button in SafariDavid Lappin Talks Barcelona Upgrades, 200 Podcast Episodes, & Industry Ethics
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One more cash could see PokerStars Ambassador David Lappin surpass $1,000,000 in career live earnings.
And while his EPT Barcelona festival has gone, in his own words, "diabolical" he found time to speak with PokerNews about the changes that the festiavl has undergone to ensure a greater playing expereince for all attendees, and how surreal it felt to reach 200 podcast episodes with The Chip Race.
Strong Numbers in Barcelona
Just like many, including the over 4,000 players in the PokerStars Open Main Event, Lappin has been enjoying the EPT Barcelona festival.
"Historically, it's been one of the most popular stops on the European Poker tour, and maybe one of the most popular European stops full stop," Lappin told PokerNews.
The strong numbers from previous years — the venue previously hosted the largest EPT Main Event in history — have continued at the festival this year.
"We broke a record in the Cup, which shows that the €825 price point is kind of a sweet spot. So it'll be interesting to see what we do with it next year."
Small Tweaks, Major Impact
According to Lappin, there had already been an element of tweaking to the Barcelona schedule, due to capacity issues and the impact the popularity has on resources.
"It's just a capacity issue, and it's kind of like being a victim of your own success a little bit. So the buy-ins are a tiny bit higher, which unfortunately does put off some of the guys who come from the Open and things like that.
"But I've been here previous years where capacity issues meant there were alternate lists and maybe 10-handed tables. This year there's a bit more space."
The trade off between player experience and maximizing attendance is something at the forefront of both Lappin and the PokerStars live events team.
"If you're not able to deliver a positive player experience, with manageable reg queues and things like that, we'd rather have slightly fewer people here and be able to show them all a good time. It's a balancing act there getting the buy-ins right.
"I think it's a complicated one as you want to try and find the sweet spot. I think Toby [Stone], Nick [O'Hara] and Kenny [Hallaert] do a great job building that schedule and figuring out how to sort of have bums on every seat, but not people stand in the corridor at the same time."
"Surreal" 200th Chip Race Episode
Meanwhile, Lappin's involvement in the podcast sphere continues, with the Chip Race recently broadcasting its 200th episode.
https://www.pokernews.com/news/2026/07/chip-race-200th-episode-pokerstars-special-bounty-tourney-51977.htm
"I had a guy recently have a go at me on social media, questioning whether I should be doing commentary and the podcast. And the point I trired to make was that there's no barrier to entry to start a podcast, or to write a blog. It's all your own work.
"And once you've done that for a bit, you need to find your audience. And if the audience comes, then maybe that brings popularity. And with popularity, then maybe brands want to be associated with what you do.
"And lastly, when brands want to be associated with what you do, then you might get paid to do the thing."
Lappin says that it's been very heartening to grow in such an organic way, into a podcast that has spanned over a decade in the poker industry.
"From where we started, Dara [O'Kearney] and I, to getting to 200 episodes seems kind of surreal. Particularly when you bear in mind that we do, like, four interviews per episode. So we're coming up to 1,000 interviews with people in poker, which is an awful lot of phenomenal guests. But always looking for new people and to interview different people that we haven't seen before."
"So I think that's what's really important for us is that the sort of project of the chip race, which is essentially this never ending project to try and meet everyone in poker!"
Speaking Out on "Dodgy" Poker Sites
One area of the poker industry that both Lappin and O'Kearney agree on is the prioritization of regulated online poker companies that, according to Lappin, are "doing the right thing."
"Offshore crypto dodgy stuff really bothers me," admits Lappin. " I kind of understand why players are tempted and I get it and I don't want to judge people badly for that. But I do find that whole side of our world very filthy."
"Some companies are running roughshod over these regulations and on the other hand, some companies are being compliant with those regulations. The dodgy companies get a huge competitive advantage and that's not fair in a business sense.
"And then there are players who are accessing those markets that are bigger, that are dodgy, and they're getting a leg up over the individuals who are making a conscientious decision not to participate in that.
"Like, is it moral to do that or is it against the rules? I try not to be overly judgmental on the individuals, but I think there is some amount of responsibility. I am very judgmental about the companies though."
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