Daniel Cates

Daniel "Jungleman" Cates is an American professional poker player from Bowie, Maryland, known for his high-stakes online poker background and unconventional personality. Before turning professional, he was an avid strategy gamer who spent countless hours playing Command & Conquer. As a teenager, he worked at McDonald's to fund his early poker ventures. He later attended the University of Maryland but left to pursue poker full-time. He gained widespread recognition online as "jungleman12" on Full Tilt Poker and "w00ki3z" on PokerStars.

In addition to playing poker, Cates is an entrepreneur, coach, and content creator. He founded Jungleverse, a poker training platform that offers coaching, educational resources, and community events. He has also worked with major poker education companies, including Run It Once and GTO Wizard. On his podcast, Winning the Game of Life, he explores topics ranging from poker strategy and personal development to mental health, fitness, and entrepreneurship.

Cates is known for his eccentric personality and elaborate costumes at the poker table. He has appeared as professional wrestler "Macho Man" Randy Savage and even portrayed a caged lion alongside Phil Hellmuth. His interests extend beyond poker to acting, improvisation, anime, and storytelling. Inspired in part by shows such as “Dragon Ball Z” and “Pokémon”, he collaborated with animator Adam Peiken on humorous animated videos about his poker experiences.

Outside the game, Cates has pursued philanthropy through the Dan Cates Foundation, established in 2020 to support charitable initiatives and empower communities. He has spoken publicly about growing up with autism, building social confidence, and pursuing personal growth. He attempted to summit Mount Kilimanjaro but was forced to turn back due to altitude-related illness. He is also working with journalist Rick Maese on Pokerworld, a memoir about his life and the lessons poker offers about risk, decision-making, and uncertainty. The book is scheduled for publication in 2027.