Mizzi Responds To New Online Poker Cheat Allegations

Already condemned online poker cheat Sorel Mizzi this time says he's innocent and that the recent possible online-poker-cheating-intent conversations he had with Steve "Thorladen" Weinstein were tied to threats that Mizzi himself received online.

On August 20, 2010, "waxonchris" posted to the MTT Community forum on TwoPlusTwo.com a lengthy chat transcript between Sorel Mizzi and Steve "Thorladen" Weinstein, which generated a bunch of cheating speculation involving Mizzi once again. Mizzi states that these transcripts are nothing more than a melange of conversations between himself, Weinstein and other online poker players that took place during a whole year. He went on to say that in December of 2009 he was threatened and extorted by someone demanding money against a threat he would release the very same transcripts. Mizzi claims he did not succumb to the blackmail.

Mizzi's words:

"I am saying this to clear the names of the people mentioned in the conversation and because there are actually people I know and respect who are curious about whether or not this conversation did in fact take place."

My take: I wouldn't trust Mizzi or anything he says as far as I could throw him or it!

Sorel Mizzi (Imper1um) Allegedly Involved in Another Online Poker Cheating Scandal!

Source: Poker News Daily

Recent activity across several of the online poker forums are once again indicating that noted online/live poker pro Sorel “Imper1um” Mizzi and potential accomplices may have been involved in an attempt to rig multi-table tournaments.

Threads appeared on the TwoPlusTwo forum on two occasions over the weekend, with one being squelched by the moderators and a second taking on life and quickly zooming up to 537 posts. Another form of the thread came to life on the PocketFives forum over the weekend (and following the closing of the original thread on 2+2) and has blitzed its way to 282 posts. In both instances, the transcript of an IM chat between Mizzi and an alleged co-conspirator are the main topic of discussion.

This is one thing that the different threads have in common: an undated AIM or MSN Messenger chat transcript allegedly between Mizzi and another top online poker player/backer, Steve “thorladen” Weinstein. In a rambling discussion allegedly between the two, Mizzi and Weinstein discuss their issues with players who are in “makeup,” or owe money from backing arrangements. The conversation then allegedly has Mizzi making assertions to Weinstein about how to violate many of the terms and conditions of online sites using a common business tool.

Mizzi proposes to Weinstein the use of remote PC access programs, such as GoToMyPC.com, PCNow.com, or Laplink, to access computers in different locations. These programs allow a person from one location to be able to use another computer – using the accessed computer’s IP address – from a different location. Mizzi notes to Weinstein in the alleged conversation that usage of such programs “revolutionizes teaching/ghosting in poker (and) can also be used for multiaccounting.” Weinstein comments (verbatim) that “while im certainly interested in whatever u thinking, if u want me in, but obv I have to know woh knows cuz I cant get busted… I have alot of maoney online.”

As the alleged conversation continues, Mizzi goes on to name players who would be willing to take part in the suggested plot. Named by Mizzi as potential co-conspirators are such players as “cdbr” (FTOPS champion Chris Dombrowski) and “Intervention” (Aditya Agarwal). Mizzi goes on to allegedly comment to Weinstein the full context of the plan after discussing who could be involved.

“Now there’s more than 1 way we can profit from this program obv,” Mizzi allegedly says in the IM. “The most obvious is just watching and taking over for your stakes when they’re deep in a tournament. The beauty of it is ur not logging in from another IP, all you’re doing is controlling their mouse and keyboard and they can take it over again right away with the click of a mouse.” Mizzi allegedly also proposes a scheme where, “Hypothetically, imagine if 20+ PC’s were set up in various locations or in the same location but with various IP’s and different people could login to any of them at any given time?”

Although the alleged IM in question is undated, many on the forums have deduced that the time frame may have gone back as far as 18 months ago. At that time, Mizzi had been fleeced by cardsharps with a marked deck in Monte Carlo, leaving his bankroll decimated. It can be likely concluded, as many have done, that the alleged IM between Mizzi and Weinstein was to curry Weinstein’s backing for the escapade.

What has been remarkable about the discussions on the forums is the reaction from those potentially named in the discussion. Weinstein, under his “thorladen” handle on the PocketFives forum, simply states, “I have not engaged in this activity with Sorel. I would not engage in this activity ever. I am voluntarily cooperating completely with Full Tilt in an investigation of these alleged activities.”

Agarwal says in the same thread, “I wasn’t gonna post but general consensus among my frnds is tht I shud. Neither me or chris hv had any knowledge or been involved in any of the activities mentioned in the chat log, as everyone knows it was around the time period sorel was hving money issues, both me and chris hving cleared our MU voluntarily left sorel and went to vivek/yev and hv been with them since.”

Mizzi has made a statement regarding the subject on the TwoPlusTwo forums in an attempt to clear up the situation. “The conversation in question contains bits and pieces of information from several conversations I’ve had with Thorladen and others over the course of about a year,” Mizzi writes in his lengthy post. “It was quite a while ago, but if I had to guess I would say the conversations occurred from 2008 to 2009 while I was sponsored by Betfair.” Mizzi is now a Titan Poker pro.

Mizzi states that, in late 2009, he was contacted by a potential extortionist who was “threatening to release what he had fabricated if I didn’t send him money online. I chose to completely ignore the threats.” Mizzi also clears Dombrowski and Agarwal by writing, “As far as Chris and Adi go, they were my horses about 2 years ago and neither of them have ever been involved in any shady activity that I know of. They are both good guys and both very trustworthy/loyal, so much so that I allowed both of them to calculate their own makeup.”

Mizzi also stands up to the continued attacks on his character by writing, “I strongly dislike coming on internet forums to read unfair, untrue, libelous BS judgments about my character. The only people who have the right to attack my character are the ones who know me well personally and I don’t think anyone who’s posted thus far does. I don’t blame them. As soon as anyone posts anything to defend me they get verbally attacked and accused of “sticking up for a cheater.”

He finishes his post on TwoPlusTwo by saying, “There are serious things that I’d like to address in a subsequent thread that I’ve been thinking about posting for a long time. I’m not sure whether or not I’ll post it because I truly don’t owe anyone here explanations about anything I do. But I’ll give it some serious thought.” Poker News Daily attempted to contact Mizzi, who is in Cyprus for the Full Tilt Poker Merit Poker Classic. At this time, Mizzi has not returned any request for comment.

Wherever the truth is in the most recent hubbub regarding Mizzi, his track record in the online poker world has been a turbulent one. He has served multiple suspensions for various violations of the terms and conditions of the top poker rooms, PokerStars and Full Tilt Poker, and continuously has to defend himself from the “cheater” tag. It is also apparent that Mizzi has an extreme poker talent; the Canadian has over $3.2 million in live tournament earnings since his first venture into the arena in 2006.

Connecticut Lawyer From Famed Jurist Family Busted For Cheating Casino!

Of course it happened at Foxwoods Casino, the world's #1 casino cheat haven, albeit at the MGM Grand part of the giant casino complex. And, believe it or not, it wasn't the typical bet-capping incident that amateur casino cheats fancy doing so much. The famous lawyer, identified as Walter Bansley IV (we have had suffix IIIs as casino cheats but this is the first time I am hearing of a IV!), has been charged with pinching (removing a losing bet from the layout) a $100 losing chip off a craps table before the dealer could rake it off the layout. No way is Bansley IV a professional or even moonlighting casino cheat. He probably just got pissed off losing or was drunk enough to do what he did.

So how is Bansley IV famous? That's because his father, Walter Bansley III (no casino-cheat arrests as far as I know...LOL) was the US Marine lawyer portraed by Tom Cruise in the film "A few good men." I bet Jack Nicholson, who played Cruise's adversary in the film, had a good laugh hearing about this!

Bansley IV was also charged with refusing to show proper identification and refusing to leave the casino floor when confronted by casino security.

Delaware Park Casino Busts Blackjack Cheat on 7 Felony Charges!

It sounds a lot worse than it is, but Clifton Shaw, a thirty-one year old New Jersey native, was arrested for both capping and pinching bets(removing chips from a losing bet before the dealer can take them). Shaw's cheat moves only involved red $5 chips but things got more interesting when Delaware state police found two fake driver's licenses and a half-dozen counterfeit $20 bills, the latter much more serious than any of the casino-cheat charges, especially if there was an intent to distribute. In any case, Shaw was sent to the Young Correctional Facility after he could not post the $33,000 bond set by a district court judge.

Like its sister state of Pennsylvania, Delaware just recently allowed its casinos to put in table games, and they are seeing the same type of cheating, mostly capping bets at the blackjack tables. Those caught so far appear to be amateurs. I am sure that some professional teams are working both states and managing to get off their moves without taking much heat.

My take: Delaware casinos will continue to get victimized by cheats for the next few years to come...at least.

Is Rival Gaming Software Helping Along Online Poker and Casino Cheats?

Since Rival Gaming hit the online poker and casino industry with its software, claiming its innovativeness and anti-cheat benefits to online poker and casino players, we have seen a labyrinth of its online casinos opening and closing and a host of players complaining on poker and casino blogs about Rival Gaming. However, Sloto’ Cash Casino, the first casino to use Rival Gaming software and one of the first to welcome players from the US, seems to be escaping the barrage of doubt levelled at the online gaming software company. I am hearing online gamblers attest to Sloto’ Cash Casino's excellent standing for anti-cheat safety, player friendliness, fairness in play and quick cashouts.

The overall criticism aimed at Rival Gaming Casinos has mainly centered around player dissatisfaction and cheating, as well as non- or slow-payment of winnings, difficult terms and conditions with bonuses and other complaints about the lobby and overall presentation of casinos using the software. Several Rival Gaming online casinos have closed the past few months.

But why not Sloto’ Cash Casino? Well, this beats me, although I have read bloggers talk about the ownership of this particular online casino that supposedly has a very low rate of cheating. Sloto’ Cash is owned privately and run privately and has different rules than the other casinos using Rival Gaming software do. Rival Gaming owns almost all the other casinos using its software, which seems to be the difference. In other words, have a problem with one Rival Gaming Casino, have a problem with all Rival Gaming Casinos...except Sloto’ Cash because it has its own independent management.

My take: It is what it is. I am not promoting Sloto´ Cash Casino but it does seem okay. They do offer solid promotions and bonuses and there is a fine spectrum of games to play. However, as far as the other Rival Gaming casinos go, avoid them like the plague! I know it is hard to make sense of why only one of their casinos is trustworthy but that has been the history, so let's keep believing it...until...or if it changes!

Who At Your Brick and Mortar Poker Table is NOT Cheating?

Maybe you think I should be asking this question about your online poker table, but, believe it or not, cheating on your local casino's live poker tables is getting way out of hand. Between the collusion play in cash games, softplay and chip-dumping in tournaments, and card-switching in both, you really have to wonder who is NOT cheating these days. To narrow this down a bit, let's take a look at the smaller stakes poker tables in both cash games and tournaments. There the cheating is lots more common than you might think. More card-switchers are working these games simply because they know less attention is paid to them by poker room personnel. As difficult as proficient card-switching at poker tables may be, the derring-do of low-stakes card-switching cheats surprises even me.

On the low-stakes tournament side I am seeing lots of scams revolving around collusion and chip dumping, especially holding out chips from one tournament-level and re-introducing them in a higher one. Many casino poker rooms are still allowing players to choose their tables and seat numbers, a practice that breeds collusion, chip-dumping and soft-playing.

So with all this dirty dealing and playing...who at the poker table is NOT cheating? Well, sorry, I don't have the answer to that one, but I do have the answer to this one: Who at the table has NEVER cheated in a brick and mortar poker game? If collusion and softplaying are to be considered cheating, then the answer is probably "no one."