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Texas Senator Ted Cruz tweeted out Day 2 of the 2022 World Series of Poker that "Head-to-head vs. an Iconic Poker Player Like Phil Hellmuth Was Ridiculous Fun!"
Cruz had faced off against Hellmuth back in September of last year for the poker television series "Poker After Dark".
Head-to-head vs. an iconic poker player like @phil_hellmuth was ridiculous fun! pic.twitter.com/6aeiIB8q1W
— Ted Cruz (@tedcruz) June 1, 2022
The Republican represents Texas, a state that has become a popular stomping ground for poker players across the globe thanks to the influx of so-called card houses. Gambling911.com has reported extensively on how many of these venues are repeated targets of robberies and assaults. Local officials have wrangled with their legality. Oddly enough, Texas itself is not exactly the most embracing when it comes to gambling. The Lone Star State does not even have Las Vegas style casinos. Its lone casino is Kickapoo Lucky Eagle Casino, operated by the Kickapoo Traditional Tribe. It's one of the few states that has yet to even consider legalizing sports betting.
As for the Cruz tweet, many of those commenting were left unimpressed. His state is still reeling from the mass murder of 19 school children last week in the town of Uvalde.
One tweeted:
"Motherf*****, 19 kids and 3 adults were slaughtered in your fucking state last week. Could you at least pretend to give a shit?"
Another wrote:
"Do you think that this was more fun than attending the funerals of children who were murdered in their classrooms?"
There did appear to be some confusion as a number of those on Twitter believed Cruz was currently playing poker while the funerals in Uvalde were being held. Cruz's tweet was likely meant to usher in the start of the World Series of Poker, which is taking place in Las Vegas over the next month.
Hellmuth replied back that he "enjoyed it".
Not everyone was as harsh towards Phil.
One wrote in response to those castigating the WSOP record bracelet holder:
"Why can't some people just leave bs out of it? PH posts a clip of a game which he enjoyed. Not everything has to be about politics. I've always learned religion and politics are taboo talk at the poker table."
The self-proclaimed "Poker Brat" has come under fire in recent months for his over-the-top tantrums at the poker table, to which one person tweeted in reply to Hellmuth retweeting the Cruz tweet:
"The is the one time you actually should’ve berated your opponent."
- Ace King, Gambling911.com
