A high-stakes poker game has long been a playground for the rich and famous, but one operation in particular has caught the attention of law enforcement. The games in question are allegedly rigged, with players accused of being "whales" - wealthy individuals who draw other players to the game.
To assemble these games, organizers often use celebrity connections, relying on their reputation to attract other players. These games can be fueled by celebrities, and they're often backed or aided by organized crime. The alleged ring of rigged poker games allegedly began in 2019 and ran for several years, involving former NBA player Chauncey Billups and professional gambler Damon Jones.
Billups, who is currently the head coach of the Portland Trail Blazers, was arrested in October on charges of wire fraud conspiracy and money-laundering conspiracy. The indictment alleges that Billups and Jones were involved in a large-scale scam, where they allegedly used fake identities to participate in games.
Understandably, some players are wary of these games due to concerns over cheating. Poker professional Matt Berkey says that any game that uses "x-ray technology" or other high-tech methods is likely rigged. However, the most sophisticated method mentioned in the indictment involves using card decks marked on their reverse sides with invisible ink, a technique that's been well-known in poker circles for some time.
The Deckmate 2 shuffling machine is also involved, which can be altered to give potential cheaters knowledge of the cards in each player's hand. Researchers have shown that this can be done using basic hacking skills.
To further their scheme, alleged "face cards" like Billups and Jones draw other players to the game, lending it a level of perceived legitimacy. Cheating methods allegedly used by these individuals include electronic poker chip trays or cell phones that could read cards placed on the table.
However, experts say that virtually all of these alleged cheating methods almost certainly require host involvement and help from others. The role of the "Operator" is particularly key in this case, as they communicate hand-by-hand card information to other members of the team.
Despite the high stakes involved, some players in the poker world see a silver lining in cases like these being publicly exposed. As Feldman says, "It at least puts that warning out there to other people that try and cheat at poker, like hey, if you do this there's a chance that you could go to jail."
Ultimately, these games are a perfect storm of greed, dishonesty, and organized crime. While it's good to see those involved being held accountable, the overall picture is one of exploitation and corruption. As long as illegal gambling exists, scams like these will continue to thrive.
To assemble these games, organizers often use celebrity connections, relying on their reputation to attract other players. These games can be fueled by celebrities, and they're often backed or aided by organized crime. The alleged ring of rigged poker games allegedly began in 2019 and ran for several years, involving former NBA player Chauncey Billups and professional gambler Damon Jones.
Billups, who is currently the head coach of the Portland Trail Blazers, was arrested in October on charges of wire fraud conspiracy and money-laundering conspiracy. The indictment alleges that Billups and Jones were involved in a large-scale scam, where they allegedly used fake identities to participate in games.
Understandably, some players are wary of these games due to concerns over cheating. Poker professional Matt Berkey says that any game that uses "x-ray technology" or other high-tech methods is likely rigged. However, the most sophisticated method mentioned in the indictment involves using card decks marked on their reverse sides with invisible ink, a technique that's been well-known in poker circles for some time.
The Deckmate 2 shuffling machine is also involved, which can be altered to give potential cheaters knowledge of the cards in each player's hand. Researchers have shown that this can be done using basic hacking skills.
To further their scheme, alleged "face cards" like Billups and Jones draw other players to the game, lending it a level of perceived legitimacy. Cheating methods allegedly used by these individuals include electronic poker chip trays or cell phones that could read cards placed on the table.
However, experts say that virtually all of these alleged cheating methods almost certainly require host involvement and help from others. The role of the "Operator" is particularly key in this case, as they communicate hand-by-hand card information to other members of the team.
Despite the high stakes involved, some players in the poker world see a silver lining in cases like these being publicly exposed. As Feldman says, "It at least puts that warning out there to other people that try and cheat at poker, like hey, if you do this there's a chance that you could go to jail."
Ultimately, these games are a perfect storm of greed, dishonesty, and organized crime. While it's good to see those involved being held accountable, the overall picture is one of exploitation and corruption. As long as illegal gambling exists, scams like these will continue to thrive.
. But at the same time, it's crazy that someone's gonna use invisible ink on their deck just to get an edge 
. And those people using cell phones to read cards? That's like something outta a movie 
. The fact that these games were so elaborate and involved such organized crime is what's really scarring though... it's not just about the cheating, it's about the whole system being rigged 
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It's crazy that some folks thought they could get away with it for so long, but I guess when you're playing with fire, you gotta expect to get burned 
The thing is, these games might have been high-stakes, but they were also super rigged, which just goes to show how easily people can get taken advantage of in pursuit of a quick buck 
And yeah, it's good that those involved are being held accountable, but I think we should all take away from this the importance of being vigilant and not falling for shady deals 
it's wild how these rich ppl think they can just scam their way to the top but really they're just getting caught 
chauncey billups is a total legend on and off the court lol, but i guess even legends can have a dark side
and omg the deckmate 2 shuffling machine hacking skills? that's like something out of a cyberpunk movie 
. And Matt Berkey makes some valid points about using technology to cheat - it's not like these methods are new or anything 
. The part about the Deckmate 2 machine being hacked sounds super suspicious, btw 
. I'm just glad that players are starting to wake up and realize that there's a fine line between skill and cheating 
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and the Deckmate 2 machine is like something out of a spy movie, hacking skills required or wut? 
but like, let's be real, there's always gonna be cheaters in every game, u know? 
it's just so sad that greed and organized crime have to come into play 
And what about the guys who are getting hurt by this - the ones who are actually playing with real money? They're the ones who should be getting attention, not these rich celebrities who think they can just waltz in and out of trouble whenever it suits them. It's just so frustrating...
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. It's like, these games are just a perfect storm of cheating, lying, and organized crime 
. And yeah, I can see why players would be concerned - if you're caught cheating, there's a good chance you'll go to jail 
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. Matt Berkey's comments about x-ray tech being a surefire sign of rigging make total sense to me 
. And what's up with the deck shuffling machine? Who knew hacking skills could be so... handy? 
. It's not about punishing the rich and famous (although they do deserve some consequences), but about sending a message to anyone who'd even think about cheating.
. And yeah, it's not just Billups and Jones – there are probably plenty of other players out there who thought they could get away with this stuff too 
. I'd rather focus on my own wellness and mindfulness journey than take the risk of getting caught up in all this drama 
gotta say, this whole rigged poker thing is wild. I mean, who knew it was that deep? Apparently, you gotta be a whale to get in on the action, but even then, there's still room for cheats and scammers. It's like, why make your own luck when you can just fake it? 
. If you're playing against idiots who don't know any better, then maybe you can win. But when there are people like Billups using fake identities to cheat their way to the top, that's just not fair. The problem isn't Billups or Jones, it's the entire industry that allows these scams to thrive.
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...i mean, come on, using invisible ink and hacking into card machines? that's just basic level cheating. and to think they're making millions off of it is just ridiculous 
. i'm glad the authorities are cracking down on this stuff, but it's just another example of how greed can lead to some pretty dark places 
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It's crazy how basic hacking skills can be used to cheat so big. And what really gets me is that the Organizer was just passing along card info hand-by-hand - it's like they were all in on it together 
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