Nikhil Arcot, known infamously as “Nik Airball,” made his Hustler Casino Live return on Friday after a year away from the high-stakes cash game stream.
Airball had been a regular player on HCL streams for about two years before he was banned from the Los Angeles area Hustler Casino around this same time in 2024. The reason for the ban was never revealed, but it raised some eyebrows around the poker world as many were left wondering why HCL would remove one of their more popular headliners.
Since his ban, Airball has played on some cash game streams elsewhere but not nearly as often of a clip as he was doing in the prime HCL days. He likely was not studying his hardest on cash game poker strategy as he always tended to be more of a feel player.
Airball has also since branched out financially with partial ownership in The Lodge Card Club with Doug Polk, Adam Owen and Ethan “Rampage” Yau.
Hustler Casino Live recently changed ownership when GGpoker’s parent company moved into that new position. That prompted a reversal in Airball’s ban, and he was quickly welcomed to rejoin the HCL stream.
Airball’s return was marked with much fanfare as HCL used his self-made moniker of the “King of LA” to hype up the 27-year-old’s return to the stream, set for March 28.
The Return of Airball
Airball returned to Hustler Casino on Friday, sporting a Chicago Bulls jersey (which somewhat contrasted with his “King of LA” title) and bringing his trademark brash style and attitude.
The long-awaited return was not all bravado. As it turns out, it was very successful. He ended the night up $300,000 over the course of the session. That included winning several decent-sized hands against Alan Keating, who is not scared to mix it up in big pots, among others.
The return for “The King of LA” was certainly a notable one that added some fuel to the fire of those with strong opinions about Airball. Safe to say there is going to be plenty more renditions of Airball on HCL to come.