PROSE FROM THE POKER PROS: Changing Gears

Evelyn Ng has gone from living life in the fast lane as a poker pro in Vegas to loving life in the slow lane in LA

April 3, 2007

By Evelyn Ng
Bodog Nation Contributing Writer

While people might have the romanticized idea that pro poker players all live the rock-star lifestyle, nothing could be further from the truth. Yeah, you have guys like David Williams who get maximum value out of The Vegas Life, but most of us couldn't keep pace with him. You go from such extremes as raw vegans and Buddhists, to the pit-gamblers, sports-bettors and strip club die-hards more commonly associated with the poker world.

Having lived in Las Vegas for 10 years as a professional poker player, I guess I've seen and done it all. I made the Mirage Poker Room my "office" for years, before the move to the new Bellagio in '98. I twirled glow-sticks at Club Utopia and Drais. My friends often won or lost millions of dollars on a daily basis. Looking back, it didn't seem nearly as surreal as it sounds. I grinded out a living in the middle limit poker games and partied every weekend. I had a blast! But I guess after a decade of poker and partying, it gets tired.

Evelyn Ng has found a rhythm in life that works. (IMPDI 2006, for the WSOP)

In the last few years my life has changed so much. These days I am so much busier than I ever was before. I travel the big buy-in tournament circuit. I often do corporate appearances, make television appearances and do all kinds of interviews with the media. It takes a lot out of me. So when I do find myself with some "downtime", I try my best to relax and de-stress. I'm much more of a homebody these days.

In August 2006, I made the move from Vegas to Santa Monica. I loved having David, my best friend, as my roommate, but I felt like I had had enough of that city. I had a great new boyfriend who lived in LA, and he helped me find an amazing apartment by the ocean. Moving here was the best decision I ever made.

My quality of life has improved so much from living here. I pretty much quit smoking as soon as the moving truck was unpacked. I eat much, much healthier now too. There is a farmer's market here two blocks from my apartment two days a week, which I love to go to for fresh organic produce. I've even started cooking and going to the gym in my building with my boyfriend occasionally. I like the elliptical trainer! It's so much easier to live healthier when everyone around you looks happy and healthy, and you practically get hissed at and shunned if you light-up in public. Maybe being healthy is contagious.

I don't really have the desire to play live poker anymore. It's kind of weird because playing live was my bread-and-butter for so long, but I guess I got a little fed-up with it. Online poker has spoiled me in that way I guess. I like not having to travel to play, being able to play multiple tables, playing heads-up or short-handed, and all while in the comfort of my own home. I hardly ever play live, but I do try to get online and play on Bodog whenever I get the chance. I like my 3-6 NL table, and the short-handed 20-40 and 30-60 games.

Lately my average lazy day might include a little online poker, some light shopping and errands, a nice dinner and a movie to follow with my boyfriend.

PHOTO: Evelyn Ng is loving life in the slow lane. (Bodog Nation file photo)