Cashen Checks: Maryland Local Joe Cashen Raking Plenty of Chips

By Sean Chaffin

Like Chris Moneymaker, Maryland native Joe Cashen has a pretty good name for a poker player. As Day 2 progressed in the WPT Maryland, the 60-year-old from Severna Park was hoping his surname also became the result of his hours at the tables. Just banking some bucks, however, isn’t his goal – the WPT Champions Cup is the prize.

“It would mean everything,” he says of the possibility of reaching the final table. “The only thing that matters to me is getting first place – it’s not the money, it’s not the prestige, it’s just the accomplishment. I want to get my name on that trophy and want to be in the Tournament of Champions.”

When not working up a chip stack, Cashen owns and operates a commercial concrete and asphalt company. Business is booming right now. Playing poker allows him some time away from running the company, although he’s been dealing with some business matters at the tables here and there on his cell phone.

“This time of year I’m so busy that it’s hard for me to dedicate three or four days for a tournament,” he says. “It’s been a very busy year.”

If Cashen continues to advance, however, some of his employees will be keeping things running while he grinds at the tables. He’s been playing poker for years, but his time at the tables is mostly limited to northeast properties in and around Maryland.

“I’ve always played cards,” he says. “I’m just a gambler.”

At the tables, Cashen has almost $105,000 in live tournament winnings. His biggest win came in 2016 when he topped a field of 525 in a $400 Deepstack event at the Borgata Winter Poker Open for $44,387. In the first-ever WPT Maryland event in Season XIV, Cashen placed seventh to earn close to $40,000. 

His gambling life also includes some slot machine jackpots at Live! Casino as well. If Cashen’s big run continues will he be able to take more time away from the office for a couple of extra days?

“Absolutely,” he says. “It will definitely wait.”

Sean Chaffin is a freelance writer in Crandall, Texas, and his work appears in numerous websites and publications. Follow him on Twitter @PokerTraditions.