Maurice Hawkins files for bankruptcy but judge garnishes earnings
The WSOP Circuit ring legend and controversial poker character Maurice Hawkins has filed for bankruptcy, prompting calls for repayment of debts from the poker world.
It’s a story that has been rumbling in poker for many years. Maurice Hawkins, one of the most successful WSOP Circuit players of all time, has been accused on multiple occasions of non-payment of poker debts. Now, facing a judgment from his fellow player Randy Garcia, Hawkins has filed for bankruptcy in a move some suggest is simply a method of avoiding paying back those he has taken money from.
Outsiders looking up Maurice Hawkins’ record online might assume that he is personally affluent. Indeed, the persona plays up to the image with WSOP tournament cashes of $4,598,179 in a poker career that has yielded almost $7 million in total earnings. As the mainstream media recently learned via the David Peters and Dylan Linde debate, however, winnings don’t necessarily equal available funds.
Hawkins, who learned he was unable to cash out his winnings from a recent event in Tunica only when informed that there was an active judgment from fellow player Randy Garcia, filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy the very next day. This filing seeks a discharge of all debts pertaining to assets that Hawkins declared as between $500,000 and $1 million.
Latest controversy to hit Hawkins prompts garnishing
Stating that he owes between $100,000 and $500,000 in total, Maurice Hawkins is at least suggesting by his financials that he has the money to pay back all debts owed. However, his bankruptcy filing isn’t limited to poker players, listing businesses such as a pawnshop and multiple finance companies. The attorney for Randy Garcia, Rogen K Chhabra, said in an interview with Chad Holloway that he was determined to help poker players get paid their debts owed by Hawkins.
Maurice Hawkins has been in the news in poker all year. After tying with Ari Engel for most WSOP Circuit rings, his alleged misdemeanors were aired in public before a very private spat that still made it into the poker media. Hawkins was given a beating at a cash game by a rival player who threatened more violence before the situation deescalated.
As recently as January, Denise Pratt decided to walk away from the money she was apparently owed by Hawkins to keep the peace. Certainly, Hawkins can be as persuasive away from the felt as he can be on it, convincing Randy Garcia to amend the alleged debt of $103,000 down to $30,000 to be paid back at $2,500 a month. According to PokerNews podcast host Chad Holloway, these payments dried up after a couple of months, all of which makes the forthcoming interview between Holloway, Mike Holtz, and Maurice Hawkins, due to air on Tuesday at 11am Eastern Time, hotly anticipated.
— Mike Holtz (@MikeHoltzPoker) April 28, 2026
