Ben Mintz

Ben Mintz, affectionately known as "Mintzy" to his fans, is a University of Mississippi sports enthusiast who rose to prominence as a personality at Barstool Sports. He was hired away from ESPN Baton Rouge in 2020 by Barstool founder Dave Portnoy, quickly becoming a popular figure both within the company and among its devoted fanbase, the "Stoolies." Mintz co-hosted the Cracking Aces poker podcast, a Barstool production that blended his love for sports and poker, further cementing his status as a relatable and entertaining media figure.

Mintz has carved out a respectable poker career, primarily in live tournaments. his live tournament cashes exceed $670,000. One of his most notable achievements came in the 2018 World Series of Poker (WSOP) Main Event, where he finished 327th, earning $37,705. That same year, he spent time on the PokerGO televised feature table, seated next to poker legend Phil Ivey during the Main Event—a memorable experience for any player.

In 2025, Mintz competed in Event #75: $1,000 Mini Main Event at the WSOP, which drew a massive field of 10,794 entrants. He navigated his way to Day 2 but suffered a devastating bad beat: holding pocket aces against pocket eights, he saw his opponent hit a one-outer on the river to make quads, eliminating Mintz in 654th place for $2,790. Despite the brutal exit, Mintz maintained a positive outlook, telling his followers, "You can't do any better than getting it in with aces pre." He also expressed that he was "thrilled to catch two aces and get it in there," showing his characteristic resilience.

Following that setback, Mintz immediately entered Event #78: $600 PokerNews Deepstack Championship, another shot at WSOP glory. His participation in such events highlights his dedication to the game and his desire to secure a coveted bracelet.

In May 2023, Mintz's career at Barstool Sports came to an abrupt end. A video surfaced of him singing rap lyrics that included a racial slur during a live stream. Despite his immediate apology on Twitter, in which he called it "an unforgivable mistake" and insisted he meant no harm, the company's new owner, Penn Entertainment, demanded his firing. Barstool founder Dave Portnoy, who had sold full control of the company to Penn earlier that year, expressed his dissatisfaction in an "Emergency Press Conference" on Twitter, but he no longer had the authority to override the decision. Portnoy had originally sold 36% of Barstool to Penn in 2020 for $163 million, and the subsequent sale of the remaining stake in February 2023 left him without day-to-day control. Despite pleas from Portnoy and Barstool CEO Erika Nardini, Mintz was let go.

Many in the poker community and among the Stoolies defended Mintz, believing the incident was unintentional. Portnoy himself stated, "I think anybody watching the clip was like there's no way he meant to do that." Mintz's firing sparked a broader conversation about accountability and the influence of corporate ownership in media.

Mintz is known for his solid, disciplined approach to poker, favoring strong starting hands and careful post-flop decision-making. He leverages positional advantages and avoids unnecessary variance, demonstrating patience in multi-table tournaments. His southern charm and lovable sports enthusiasm have made him a fan favorite, both at the poker table and in the media. Despite his competitive nature, he remains humble and gracious in defeat, as evidenced by his reaction to the 2025 bad beat.

Though his time at Barstool ended controversially, Mintz has shown resilience and a continued passion for poker. His live tournament earnings and memorable WSOP appearances have solidified his place in the poker community. As he continues to compete, fans and fellow players alike will be watching to see what the future holds for "Mintzy."