.”
However, Vertucci’s response during the podcast was clear: “not at this time.” When asked for the reasons behind the decision, Vertucci stated it was a business choice.
Business Decisions and Player Feedback
Vertucci shared that the decision wasn’t made out of ill will, but rather due to feedback from other players. “Our players don’t want him back,” he said, adding that the games have become more exciting since Adelstein’s departure. With more players buying in deeper, the action has become even bigger, making for higher-stakes games.
Vertucci clarified that there was no animosity and expressed good wishes for Adelstein during his personal life, particularly the upcoming birth of his child. However, Vertucci did mention that Adelstein’s persistence in claiming he was cheated during the infamous J4 poker hand, even after an investigation cleared Robbi Jade Lew of any wrongdoing, played a role in the decision.
The Infamous J4 Hand and Its Fallout
The controversy stemmed from an unforgettable hand in September 2022 when Robbi Jade Lew made an unexpected call on the turn with a weak hand, J♣️4❤️, only to win a massive pot of $269,000. Adelstein immediately suspected foul play and asked Lew to return the money she had won. While Lew eventually gave back part of the pot under pressure, she always maintained that she did not cheat. HCL’s investigation found no evidence of wrongdoing and made extensive changes to their production protocols to prevent any future concerns.
Adelstein, on the other hand, has consistently stood by his belief that the hand was suspicious, which further complicated his relationship with HCL. Despite the investigation clearing Lew, the lingering controversy seemed to have played a part in Adelstein’s exclusion from future broadcasts.
The Future for Garrett Adelstein
Though Adelstein will not be returning to Hustler Casino Live in the immediate future, it doesn’t mean his poker career is over. He could still appear on other streams like Live at the Bike or Poker at The Lodge, or he might decide to move away from professional poker altogether to focus on other ventures.
While fans of Adelstein may be disappointed by the decision, it’s clear that the drama surrounding the J4 hand will continue to shape the future of both his career and the world of live poker streams. Only time will tell whether this is a temporary setback or a permanent departure from the world of Hustler Casino Live.
