Absolute Poker and UltimateBet Poker COO Paul Leggett sat down to speak with the CBC (Canadian Broadcast Company) to discuss his company's trying times over the past 10 months. In a candid interview), Leggett fully admits there was cheating on both sites.
"Poker playing has always been marred by cheating scandals," the host points out, explaining further that the cheating scandal uncovered at both Absolute Poker and UltimateBet caused enormous outrage.
Leggett arrived on board at Absolute Poker in late August of 2007, around the same time that the cheating scandal was said to have occurred. Initially he was brought on to help merge both Absolute and UltimateBet onto one platform and to improve customer service as well as marketing.
Joe Norton of Kahnawake Gaming purchased Absolute/UtlimateBet from the original owners. Leggett claims that none of those original owners are still involved with the company.
Leggett explains that the first priority after uncovering the cheating scandal was to ensure those adversely affected were taken care of by his company. The perpetrator, who was someone internal, provided information to this extent as to which customers may have been affected. Leggett says that in exchange for this information, that individual was given protection.
"This is kind of unusual," the host points out. "You're allowed to do that?"
"Well, we can decide if we are going to press charges or not but because we were a victim in this thing our concern was making sure we got the money back and there wasn't a breach from other areas. "
Charges could be filed against that individual by the Kahnawake Gaming Commission at a later date, Leggett said.
Roughly $800,000 was stolen and Absolute was able to recover 100 percent of this money since it remained in the cheater's accounts. Absolute Poker had to pay well over a million to customers, however.
"Everyone got paid out plus," Leggett said. "The brand damage is something we'll be fighting for years."
Thursday, November 13, 2008
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