A 12 Million Casino Dispute Is Underway Between World-Renowned Poker Player Phil Ivey And British Casino Crockfords

A 12 million casino dispute is underway between a British casino, Crockfords, and world-renowned poker player Phil Ivey. Crockfords is claiming that when Ivey won  £7.6 million - about $11.9 million in game of one punto banco, a baccarat game, Ivey counted cards.  The casino is refusing to pay, and Ivey has sued to get his winnings.

Crockfords, the casino, is charging that Ivey cheated by observing flaws in the cards and exploiting that knowledge.  In punto banco, the player tries to draw two or three cards with a sum closer to nine than the dealer's cards. As in blackjack, punto banco hands can be over very quickly, often in less than a minute, and they're theoretically based entirely on luck. In August in London, Ivey and a woman were playing with the dealer, in full view of at least ten cameras, at Crockfords. Ivey began wagering at £50,000 (around $77,000 USD) per hand; it later went as high as £150,000 (around $230,000 USD) per hand over three nights. Ivey and the unidentified woman who accompanied him were in the red as much as £500,000, ($770,000), but came out with millions.

Ivey has a very good reputation.  Laura Bradley of Bluff Magazine told press, "There's nothing in his past that would hint at his being a cheater or unethical in any way," Bradley said. "People say he's arguably the best poker player in the world; but, really, there's no argument: He's number one. He's known both for his skill and for his love of high-stakes games. He loves anything where there's some sexiness at stake."

The casino alleges that Ivey could notice imperfections on the backs of the cards and could tell, even face-down, what the cards were. Cards are supposed to be symmetrical, but it's possible that, thanks to an error in manufacturing, the cards were slightly asymmetrical. And, to boot, cards are supposed to be thrown away at the end of the day, but Ivey persuaded the casino to keep using the same pack all three days. They're not sure if he knew in advance the cards may have had defects or noticed it while playing, but in either case, they alledge he exploited that knowledge to win.

"I was given a receipt for my winnings, but Crockfords has withheld payment," Ivey said in a statement. "I have no alternative but to take legal action."

The casino has withheld his winnings, returning only £1 million stake, and is having fraud prevention specialists screen security tapes.