Attorneys for two of three men accused of rigging a poker machine in The Meadows Racetrack & Casino said Thursday that taking advantage of a glitch in a machine isn't a crime. "If someone is smart enough to outwit a machine, is that a crime?" defense attorney Patrick Thomassey said. "I don't think it is. It might be cheating, but is it a crime?"
Thomassey's clients, Kerry Laverde, 49, and Andre Nestor, 37, both of Swissvale waived their rights to preliminary hearings before District Judge Jay Weller in North Strabane. Both entered pleas of not guilty. A preliminary hearing for Patrick Loushil, 42, of Brookline was postponed. The men are charged with manipulating a poker machine at the casino to collect $429,945 in fraudulent payouts. Authorities said the men started the scam in June and were arrested last week.
Nestor's attorney, Washington County Public Defender Glenn Alterio, said he agreed with Thomassey. "We're going to see if, in fact, a crime was committed," Alterio said. "It boils down to manipulating a machine."
Casino officials began to suspect the men when Nestor, posing as a "high roller," began frequenting the casino in late June, officials said. Laverde, a former Swissvale police officer, acted as Nestor's bodyguard, officials said.
District Attorney Steven Toprani disagreed with Thomassey's assessment. "There was money made out to the three defendants that they weren't entitled to," Toprani said. "It sounds like good, old-fashioned theft to me."
From late June through August, Nestor, Laverde and Loushil visited the casino 15 times, authorities said. The investigation showed Nestor repeatedly used "a complex series of button presses and screen changes to cause the slot machine to have an error in its programming. This resulted in the machine displaying a false jackpot," according to the grand jury presentment. Nestor always manipulated the poker machine alone, but all three men cashed the winning checks, authorities said.
Toprani denied that gambling safeguards were too easily bypassed by the three men.
"In my opinion, the safeguards did work. The Gaming Control Board alerted the state police," Toprani said.
Weller lowered bail for the two men to $100,000, at 10 percent, meaning Laverde and Nestor must post $10,000 apiece to get out of jail.
My Take: Of course it's cheating and of course it's a crime, but how 'bout a slap on the wrist and let the accused slot cheats keep the money!
Friday, October 16, 2009
Thursday, October 15, 2009
Full Tilt Statement Claims Online Poker Site Has Software That Can Detect Bots BEFORE They Play!
Do I believe it? NO! But here's their statement:
Full Tilt Poker is a multi-million dollar Online Poker Room, one of the largest in the world. Poker players from all over sit down at the tables to play a few hands at all hours of the day, bringing many players to the tables who would otherwise be unable to participate in poker on a large scale. It is not uncommon for accusations to fly regarding cheating through these sites, and Full Tilt was a recent victim of such an allegation.
Recently, at Full Tilt, two players were recently banned from the poker room, forfeiting winnings of over $50,000 dollars. They had decided to bring a civil suit against Full Tilt, claiming that Full Tilt operates "poker robots" to play the game at a level of skill and logic that a human may not be able to emulate. The duo sought $80,000 dollars in damages, and filed the claim in California to recover said damages. Full Tilt had been quiet, but just days ago they released a statement.
“Full Tilt Poker has been made aware of the recent filing of a baseless lawsuit by former Full Tilt Poker customers - Ms. Lary Kennedy and Mr. Greg Omotoy. Both of these player accounts were appropriately terminated for multiple violations of the express terms and conditions governing fair and lawful play in the Full Tilt Poker online virtual cardroom, including their own admissions of using multiple accounts," was how they began.
Full Tilt went on to say that the claims have "no merit," are "false assertions," and that they will "remain committed to protecting their players from anything that might compromise the integrity of its [Full Tilt's] games."
Full Tilt was designed by poker players, for poker players, and they take a very severe stance against all forms of cheating and collusion. Just read a Review of Full Tilt Poker Room and you will see why thousands of players find this site to be safe and secure. Full Tilt also claims that they have software that will detect bots before they can even begin to play, but the matter will not come to a head until both party's attorneys sit down and delve further into the issue. The situation is undoubtedly going to explode, potentially harming the hope for completely legal Internet Poker.
Full Tilt Poker is a multi-million dollar Online Poker Room, one of the largest in the world. Poker players from all over sit down at the tables to play a few hands at all hours of the day, bringing many players to the tables who would otherwise be unable to participate in poker on a large scale. It is not uncommon for accusations to fly regarding cheating through these sites, and Full Tilt was a recent victim of such an allegation.
Recently, at Full Tilt, two players were recently banned from the poker room, forfeiting winnings of over $50,000 dollars. They had decided to bring a civil suit against Full Tilt, claiming that Full Tilt operates "poker robots" to play the game at a level of skill and logic that a human may not be able to emulate. The duo sought $80,000 dollars in damages, and filed the claim in California to recover said damages. Full Tilt had been quiet, but just days ago they released a statement.
“Full Tilt Poker has been made aware of the recent filing of a baseless lawsuit by former Full Tilt Poker customers - Ms. Lary Kennedy and Mr. Greg Omotoy. Both of these player accounts were appropriately terminated for multiple violations of the express terms and conditions governing fair and lawful play in the Full Tilt Poker online virtual cardroom, including their own admissions of using multiple accounts," was how they began.
Full Tilt went on to say that the claims have "no merit," are "false assertions," and that they will "remain committed to protecting their players from anything that might compromise the integrity of its [Full Tilt's] games."
Full Tilt was designed by poker players, for poker players, and they take a very severe stance against all forms of cheating and collusion. Just read a Review of Full Tilt Poker Room and you will see why thousands of players find this site to be safe and secure. Full Tilt also claims that they have software that will detect bots before they can even begin to play, but the matter will not come to a head until both party's attorneys sit down and delve further into the issue. The situation is undoubtedly going to explode, potentially harming the hope for completely legal Internet Poker.
Tuesday, October 13, 2009
Full Tilt Poker Makes Statement on Bot Cheat Scandal
The $80 000 lawsuit against Full Tilt Poker.com filed in California recently by two players banned for multi-accounting and robot play has triggered an official statement from the company. In the statement, the company claims:
“Full Tilt Poker has been made aware of the recent filing of a baseless lawsuit by former Full Tilt Poker customers - Ms. Lary Kennedy and Mr. Greg Omotoy. Both of these player accounts were appropriately terminated for multiple violations of the express terms and conditions governing fair and lawful play in the Full Tilt Poker online virtual cardroom, including their own admissions of using multiple accounts.
"The usage of multiple accounts not only violates the clear terms and agreements governing fair and lawful play, it creates an unequal and unfair advantage that Full Tilt Poker does not and will not permit. We aim to protect our players at all cost, thus we terminated these two claimants’ accounts.
"The claims of these former customers have no merit, their complaint is frivolous, especially given the lack of candor during extensive investigation and the unequivocal and unambiguous admissions of using multiple accounts. There is no reason to play poker anywhere else, the most tournaments, the top ring games, biggest prizes and most players. In addition we will give you $600 free on signup.
"With respect to alleged use of prohibited automated systems, the claimants’ false assertions will be revealed as such in due course. Full Tilt Poker has never knowingly allowed "bots" to play on its site. To the extent either of these claimants indeed used such prohibited “bots” in violation of all applicable rules, such impermissible use by the claimants was without the knowledge of Full Tilt Poker. When fraud, collusion, and cheating of any kind is uncovered, Full Tilt Poker investigates extensively, and then acts accordingly and appropriately, as was the case involving these claimants.
"As always, Full Tilt Poker remains committed to protecting their players from anything that might compromise the integrity of its games. Full Tilt Poker expects that this erroneous lawsuit and its spurious claims will be dealt with accordingly by proper courts of law and other appropriate tribunals. Full Tilt Poker expects that these claimants will be obliged to compensate the aggrieved defendants for any harm that may arise out of their false allegations, and for the wrongful institution of these bad faith legal proceedings.”
“Full Tilt Poker has been made aware of the recent filing of a baseless lawsuit by former Full Tilt Poker customers - Ms. Lary Kennedy and Mr. Greg Omotoy. Both of these player accounts were appropriately terminated for multiple violations of the express terms and conditions governing fair and lawful play in the Full Tilt Poker online virtual cardroom, including their own admissions of using multiple accounts.
"The usage of multiple accounts not only violates the clear terms and agreements governing fair and lawful play, it creates an unequal and unfair advantage that Full Tilt Poker does not and will not permit. We aim to protect our players at all cost, thus we terminated these two claimants’ accounts.
"The claims of these former customers have no merit, their complaint is frivolous, especially given the lack of candor during extensive investigation and the unequivocal and unambiguous admissions of using multiple accounts. There is no reason to play poker anywhere else, the most tournaments, the top ring games, biggest prizes and most players. In addition we will give you $600 free on signup.
"With respect to alleged use of prohibited automated systems, the claimants’ false assertions will be revealed as such in due course. Full Tilt Poker has never knowingly allowed "bots" to play on its site. To the extent either of these claimants indeed used such prohibited “bots” in violation of all applicable rules, such impermissible use by the claimants was without the knowledge of Full Tilt Poker. When fraud, collusion, and cheating of any kind is uncovered, Full Tilt Poker investigates extensively, and then acts accordingly and appropriately, as was the case involving these claimants.
"As always, Full Tilt Poker remains committed to protecting their players from anything that might compromise the integrity of its games. Full Tilt Poker expects that this erroneous lawsuit and its spurious claims will be dealt with accordingly by proper courts of law and other appropriate tribunals. Full Tilt Poker expects that these claimants will be obliged to compensate the aggrieved defendants for any harm that may arise out of their false allegations, and for the wrongful institution of these bad faith legal proceedings.”
Monday, October 12, 2009
2006 WSOP Champ and Accused Cheat Jamie Gold Sued Again!
Remember 2006 WSOP Main Event winner Jamie Gold? The erstwhile Hollywood talent scout bartered his way into that year’s tourney as part of a deal with online site Bodog in which he agreed to find celebrity personalities for Bodog to sponsor. Following a lengthy legal battle, Gold had to split his winnings with Bruce Crispin Leyser after it was disclosed that the two joined forces in helping secure celebrities for the event. It’s possible that Leyser wasn’t the only one Gold promised a share of his possible winnings to in exchange for assistance, as LA event promoter Francis Dellavechia recently filed a suit against Gold, alleging a promise from Gold for 1 percent of his winnings, equal to $120,000 from Gold’s record $12 million winner’s payday. No court hearings have been held in the matter to date.
Poker TV "Face the Ace" Producers Targeted in Lawsuit
Was the concept for the new poker show “Face the Ace” an illegitimately borrowed idea? So claims Brandon McSmith, who says that he pitched a similar concept to “Face the Ace” production company Poker PROductions in 2006, only to be told that his concept, including star players emerging from a series of doors, lacked merit. McSmith seeks $85 million in damages, with no hearings held as yet. “Face the Ace,” which features a number of Full Tilt-sponsored pros, has struggled in the ratings to date and has already undergone one concept “Face”-lift as well.
Kahnawake Gaming Commission Releases Final UltimateBet Poker Cheat Report
While former WSOP Main Event winner Russ Hamilton remains the only participant officially named, the Kahnawake Gaming Commission, responsible for oversight of the UltimateBet online poker site, released its final findings on the years-long insider cheating scandal. Twenty-one different user accounts and a total of 118 screen names were used by the perpetrators who cheated high-stakes limit and no-limit players out of more than $22 million (since refunded) from 2003-2007. The KGC report also cited 31 other individuals with connections to Hamilton and the ongoing cheating scandal, although these names were not publicly released. The KGC, however, did imply that these names and hundreds of pages of supporting documents were made available to selected authorities in other jurisdictions.
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