Poker’s Tom Dwan Tweets from London Mental Hospital in Psychological Distress

Posted on: May 1, 2025, 08:22h. 

Last updated on: May 1, 2025, 09:38h.

Philip Conneller @casinoorgphilc Read More
Expertise: Gaming Business, Regulation, Tribal Gaming.
  • Concern for poker star Tom Dwan after disturbing tweets from mental facility
  • Claims that intelligence agencies, medical staff, flight attendants conspiring to kill him
  • Later tweeted he was “finally feeling a bit better” after ordeal

There was concern in the poker community Wednesday after a series of tweets from US poker pro Tom Dwan indicated that the legendary high-stakes player had suffered a mental health crisis.

Tom Dwan, Park Royal Mental Health, Dwan mental health 2025
Tom Dwan, above, is one of the world’s most famous poker players. His disordered tweets from a London medical facility alarmed fans this week. (Image: Triton Poker)

In a flurry of confusing, disordered, and often opaque posts beginning April 29, Dwan revealed that he was in the Park Royal Centre for Mental Health in West London. He appeared to be experiencing severe paranoia and feared for his life.

I am so scared. They are trying to kill either me or most of my brain. All the doctors and nurses said ofc [of course] I don’t need drugs, yet they try to force them anyway. Please I beg you, anyone who can, help.”

Several of his tweets tagged politicians, including US President Donald Trump, US Vice President J.D. Vance, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, and Home Secretary Yvette Cooper.

Restrained on Plane?

While it’s impossible to piece together what happened to Dwan, he hinted at an incident on a plane during which he was restrained, and he claimed to have sustained injuries at the hands of London’s Metropolitan Police force.

Dwan said that someone posing as a flight attendant on the plane had plugged in his phone to charge and had wiped its browser history and other info, “so this plan was obviously in motion for a while.” The plan, according to Dwan, was to create “a problem in order to create fake charges” against him.

UK met police likely broke my rib and I’d guess small chance punctured lung, still no x ray. Also 20-30% broken hand (small), buncha other minor injuries. The weirdo Fkers that are ‘doc/nurses’ but still in investigative not proper normal ones are brutal.”

Dwan also referenced “US operational command” several times and claimed to be under attack from an “admittedly shitty” intelligence agency, without expanding. He also indicated he believed his water to be drugged.

“There’s nurses here from NHS [National Health Service] and other groups. They can see me, I’m in a medical emergency where I’m about to be killed,” Dwan tweeted.

Dwan’s claims that intelligence agencies, medical staff, and flight attendants were conspiring against him – along with accusations of drugging and phone tampering — are characteristic of persecutory delusions seen in conditions like acute psychosis or manic episodes with psychotic features.

Feeling Better

Will Shillibier, a UK-based reporter for PokerNews.com was able to visit Dwan at the Park Royal Hospital and speak with him for 15 to 20 minutes.

He spoke to me at length about what he believes he’s gone through,” Shillibier said. “He’s looking well and appeared physically unharmed. He’s probably in exactly the right place to continue to get better.”

Thankfully, Dwan tweeted later Wednesday that he was “finally feeling a bit better.”

“I got a bit stressed, sorry,” he added.