Rampage Goes All-In: Poker Pro Spends $340,000 on Rare Pokémon Card

My journey in the world of poker (and later casino, sportsbetting) started more than 20 years ago, when I first attended a low-stakes live tournament. I’ve never looked back since, and have been active in several fields, including being a poker player, a live tournament director, writing online and offline articles about poker, and managing the localization of one of the world's largest online poker rooms. Poker is my home ground, I could never imagine doing a job that is not a part of it. I hope someday I’ll have more time to play live; that's something I've missed in the past few years. A game where luck meets skill - what would be more interesting?

Updated: 2026.03.03

Rampage poker Pokemon card collection expanded with an expensive addition

We all know Ethan “Rampage” Yau for his fearless bluffs and massive swings at the poker table. But recently, the high-stakes vlogger made a “bet” that didn’t involve a single deck of playing cards.

Rampage just shocked the community by revealing he spent a staggering $340,000 on a single Pokemon card. While most of us are used to seeing him stack chips in the Million Dollar Game, this time he’s stacking “cardboard squares.”

The $340,000 Hand… of Pokemon Cards?

The card in question isn’t just any piece of paper; it’s a 2005 Rayquaza EX Deoxys Holo Gold Star. For those who aren’t familiar with the hobby, “Gold Star” cards are the ultimate trophies for collectors.

This particular card is graded a PSA 10. In the world of collectibles, PSA is the gold standard for grading, and a “10” means the card is in “Gem Mint”, or perfect condition. To put that in perspective, there are only 47 of these specific cards in existence with that perfect grade.

Rampage admitted to his followers on X (formerly Twitter) that he suffered a bit of “sticker shock” at first. However, after months of researching the market, he decided to pull the trigger on what is now one of the most expensive Pokemon purchases ever made by a poker pro.

I started this Pokemon card collection journey just 6 months ago in August, 2024. Ever since, I’ve been hooked getting back into this franchise I once loved as a kid. It started with late nights researching what cards existed, then being completely overwhelmed with the catalogue… pic.twitter.com/BhGyxZRIJL

— Rampage (@rampagepoker) February 26, 2026

Why This Rampage Poker Pokemon Card is So Rare

You might be wondering why a card featuring a green dragon is worth more than a small house. In the gambling world, we look for “outs” and rarity, and this card has plenty of both.

Here is a quick breakdown of why this purchase is such a big deal:

Card Name: Rayquaza Gold Star (2005)
Set: EX Deoxys
Condition: PSA 10 (Gem Mint)
Population: Only 47 in the world
Purchase Price: $340,000
2022 Sale Price: $34,200

As you can see from the list, the value of this card has skyrocketed. Just four years ago, a similar card sold for ten times less than what Rampage paid. It’s a massive jump, but in a market where demand for high-end collectibles is surging, Rampage is betting that the “pop count” (the number of available cards) will keep the price high.

If you wonder what quality a PSA 10 Pokemon card means: it is in perfect, flawless condition, barely ever touched and kept in ideal conditions (in terms of protective case, humidity, etc.) It is definitely one of the most coveted collectibles for anyone who is deep into the world of Pokemon and can afford a hobby like that. Rampage now might have found something that gives him more adrenaline than a million-dollar pot in his regular high-stakes games, or another milestone on his YouTube channel – who would have guessed that it would be a Rayquaza Gold Star?

Is it a Good Investment or a Passion Project?

For a guy who regularly plays for hundreds of thousands of dollars, you might think this is just another high-stakes gamble. However, Rampage says this purchase was actually about “rediscovering his inner child.”

He started his deep dive into the Pokemon world about six months ago. Since then, he’s been hooked on the nostalgia of the franchise he loved as a kid. He isn’t necessarily looking to “flip” the card for a quick profit. In fact, he stated that the card is now off the market and will stay safe in his personal collection.

Of course, he isn’t the only poker player with a card obsession. Pros like Jared Bleznick have been bridging the gap between the felt and the “breaking” table for years. It seems that the skills used to evaluate a range in poker – like analyzing risk, rarity, and market trends – translate perfectly to the world of high-end trading cards.

Whether you think $340,000 is a “value bet” or a massive “punt,” one thing is for sure: the high-stakes poker vlogger continues to be one of the most entertaining figures in the game, both on and off the felt.