From the Soviet Union to the European Parliament
Tony G, born Antanas Guoga, entered the world on December 17, 1973, in Kaunas, Lithuania. Even as a child, he showed remarkable talent for strategic games— he was a champion at solving Rubik’s Cube and attended a special school for chess players. At 11 years old, he managed to escape from the Soviet Union to Australia, reuniting with his mother after five years.
During his teenage years, he developed a fondness for betting on horse races, which led him to various odd jobs — from growing tomatoes to washing cars. It was on the street that he got his break from a South African immigrant who offered him office work and opened doors into the world of finance.
Tony went on to study accounting and finance, worked in investment banking, and by the age of 21, had accumulated $200,000, which he invested in tech and IT firms. Later, he founded and built the poker news giant PokerNews.com, a goldmine generating around $2 million in monthly revenues. “I was part of the dot-com bubble in 2000. We lost everything back then, but I realized I knew how Google worked, I understood its valuation. And that’s how I built PokerNews.com.”
In addition, he launched the betting company TonyBet, owned the luxury TonyResort, sponsored the Lithuanian Basketball Federation, and in 2014, became a member of the European Parliament. In politics, he advocated for startup support, digital economy, and children's education in programming.
The Journey to Poker
He discovered poker during a family vacation on Australia’s Phillip Island, where his friends played 7-card stud and 5-card draw in the evenings. Tony later switched to limit hold’em and omaha, and when Crown Casino opened, he dominated local games. Soon, he sought bigger challenges and moved to Europe.
His TV appearances in the 2000s delivered iconic moments — like the unforgettable “on your bike!” directed at Ralph Perry or bluffing Phil Hellmuth by claiming he hadn’t looked at his cards. Tony’s blend of aggressive play and sharp tongue divided audiences but always ensured entertainment.
On the tournament scene, he achieved numerous major results over more than two decades, including a title in the $100k Super High Roller Bowl for $1.19 million. His biggest career score remains the €1.4 million runner-up finish in the €100k Triton Short Deck event in 2022. Overall, his HendonMob profile boasts $11.3 million, making him Lithuania’s top-ranked player.
Beyond playing, he invested in online poker projects, staked players like “Isildur1” (Viktor Blom) and Dan “Jungleman” Cates, and supported charity — donating an entire $250,000 prize check to a Russian foster home for children with disabilities.
A Multi-Million-Dollar Empire
In a recent interview from February this year, Tony G revealed he owns the blockchain company Sol Stategies, which he has run for five years, earning $100 million from it just last year. He estimates his net worth at around $300 million.
“You can’t be satisfied; you have to keep evolving and find the best people to work with you. One person is nothing. It’s not about me. Having many shareholders, a great team, a technical team — that’s the key to success. People will take you places money can’t. Don't save, but invest. Invest in yourself, your health, your mind, and in enterprises you can invest in, in the stock market, in blockchain, in cryptocurrencies. Just invest your entire life, and you'll have the most interesting and successful life.”
The Impact and Contribution to Poker
Tony G brought a showmanship to poker that was previously missing. His verbal duels became a part of poker culture and helped increase the appeal of televised broadcasts. Through his business projects and media reach, he supported the growth of online poker and made it accessible to millions of players worldwide.
In politics, he openly championed cryptocurrencies and blockchain, eventually integrating them with poker through the CoinPoker platform. He managed to combine his business acumen, political experience, and passion for the game into a unique mix, impacting the entire industry.
Tony G’s story proves that poker can be just one chapter in a much larger life journey. From a Lithuanian refugee to a financier, founder of successful companies, politician, and philanthropist—his life is full of unexpected twists, risks, and major victories. And though his “on your bike!” isn’t heard as often as before, one thing is certain — when Tony G sits at the table, nobody will be bored.
More from Beyond Poker:
Beyond Poker: Guy Laliberté and His Big Game – From Street Art to Cirque du Soleil
Beyond Poker: Bill Perkins – Taking Risks, Living Fully, and Playing Big
Beyond Poker: Andrew Lichtenberger – A Conscious Player in an Unconscious Game
Beyond Poker: The Story of Dan Smith – From Champion to Lifesaver
Beyond Poker: From High Stakes to High Impact – Igor Kurganov’s Mission to Save Lives
