Frustrations Rise: Poker Pros Call Out Cheating in Vegas Tournaments
High-Stakes Poker Players Mike Holtz, Eric Zheng, and Patrick Leonard Accuse Extensive Cheating in Vegas Casinos
A chorus of discontent from professional poker players echoes on social media, with multiple pros speaking out against suspected cheating at Las Vegas poker tournaments.
First to weigh in was Eric Zheng, who posted a lengthy message on Wednesday. While playing at The Venetian, he accused two players of chip dumping. However, the floor staff allegedly refused to investigate the matter.
Patrick Leonard, a pro with over $3 million in live earnings, shared his own experience. He complained to staff about chip dumping but was told, "If the cards aren't exposed, we can't do anything."
The "same group" of suspects also reportedly cheated Mike Holtz, another poker pro, not long ago at Resorts World during an $800 Main Event. A video shared by Holtz sheds light on this incident.
Speaking Out: Mike Holtz's Perspective
Holtz elaborated on his video posted to his X account. In the video, he details several instances where his complaints about apparent cheating were disregarded by Resorts World staff.
At the $800 Main Event, Holtz noticed strange coordination between the ninth seat (a big stack) and the second seat in relation to betting. When he alerted staff, they seemed to disregard his concerns.
After being moved to a new table, Holtz found another player from the cheating ring. One of the men from the previous table communicated with this player in a different language behind his back, prompting further complaints from Holtz. The man then left the poker room.
Holtz believes that the players involved in his experience may be associated with those named by Zheng and Leonard at The Venetian.
More than Just One Incident
Holtz exposes other incidents besides the one at Resorts World. He alleges that a player pocketed chips, despite multiple reports to staff. The player supposedly wasn't removed until four hours later.
Holtz claims that dealers were exposing cards to players, which he complained about. A staff member reportedly labeled him a "cry baby" in response, a comment that Holtz finds unacceptable. "A dealer should never talk to a player like that," he emphasizes, stating that the staff member should have faced immediate termination.
This isn't an isolated issue, according to Holtz. Cheating appears to be a growing concern in the poker community, which players need to address before it becomes overwhelming. "We have to come together as a community and say f*ck this bullsh*t," he declares. "Stop cheating us."
"I feel like I have burned some of my social credit because I keep talking about this so vocally, and I don't want to be that guy," Holtz adds. "But someone has to be that guy man."
Holtz extols the Wynn Las Vegas for addressing cheating effectively and calls on other properties to follow its example. "The Wynn is on point," he states. "Everywhere else should be like there."
Additional Insights:
- Cheating is unfortunately not uncommon in the poker community, and many players have faced such experiences.
- In an effort to combat cheating, the World Series of Poker has implemented rule changes, such as banning electronic devices during later stages of tournaments to prevent real-time assistance.
- There have been recent incidents involving poker players such as Ali Imsirovic and Nacho Barbero that involve cheating or controversy related to anti-cheat measures.
- The controversy surrounding cheating in Las Vegas casino-and-gambling communities is intensifying, with players like Mike Holtz, Eric Zheng, and Patrick Leonard bringing light to suspected incidences at venues like The Venetian, Resorts World, and Wynn Las Vegas.
- Casino-culture in Las Vegas is under scrutiny due to rising gambling-trends of cheating, as professional poker players continue to expose multiple instances of chip dumping, card-exposure by dealers, and failure to address complaints by staff in casino-games like poker tournaments.
- In an attempt to control these trends, the poker community and casinos should take proactive measures such as adopting stricter regulations, improving staff training, and following the exemplary anti-cheat measures implemented by the Wynn Las Vegas.
