Inside the Star-Studded, Mob-Run Poker Games That Allegedly Steal Millions From Players

High-Stakes Poker Games Allegedly Rigged by Celebrities and Mafia Members Steal Millions from Players

The high-stakes poker games allegedly rigged by celebrities, mafia members, and professional gamblers are a unique blend of the exclusive and the seedy. These private games, often fueled by celebrities, frequently attract organized crime figures who settle debts or extort money from players who have lost big.

To start these games, participants typically need to be high-profile individuals with fat wallets. Celebrities like Billups and Jones, both former NBA players, allegedly used their fame to lure other wealthy players into the game, often leaving them unaware of the cheating methods being employed. The game host, known as a "game runner," is in control of everything from the dealers to the shuffle machines.

One alleged method for cheating involves using an RFID card reader technology that's also used to livestream poker on TV or YouTube. Another method allegedly uses invisible ink-marked decks, which are easily available online and not particularly sophisticated.

In one case, a compromised Deckmate 2 shuffling machine was used to cheat at the game. The indictment alleges that an "Operator" would obtain hand-by-hand card information from players using this technology and communicate it to other members of the team via predetermined signals. These cheating schemes are just some examples of how scammers exploit greed and dishonesty in the world of high-stakes poker.

However, experts in the poker community see a silver lining in cases like these being publicly exposed. It puts a warning out there to those who try and cheat at poker that they could face consequences.

I'm low-key shocked by these celebs & mafia members getting caught rigging high-stakes poker games . Like, how do people even get away with this stuff? I guess it's all about using your fame & connections to lure in victims (aka players who can't resist a big pot). And those cheating methods? Come on, invisible ink-marked decks and RFID card readers? That's just basic hacking 101 .

But for real, the poker community is speaking out against these scammers, and I'm all about it . It's like, we need to protect our own from people who would exploit us for their gain. And honestly, if someone tries to cheat at a game of chance, they should be prepared to face the consequences .

I guess what bothers me is that these scammers are preying on people's greed & dishonesty . Like, we all know that poker can be tough to beat, but there's no need to get sneaky and cheat to win. Can't we just play by the rules and have fun?

this is crazy , i mean can u believe celebrities and mafia members are involved in something as sketchy as rigging poker games? it's like they're using their fame & influence to scam people out of millions ... on the one hand, i get why ppl would wanna cheat - it's a game of skill, but also so much luck ... but on the other hand, these ppl are putting players in a super uncomfortable spot, and it's not just about the money, it's about the principle . what really bothers me is that they're using tech we use every day to livestream poker to cheat ... but i do think it's good that experts are speaking out against this kinda thing, so ppl know the risks

lol what's up with these celebs? they're using their fame to scam people out of millions, meanwhile we got legit players getting robbed blind on the lowkey tables did you know that high-stakes poker games account for like 80% of the overall poker market, but only 10% of players are even eligible to participate?

anywayz, it's crazy how these game hosts can get away with using stuff like RFID card readers and invisible ink-marked decks we got some awesome stats on cheating in high-stakes poker - did you know that 1 in 5 players will lose to a cheater at some point?

and btw, have you seen the growth of online poker in the last 5 years? it's like 50% YoY growth, and that's not even counting the increase in mobile poker apps

I mean, can you believe some people are so desperate for a good time that they'd cheat their way to the top? These high-stakes games are supposed to be about skill and strategy, but it sounds like just an excuse for some scammers to get rich quick.

You know what's crazy? People who lose big in these games can't even afford to pay their debts, so they get taken advantage of by mobsters! It's like a never-ending cycle of greed and exploitation. But here's the thing: when you shine a light on this kind of behavior, people start to realize that there are consequences for cheating.

It's like the old saying goes - if you want to know what someone is really made of, watch how they behave under pressure! These scammers thought they could get away with rigging the game and stealing millions, but now their secret's out. Let this be a lesson to us all: integrity and honesty are still the best policies in life, no matter what tempting temptations come our way

omg u wont believe this just read about how some celebs and mafia members were riggin high stakes poker games to steal millions from players!!! its like, they use all sorts of sneaky tech like RFID card readers and invisible ink-marked decks to cheat... and some of them even use compromised machines that can get hand-by-hand info from players what a scam! but im glad the authorities are crackin down on this stuff now, it's gonna keep other cheaters in line check out this article [link to FBI indictment](https://www.fbi.gov/news/pressrel/press-releases/high-stakes-poker-game-rigged-allegedly-steal-millions-from-players)

I'm low-key shocked that celebs and mafia members are involved in rigging high-stakes poker games Their involvement is like, totally unsportsmanlike . I mean, can you imagine if someone cheated their way to a big win at the NFL or NBA? The karma would be swift . These cheats need to get caught and face the music . It's all about the Benjamins but some people just can't handle losing with integrity .

Dude, can you believe it? Celebs and mafia members getting caught for rigging high-stakes poker games is like the ultimate scandal! I mean, who needs Hollywood and Las Vegas when you've got a rigged game? And those guys were basically using tech from online streaming to cheat... it's like they wanted to be on TV for all the wrong reasons. But seriously, if these scammers get caught, maybe we'll see some poker players learning to fold (get it?) and trust each other a bit more. And who knows, maybe this will even make poker games safer and less like a casino (not that I'm saying I'd never play in one... ).

Its crazy to think about how some celebs and mafia members are using their connections to scam people out of millions . I mean, its one thing to be good at poker but these guys are taking it too far. Theyre like sharks in the game, preying on the weak and exploiting their greed. Its not just about the money though, its also a betrayal of trust - these players have lost faith in the system . On the other hand, I think this is good for poker in general. If people know that there are scammers out there, theyll be more careful and wont get taken advantage of so easily . The game needs to stay fair and honest, and if these cases bring attention to it then Im all for it .

omg I cant even believe this is real these people are literally stealing from others just because they want more money it's so sad what happens when greed takes over the fact that they're using tech to livestream and cheat is just wild I mean, you'd think that with all the security cameras and stuff they wouldn't get away with it for long but hey at least now people are aware of the risks and can protect themselves better

I'm so fed up with these celebrity mafia poker games ! They're basically just using their fame and power to scam people out of millions. I mean, come on, if you're gonna be a game runner, own it! Don't try to hide behind your famous friends' backs. And what's up with the RFID card reader tech? It sounds like something out of a bad spy movie .

I also don't get why people think cheating is cool or something . Newsflash: it's not. If you're gonna play poker, play fair and square. And if you're part of an "operator" team, that's just a fancy way of saying you're a scammer .

But hey, at least the poker community is speaking out against this stuff now . Maybe it'll stop people from thinking they can get away with cheating. Let's keep pushing for more transparency and fair play in all aspects of gaming!

omg this is soooo shady can you even believe people with power and fame would stoop this low?! i mean billups and jones are literally my boyz but still how could they betray their own fans like this?

anyway, the fact that these scammers got caught is kinda a win for the poker community and it's so good to see experts speaking out against these cheaters

i'm all about justice, especially when it comes to something as pure and fun as poker