The Wild World of Poker Prop Bets

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Gyöngyi P. TóthAuthor

Reviewed by Beus Zsoldos

Updated: 2026.02.12

Poker prop bets provide additional entertainment at and off the felt

In the high-stakes poker community, the game doesn’t always end when the cards are folded. There is a long, deep history of “proposition bets” – better known as poker prop bets. While most of the money changes hands on the green felt, the wagers made away from the tables provide endless entertainment for fans and players alike.

Some of these stories are so old they might be slightly exaggerated, but that doesn’t make them any less legendary. These gambling challenges are a way for pros to test their discipline and liven up their lifestyle. Whether it’s a physical feat or a mental test, poker prop bets are a core part of the culture.

Famous Poker Prop Bets We Still Talk About

Before we dive into the latest drama, let’s look at some of the most famous high-stakes wagers that paved the way for Ben Lamb ’s recent challenge. These examples show just how far a poker player will go to win a bet.

John ‘Johnny World’ Hennigan: He once bet that he could leave the fast-paced Las Vegas lifestyle and live in Des Moines, Iowa, for six weeks. He failed miserably and came home early.
Phil Ivey’s Diet: The legend Phil Ivey once booked a million-dollar bet with Tom Dwan. The catch? He had to be a vegetarian for a whole year. Ivey lasted only three weeks before he decided to buy his way out.
Antonio Esfandiari ’s Lunges: At the 2016 PokerStars Caribbean Adventure, “The Magician” bet he could lunge everywhere instead of walking for two days. He won the bet, but it was physically exhausting (and led to a famous disqualification).
Vanessa Selbst ’s Bracelet Bet: She nearly lost $1.8 million in a bet against Jason Mercier regarding World Series of Poker bracelets. This serves as a warning: don’t drink and make high-stakes wagers, kids!
Mike McDonald’s Free Throws: The pro known as “Timex” won $250,000 by proving he could sink a massive number of basketball free throws.
Rich Alati’s Dark Room: In 2021, Alati won $62,000 by staying in a pitch-black room for 20 days with no outside contact.
The Body Fat Bets: More recently, Doug Polk and Shaun Deeb took on billionaire Bill Perkins in body fat percentage challenges. Polk didn’t quite make it, but Deeb cashed in for a massive $800,000 after a buyout.

The New Debate: The Ben Lamb Water Bet

Clearly, poker players love a challenge. This leads us to the current hot topic: the Ben Lamb water bet. Ben Lamb recently went to social media to ask a very specific question: How much money would it take for you to drink nothing but water from a CamelBak for an entire year?

Discussion of an interesting prop bet today. For the next 365 days the only thing I can drink is water from a camelbak. The water backpack thing.

What’s your price?

— Ben Lamb (@BenbaLamb) January 29, 2026

This isn’t just about drinking water; it’s about the delivery system. You have to carry the water on your back in a backpack (CamelBak) and sip through a tube for 365 days. No coffee, no wine, no soda – just plain water from a plastic bladder.

The Price of a Year of Water

The replies from the poker world were fast and expensive. When you deal with people used to high-stakes wagers, the numbers get big quickly.

Shaun Deeb: He suggested the price should be around $500,000. He believes the chance of making a mistake (slipping up and drinking something else) is very high.
Nik ‘Airball’ Arcot: Known for his aggressive play, he said he’d bet on himself at even money. When asked for his max bet, he simply replied: “my net worth.”
Haley Hanna: Her immediate reaction was that no amount of money could make her do it. She pointed out how annoying it would be to go to a nice restaurant and drink out of a backpack. She also joked that it might not even be healthy to skip coffee or wine for a year! Eventually, she settled on $500,000 as her price.
Chris Moneymaker: The 2003 World Champ wasn’t confident. He said even for $1 million, he would probably lose the bet.
Mike McDonald: Ever the detail-oriented pro, he asked the most practical question: “Who pays for the water?”
Joe Cada: The 2018 Main Event winner had a charitable take. He said he’d do it for $350,000 and donate half of the winnings.

Conclusion: What’s Your Price?

The Ben Lamb water bet is a perfect example of why poker prop bets are so fascinating. They turn a simple daily habit into a high-pressure endurance test. It’s not just about the water; it’s about the social sacrifice and the constant discipline required to never take a sip of anything else.

Whether it’s a dark room, a vegetarian diet, or a water backpack, these gambling challenges prove that for the right price, poker players are willing to try almost anything.

So, what about you? Did you fall in love with poker prop bets? It’s totally understandable. Before you jump into a crazy challenge, start your poker career on an online poker site.

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