You might recognize Beth Hall from her roles on popular and critically acclaimed television shows like Mad Men and Mom. If you frequent Los Angeles poker rooms, however, you might instead recognize her as the player taking your chips.
Hall, whose other credits include Parks And Rec, Frasier, House, and Curb Your Enthusiasm, has recorded 35 live tournament cashes over the years, with most of them taking place in the greater LA area.
Her first career win was secured this week during the 2023 World Series of Poker Circuit festival at the Parkwest Bicycle Casino in Bell Gardens. She defeated a field of 166 entries in a $400 buy-in no-limit hold’em event to pocket the top prize of $13,885 along with a gold ring.
WSOP</a> put a ring on it! I won my first circuit ring! Thanks <a href="https://twitter.com/BicycleCasino?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">BicycleCasino ! @FarazJaka #poker #firstplace pic.twitter.com/U1UubG85T3— Beth Hall (@bethhall) March 14, 2023
This was the second-largest live score yet for Hall, who has tournament cashes dating back to 2007. Her biggest payday came when she finished 14th from a field of 9,807 entries in the $350 buy-in Socal Poker Championships for $24,000. Hall now has more than $84,000 in career cashes to her name.
Hall picked up poker in her youth, but has really gotten the tournament bug in recent years. Card Player caught up with her in 2016 to discuss her background in the game and more.
“I started playing poker as a kid with my relatives, mostly draw poker and seven card stud,” Hall said. “I played with my aunts and her friends. We would have what was called a $2 schneid, which meant you couldn’t lose more than $2 (laughs). Once you were out of your $2, you could play for free until you got more money.”
Hall was the only female player in her college home game and has stated in interviews that she is no stranger to 24-hour sessions at the poker table.
“Like everyone else, I got into the hold’em buzz when you could see the hole cards on TV and really understand it. My husband and I started playing $2 limit and built our way up to no-limit, and eventually got into tournaments.”
Click here for the full interview.
Below is a look at the payouts and Card Player Player of the Year points awarded at the final table from Hall’s recent win:
| Place | Player | Earnings | POY Points |
| 1 | Beth Hall | $13,885 | 125 |
| 2 | Cory Ryan | $8,585 | 104 |
| 3 | Jason Thomas | $5,985 | 83 |
| 4 | Scott Shannon | $4,275 | 62 |
| 5 | John Zentner | $3,125 | 52 |
| 6 | Michael Ung | $2,345 | 42 |
| 7 | Altynai Fung | $1,805 | 31 |
| 8 | William Vanderburgh | $1,430 | 21 |
| 9 | Ara Abkarian | $1,160 | 10 |
