Players who’ve made poker a part of their lives sometimes get it memorialized in ink. Even outside of the sport, cards, chips, and hand combinations are trendy tattoos, You don’t need to have 10,000 hands under your belt to like the look of two Aces or a straight flush.
Poker-themed tattoos can be divided into 3 groups: images with cards, designs with suits, and pictures with famous poker players. Sometimes, the tattoos have iconic scenes or characters from movies.
The most popular designs are those with Aces, Kings, and Queens. The remaining hands are not as in demand, but some players like to show off unique hands. Among the other cards and combinations, tattoos with sets of Sixes and Sevens are more common. Usually, poker tattoos are placed on the wrists or arms, but surely, all areas have been covered by now.
Tattoos with card suits are tattooed on the knuckles, back of the neck, and many other spots. The symbols are relatively easy to draw and can be customized in countless styles.
There are not many people who want to place an image of an idol on their body, but such individuals exist. You might recognize Doyle Brunson in this tattoo, from his younger days.
Two specific types of tattoos fall into a separate category. One of them is Heath Ledger as the Joker from the film "The Dark Knight," holding the Joker card from a deck. When the film was released, many people were impressed by Ledger's performance and went to tattoo parlors.
On the left is the canonical tattoo with the inscription "Why so serious?" On the right are Jokers of Joaquin Phoenix and Jared Leto.
Gambit is another comic book character inextricably linked with cards. No films have been made about this X-Men hero, so tattoos use his image from comics or the mutant cartoon.
The Meaning of Poker Tattoos
Many tattoo proponents attribute supernatural properties to them. They are applied as protection against dark forces or simply to become a little luckier. The percentage of superstitious people among poker players* is predictably high, which is why tattoos are held in high esteem. However, it's difficult to say whether the design on the body will protect your opponent from getting two outs on the river.
Poker Betting and Tattoos
Sometimes a tattoo on the body is the result of a bad bet. The clearest example is the dispute between Gavin Smith, Jeff Madsen, and Joe Sebok. In 2010, they decided to further motivate themselves before playing in a WPT series tournament. They bet on who could last the longest. Joe was eliminated first, so his body was decorated with the initials of the tougher players. Jeff was the second to go, so only Gavin Smith's initials were placed on his body.
We’ve covered some of the other wild bets players have made in this article.
Poker Tattoos on Famous Players
Many famous poker players have expressed their love for the game through tattoos. From simple card suit symbols to elaborate depictions of poker scenes, these tattoos serve as a permanent reminder of their passion and achievements.
One notable example is Neymar, the Brazilian football superstar and PokerStars representative who has also found success on the poker felt.
In 2018, he finished 6th in a $1,400 event at the Brazilian Series of Poker, winning $21,072 – his biggest live tournament score to date. To commemorate his love for the game, Neymar has a large poker-themed tattoo covering his right hand.
While he got the tattoo, he played online poker with his left hand on PokerStars.
Other players opt for more subtle designs, such as card suit symbols. Some choose to incorporate intricate details into each suit, like brilliant red colors to highlight the diamonds and hearts. Others prefer a minimalist approach, like a small Ace of Spades on the wrist – a discreet nod to their favorite game.
Some tattoos tell a story, like the one depicting a poker player wearing sunglasses while battling it out at the table. The design, covering the player's entire forearm, captures the cool, intense vibe of high-stakes poker.
While not all poker tattoos are considered "good" by conventional standards, they serve as a unique form of self-expression for players who want to wear their love for the game on their sleeves – literally. As the popularity of poker continues to grow, we can expect to see even more creative and meaningful tattoo designs adorning the bodies of passionate players around the world.