Phong Nguyen

Turbo is a veteran of the Los Angeles poker scene whose professional career predates his appearances on Hustler Casino Live. His nickname originated at Commerce Casino, where another player told him to slow down after watching his aggressive play and frequent bluffs.

Originally from near Vung Tau, Vietnam, Turbo has described escaping by boat with his uncle as a young child and later joining his father in Orange County, California. He returned to Vietnam roughly two decades later to reunite with his mother, grandmother, and sister. He credits watching Scotty Nguyen, JC Tran, and Nam Le on television with inspiring his interest in poker, naming them among his heroes.

Away from the tables, Turbo says he has invested in TKG Lifestyle and singles out the golf-apparel brand Malbon as a favorite within its portfolio. His personal life also has a poker connection: he met his wife, Lynda, in a casino. When he asked about his chances of dating her, she initially told him he was “drawing dead” - a response he recalls as motivation to change his life.

After years on the tournament circuit, Turbo explained in a November 2025 interview that shorter livestream sessions suited him better than demanding, multi-day events. “Now I play for fun,” he said. He also embraces the entertainment side of streamed poker, acknowledging that viewers tune in to debate everything from his play to his clothing - and insisting that the personality they see is simply him being himself.