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.
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.
. 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 
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. 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 
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. 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? 
, 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 
... 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 
... but i do think it's good that experts are speaking out against this kinda thing, so ppl know the risks 
it's like 50% YoY growth, and that's not even counting the increase in mobile poker apps 
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 mean, can you imagine if someone cheated their way to a big win at the NFL or NBA? The karma would be swift 
. It's all about the Benjamins 
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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... 
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. The game needs to stay fair and honest, and if these cases bring attention to it then Im all for it 
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. 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 
. 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! 
can you even believe people with power and fame would stoop this low?! i mean billups and jones are literally my boyz 
