James Gary Bechtel (born 1952) is an American cotton farmer and poker player, now based in Gilbert, Arizona.

He cashed for the first time in the World Series of Poker, coming close to winning a WSOP bracelet in 1979 when he finished runner-up to Perry Green in a $1,500 no limit Texas hold 'em event.

He made the final table of the Main Event in 1988, finishing in 6th place in the tournament which was won by Johnny Chan who earned his second consecutive world championship title.

The table included two world champions, Bechtel himself and Doyle Brunson, WSOP bracelet winners T. J. Cloutier, Phil Ivey, Dewey Tomko, Chip Reese, as well as established professionals David Singer who has since won a bracelet, Patrik Antonius, and Andy Bloch, who finished runner-up in the tournament.

In 2009, Bechtel competed in the WSOP Champions Invitational tournament, open only to players who have won the $10,000 No Limit Hold'em Main Event at the World Series of Poker.

In 1994, he won the Queens Poker Classic IV $2,500 buy-in No Limit Deuce to Seven Draw event, earning a prize of $60,750.

His most recent major tournament cash was 48th place (earning $4,139) in the 2010 Arizona Poker Championship $1,000 No Limit Hold'em event.