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April 12, 2007 | Issue 4-20

AURORA, Ill.—A rough string of cold cards has been putting the brakes on what would otherwise be a very lucrative poker career for a young Aurora poker player.

For Jason Ratson, a 24-year old University of Illinois graduate, the past several months have been trying.  "I've been getting cold cards for at least five months," he said.  

Almost seven months ago Ratson quit his job as a Management Trainee with Enterprise Rent-A-Car in Batavia to pursue unlimited riches as a poker player.  He had been playing poker more than two years when he decided on his career change. 

"For the last two years in college I was winning like half of the single table tournaments we had in the dorm.  I was pretty much a force," said Ratson.

Ratson’s college success has not yet translated to the casino and on-line poker rooms, where as he puts it, "everyone is terrible."  The professional gambler can't wait until his dealt hands become better, and he can finally capitalize on playing against such poor competition.

The young Ratson was drawn to poker because the profession allows him to set his own hours and could lead to television fame. While many of his friends continue plugging away at day jobs, he is intimidating weaker players with his strong table image.

"When I'm sitting at the table, most of the guys there don't even know how to shuffle their chips.  I'm usually the only one even wearing a hat and sunglasses.  They're all just sitting ducks once my cards heat up," said the future poker phenom.

While Ratson remains confident that he will soon start realizing a profit, his father is more concerned about his current lack of income.

"Did he need a communications degree and five years at the U of I to play with cards all day?" questioned Ratson’s father, Bill Ratson.  "Maybe he could be the guy that deals the cards to the people playing.  I understand they actually make money."

Ratson has no plans to leave the game even though he is experiencing this rough spell. He intends to remain resilient, become rich, and win many televised final tables.

"Dad just doesn't get it,” said Ratson. “Look at these guys like Phil Ivey making millions of dollars when they win a tournament.  Poker is a gold mine with all of these [new players] coming into the game and thinking they can win.  It’s like they’re giving their money away.”