CBS "60 Minutes" Online Poker Cheating Segment Now Set To Air November 9th

Rumors have begun circulating that the American television investigative news program 60 Minutes will not be airing its long-anticipated story on the Ultimate Bet and Absolute Poker cheating scandals this Sunday.

According to numerous reports, the segment will now air on November 9th, during the final table competition at this year’s World Series of Poker (WSOP) event in Las Vegas. This date could also be further affected by the upcoming American Presidential elections, as it would be the first Sunday following the vote. In any case, I think it is a great time to air the story!

The CBS television program has allegedly joined forces with a major newspaper for the story on the cheating, which began in 2005 with Ultimate Bet, an online casino operator licensed by the Kahnawake Gaming Commission. The regulator issued a report late last month that identified the chief perpetrator as former World Series of Poker champion and former Ultimate Bet executive Russell Hamilton.

“The Commission found clear and convincing evidence to support the conclusion that, between the approximate dates of May 2004 to January 2008, Russell Hamilton, an individual associated with Ultimate Bet's affiliate program, was the main person responsible for and benefiting from the multiple cheating incidents,” read the report.

“Furthermore, the Kahnawake Gaming Commission is currently in contact with the appropriate law enforcement agencies and intends to fully cooperate in the prosecution of all individuals involved in the Ultimate Bet cheating incidents.”

The statement claimed that over $60 million in fraudulent play was involved and ruled that all affected players must be refunded while Ultimate Bet was fined $1.5 million.