Christmas Poker Gifts and Ideas that Don’t Suck

Yeah finding the right, non-tacky gift for poker players can be difficult – but no sweat. We have plenty of poker gift ideas for even the most discerning of poker aficionados. And luckily, poker is universal so you don’t have to worry about which poker gifts are for her or for him. Here are the best of the best poker Christmas gifts reviewed by our experts.

• Traditional / Personalized Chip Sets and Cards
• Poker Tabletop & DIY Poker Table
• Card Shuffler
• Chip Coaster Set
• Card Protector
• Wearables and Headphones
• Seat Cushion
• Portable Charger
• Poker Training Courses and Books

Poker Gift Sets, Cards and Accessories

It’s likely the poker lover you’re shopping for already has their own poker chip gift set. Including quality decks of cards. If not, there you go for your poker gift ideas. We suggest traditional poker sets like ones you can get from the PokerStars store – which will set you back around $180. Or World Series of Poker gifts because it’s simply one of the best-known poker brands. 

Personalized Poker Chip Gift Sets 

Indeed, if this poker player already has a standard chip set or Bicycle card deck, you may want to go for personalized poker gift sets. There are many artisan poker gifts Amazon or better yet Etsy can offer with breathtaking details and poker gift boxes. 

However, for a relatively low price, you can get chips imprinted with a customized picture, even of someone’s face. Or some lines of text that are meaningful to the poker player receiving them, not to mention completely unique. All for around $30 from somewhere like Oriental Trading for example. Otherwise you can try ordering from chiplab.com so that you don’t have to wait weeks for your order to arrive.

Giant Poker Cards

Old or young, no matter the age, poker is a game for everyone. If you’re looking for a more humorous christmas poker present, this is one you can’t miss out on. Particularly if you’re shopping for a poker old-timer, Giant Poker is, well, funny. The poker set includes 54 giant playing cards and 108 giant poker chips. So this year there will be no hassle with who lost whose glasses and who can’t see which cards.

Poker Tabletop

A poker lover may have decks and chips somewhere in their house. But they’re less likely to have a tabletop mimicking the felt tops they play on at their local casino. And if this is someone who loves entertaining and hosting home games, a poker tabletop is a no-brainer. The topper comes with its own bag to keep it protected. Plus, green felt like on a real poker table and designated spots for cards and chips. You can find basic ones for around $44 on Amazon for example. Or you can get more realistic ones that may set you back $60-$260.

DIY Poker Table

For this easy project, you don’t need expensive tools. In fact, you can get all the materials at your local building supply store. Check the video below for a detailed breakdown on how to make this year’s gift an extraordinary one:

DIY projects are fun and economical and if you don’t mind putting in a little extra effort for this year’s gift you can now take it to the next level by building your own table. By following our step-by-step video guide you can now build your own poker table at home quickly and easily for under $300.

AUTOMATIC CARD SHUFFLER – $18+ on Amazon

Online games have random number generators replacing tedious shuffling. While real casino poker tables have skilled dealers who cut and shuffle. However, a home game needs individuals who can quickly shuffle cards after every hand, which can significantly slow down the game. That’s why an automatic card shuffler is the perfect poker gift – either hand-driven or battery-operated. The most affordable option is the CHH Hand Cranked Shuffler. 

Chip Coaster Set

These unique and collectible casino chip coasters are the perfect addition to any high roller’s collection. The coasters are large versions of the Las Vegas Caesar’s Palace $100 chips. From the engraved lettering to the screen-printed artwork, these are real winners. Not only is the design outstanding but also cork backs have been added to protect your table during your next home game.

Card Protector

If you don’t have time for a DIY Christmas poker gift project but would like to give something as special, opt for a card protector from eBay. Like the solid sterling silver Sterlingwerx one, which is handmade in America. Not only is it a good weight and heft for protecting your aces, it’s also one of a kind. Not bad for $99! Some poker brands will even offer their own version of card protectors, just like this one from the PokerStars store for just $15 without shipping. So it all depends on your budget.

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Wearable Poker Gifts and Comfort

RunGoodGear

Make sure this poker player also looks good at the poker table. RunGoodGear has all the latest poker fashion – from poker tees to hoodies and caps. In short all the classic poker player gear, making excellent poker gifts for dad or boyfriend. Most players would recognize this brand founded during the 2012 World Series of Poker. 

It was even brought to national recognition with appearances on ESPN by RunGood Pros Huy Nguyen (WSOP National Championship FT-2012) and Robert Salaburu (WSOP Main Event 2012). The wearables range from $20 to $75, and can be found on RunGoodGear.com

No Mercy Bling Collection

Know a player who not only likes to play but also “wear” poker? Discover the art and jewelry collection handmade by professional poker player Isabelle “No Mercy” Mercier! (Both a feared player and wife of Jason Mercier). NoMercyMaking.com offers a collection of poker jewelry varying from bracelets and earrings to rings, all starting at a price of $8. Why not get them a steel ace of spades ring or poker suits bracelet?

Noise-Blocking Headphones

Buying the poker player in the family a pair of noise-blocking headphones is surely something they’ll be grateful for. They won’t have to hear the constant casino background noise, chip shuffling or regular talkative opponent. Leaving them to put together their master plan in peace.

Memory Foam Seat Cushion

Again, poker playing sessions can be long and you can’t always get a chair massage. A memory foam seat cushion takes stress off the back and improves posture at the table. So a player doesn’t end up achy and tired from sitting in awkward positions for too long. This in itself can be a contributing factor to outlasting opponents in both a mental and physically demanding game.

Portable Charger

If a poker player is in deep for a long session at their local casino, chances are their phone will run out of juice. This sucks for someone who’s got their headphones in with no music playing. So a 3-port portable charger for example makes empty batteries a thing of the past. And it only sets you back around $50 or even less from your local tech store. What’s more it’s handy and can easily fit in a player’s pocket or hoodie.

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Poker Training, Courses and Books

A player never stops improving their poker skills, so training resources can make great poker gifts. And certainly some of the most useful you can buy. A poker manual covers everything from the basics of each type of game and the hands needed to win. Up to essential and specific strategy tips and how to beat the odds. These skills and many more are all accompanied by some of the most fascinating poker stories. 

Of course as time goes on, there are more and more options to choose from. From poker books to training and coaching sites to software tools. So we’ll just highlight the essentials and the most popular in the industry.

Theory of Poker – David Sklansky

This popular poker book goes through poker theories that you can apply to any form of poker. Starting from fundamentals like checking, calling, raising and bluffing. Going on to how to exploit poker situations and gain the upper hand. With real life examples from legends of the game. A must-have for any aficionado really and only around $20-25 from any book retailer.

Modern Poker Theory – Michael Acevedo

This book largely focuses on the most popular poker variant – No Limit Hold’em. And the Game Theory Optimal way of playing (known as GTO in the industry). This GTO kind of thinking and decision-making is pretty much the fundamental that players need to build on. So having a good grasp is essential and can dramatically advance somebody’s game. This is also available as an e-book for about $30. 

Play Optimal Poker – Andrew Bokos

Andrew Brokos is not just a poker author, but also a famous player and coach. His book is essentially a more advanced poker playbook. Diving into higher-level routines and game theory. This is a great christmas poker gift because you have more time to learn how to apply theory in real-time while playing online. The book is also one of few to also place focus on psychological warfare in poker and how to come out on top.

Daniel Negreanu and Phil Ivey MasterClass 

We’ve heard players at various levels say that they were able to take something away from the Daniel Negreanu Masterclass. This is by far the most extensive, video-style poker training course you’ll find and at $99 on Masterclass, it’s pretty much a steal. He covers everything from tournament strategy tips to poker tells. 

Moreover, you can just get an annual class for $180 and access the Phil Ivey Masterclass. One of the rare instances you will see this poker legend explain strategy and give a glimpse to how he thinks. This is a gift that gives on giving for any poker player. The Masterclass site also has a GIFT option making it even easier to give somebody. Also it’s an excellent christmas poker gift because you’ll need to crunch a few hours to get through the courses. 

Pokercode – Fedor Holz

There are many poker training and coaching sites available in 2020. However this one is founded by Fedor Holz, a professional German poker player who is considered among the youngest and best in the game. Aside from being an ambassador for one of the biggest poker sites – GGpoker, he offers his poker knowledge at Pokercode. It will cost around $60 per month (paid annually). 

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Poker Credits

Of course, it’s always nice to extend someone’s gameplay and offering a poker deposit or gift card to one of the following poker sites:

• PokerStars
• GGpoker
• partypoker
• 888poker
• Bet365

Make this Christmas a special one and give your poker-loving loved ones not only something they’ll love but something they’ll remember!