Poker Cheating Group Arrested,Borgata, FBI, Steve Forte
Tops...@aol.com
I-Team Exclusive: Poker Cheating Scheme
July 18, 2007 10:21 AM EDT
It sounds like the plot of one of those flashy casino heist movies --
a team of thieves, armed with high tech equipment concocts a scheme to
steal vast sums of money from big shot gamblers.
It really did happen, although law enforcement officials are still
unwilling to talk about it. Gaming agents in New Jersey arrested four
suspects, including a Las Vegas man known internationally as an expert
in how to thwart casino thieves.
In late June, the elegant Borgata in Atlantic City launched the
largest poker event in the town's history, a $5,000 per-person buy in
tournament with 337 players vied for $1.7 million. But someone else
was after the money as well; a team of high tech cheats with a scheme
worthy of Oceans 11.
Well-placed sources told the I-Team that New Jersey gaming agents
staged a quiet raid on the Borgata and arrested four people. By one
account, they stormed a hotel room and found it packed with electronic
equipment. According to one source, gaming control initially believed
the suspects had tapped into a live video feed generated by the hole
card cameras that allow TV audiences to see a player's down cards in
games of Texas Hold 'em, information that presumably could be relayed
to a confederate playing in the tournament.
However, a spokesman for Boyd Gaming, which is a partner in Borgata
with MGM, told the I-Team "the scheme did target high-end poker
players, but off the floor," adding that "the security systems of the
Borgata were never compromised, nor was the tournament. Customers were
targeted but not the games."
The biggest surprise for gaming agents might have been who was
involved. Among those arrested as part of the scheme was Las Vegas
gaming consultant Steve Forte, regarded as a world class expert in
countering cheaters. Forte's web site says he's been a consultant to
MGM, Caesars, Station Casinos, as well as to the U.S. Attorney, FBI,
Metro Police and the Clark County district attorney. His books and
videos on how to counter gambling cheats are best sellers.
New Jersey authorities would not acknowledge that arrests were been
made. However, Nevada Gaming Control told the I-Team they had been
informed by New Jersey about the arrests, that four persons had been
taken into custody including Steve Forte, and that a sensitive
investigation was ongoing.
Back in Las Vegas, Forte has told friends that he was in the wrong
place at the wrong time, intimating that he was in the room with the
alleged cheaters because he wanted to observe their methods and was
not part of the scheme. Forte declined the I-Team's interview request
but confirmed in an e-mail that he had been arrested. He says he
maintains his innocence and will fight the charges at all costs.
The obvious question is could it happen at the much more lucrative
World Series of Poker? Tournament commissioner Jeffrey Pollack says
he's heard nothing about the New Jersey scandal but that he is
confident that cheaters wouldn't stand a chance there.
WSOP Commissioner Jeffrey Pollack said, "I can't reveal our specific
security measures, otherwise they wouldn't be very secure. But
needless to say, Harrah's has the ultimate commitment to both
responsible gaming and security, and we have a state of the art
surveillance system in place at all times here."
Casino sources say they believe the FBI is now involved in the
investigation, possibly to find out if the same high tech scheme has
been used before.
The I-Team contacted several of the poker players involved in the
tournament. None of them saw anything unusual, nor did they see any
arrests. That fits with other information the I-Team has about how the
scheme was intended to steal from the poker players when they were
away from the tables. No one is saying how the plot was supposed to
work. Even the arrest information is being kept confidential.
The Channel 8 I-Team will have more information as it becomes
available.
http://www.klas-tv.com/global/story.asp?s=6804075&ClientType=Printable
I originally found this on 2+2
Topset72
A Man Beaten by Jacks
>WSOP Commissioner Jeffrey Pollack said, "I can't reveal our specific
>security measures, otherwise they wouldn't be very secure. But
>needless to say, Harrah's has the ultimate commitment to both
>responsible gaming and security, and we have a state of the art
>surveillance system in place at all times here."
Translation: We don't do dick, but we can't say that, because we'd
look even more like a bunch of scumbags than we already do. We're
telling the truth about the wouldn't be very secure part. I mean
how the fuck secure CAN we be considering the final table chip count
is always WAY over what multiplying the number of entrants by the
starting stack would add up to? We have an ultimate
commitment to lining our pockets, you chump ass fools, and
we spread 6:5 blackjack. What else can we say?
Harkness
> George Knapp, Chief Investigative Reporter
> I-Team Exclusive: Poker Cheating Scheme
> July 18, 2007 10:21 AM EDT
>
> It sounds like the plot of one of those flashy casino heist movies --
> a team of thieves, armed with high tech equipment concocts a scheme to
> steal vast sums of money from big shot gamblers.
>
> It really did happen, although law enforcement officials are still
> unwilling to talk about it. Gaming agents in New Jersey arrested four
> suspects, including a Las Vegas man known internationally as an expert
> in how to thwart casino thieves.
>
> In late June, the elegant Borgata in Atlantic City launched the
> largest poker event in the town's history, a $5,000 per-person buy in
> tournament with 337 players vied for $1.7 million. But someone else
> was after the money as well; a team of high tech cheats with a scheme
> worthy of Oceans 11.
>
> Well-placed sources told the I-Team that New Jersey gaming agents
> staged a quiet raid on the Borgata and arrested four people. By one
> account, they stormed a hotel room and found it packed with electronic
> equipment. According to one source, gaming control initially believed
> the suspects had tapped into a live video feed generated by the hole
> card cameras that allow TV audiences to see a player's down cards in
> games of Texas Hold 'em, information that presumably could be relayed
> to a confederate playing in the tournament.
>
"initially believed"
"by one account"
"well-placed sources:
Okay, we have no proof, a bunch of hearsay, and no one will talk on
the record..
> However, a spokesman for Boyd Gaming, which is a partner in Borgata
> with MGM, told the I-Team "the scheme did target high-end poker
> players, but off the floor," adding that "the security systems of the
> Borgata were never compromised, nor was the tournament. Customers were
> targeted but not the games."
translation: 'somethin's happenin' here, what it is ain't exactly
clear'
Does anyone know what this sentence means, aside from Borgata covering
it's ass?
> The biggest surprise for gaming agents might have been who was
> involved.
involved in WHAT? This alleged professional journalist has yet to
clarify the scam.
SNIP
I've got a couple of journalism professors I'd like to introduce this
writer to.
John Harkness