Poker is as much a game of luck as it is of talent. But that doesn’t prevent players trying to turn the tables with sly tactics. That’s right; poker has its fair share of cheats. Scams and scandals have haunted poker halls through history. And here are some of the most infamous cheaters behind them.
The Borgata cheating scandal
In 2014, Christian Lusardi got into the Borgata Winter Open Big Stack NLH tournament with a collection of rogue chips. It didn’t take long after he’d unveiled them to the play poker table for them to be noticed. The competition ceased. But it wasn’t until Lusardi trapped attempting to flush millions in poker chips down the toilet of his hotel room that the puzzle was sorted out.
The chopstick trick
Again in 2014, the poker world surprised to discover about respectable poker reporter and photographer. Jay Newnum, found stealing poker chips at Foxwoods Resort Casino in Connecticut. And then he didn’t merely swipe them any outdated way. Newnum utilized chopsticks coated in a sticky material to fish $700 worth of poker chips from a dealer’s token box. Pointless to say, he’s no longer a usual at the poker world!
Ali Tekintamgac’s ‘spotters’
Ali Tekintamgac, a German player, led a clever cheating scandal for years found in 2010, by the Partouche Poker Tour. The previous WPT winner employed ‘spotters’ (fake bloggers and biographers) to expose his opponents’ holdings in competitions, applying pre-determined hand signals. He undertook to trial, not only charged of cheating at the poker table, but heading up a stylish international cheating group! Tekintamgac knew the poker live game was up; he pleaded guilty and sentenced to three years and five months of imprisonment.
The cheat that kind of wasn’t a cheat
Richard Marcus, one of the most infamous cheats in poker history, as no one could trap him. His signature move was the ‘Savannah’, a combo of misdirection and sleight of poker hand.
Marcus might saunter up to a table, playing the drunk, and put down his chips. If Marcus lost, he’d intentionally flout manners by grabbing his chips, prior to relenting and handing them to the dealer. If he won, he applauded like a mad man, exposing his valuable chip.
As Marcus had legally placed his bet, security wouldn’t be able to discover anything incorrect. Plus, he efficiently cheated on his losing bets, as well as, winning bets that likely scrutinise.
Archie Karas’s marked cards
In 2013, Archie Karas arrested for cheating at blackjack. His approach? Marking the cards. Karas privately wiped tiny streaks of dye onto the backs of jacks, queens, kings and aces at games, so he could find their value just before they were dealt. It was merely a matter of time before he was caught by the eagle-eyed security cameras at California’s Barona Resort and Casino.
The most devoted cheat of them all
A few players will do anything to make a good fortune. Take Soapy Smith, a historical cheat who was born back in 1860. Smith in fact managed to cheat with the help of dodgy officials, making friends in the proper places before being entrusted as deputy sheriff. When the local Governor instructed the closure of gambling play rooms, Smith took the chance to raid his own rigged games, arresting players who’d lost huge amounts of cash. He’d then let them go, leaving them so content to be staying away from a prison sentence they’d totally forget about their damage.
Cheating at the tables might seem like a good way to make a chunk of money, but chances are, you’ll get caught, just like the rest of them!
Play fair! Happy gaming!