An independent investigation regarding the cheating
scandals at Tokwiro Enterprises' Absolute Poker and
Ultimate Bet online poker rooms has wrapped up according
to an official statement released by the Kahnawake
Gaming Commission. At the hands of Frank Catania (former
New Jersey Gaming Commissioner), the investigation has
apparently answered some pressing questions which the
online poker community at large has been demanding for
some time now.
One of the foremost demands people have been asking
is that the names of the perpetrators of the cheating
scandal (which took place over the course of 36 months
and resulted in over $60 million in fraudulent poker
playing) be released. When the cheating scandals first
broke out, Kahnawake Gaming Commission's unacceptable
answer was that it was a "former employee".
Well, guess what folks? According to Catania's
report, the former owner of Ultimate Bet itself
and World Series of Poker champion, Russ Hamilton, is at
the heart of the cheating scandal. In fact Hamilton was
named as the "chief perpetrator". While Hamilton wasn't
the only one involved, it is very likely he knew about
all the cheating activity that was taking place.
Most people will be surprised to hear this news.
However, there was some suspicion about Hamilton going
back to the Absolute Poker scandal (which preceded the
debacle at Ultimate Bet. The "insider" poker community,
including many whom publish their own poker blogs, had
drawn some attention on Hamilton more than once. Some
players were even discussing the "scumminess" of Russ
Hamilton, which is now pretty apparent. Anyone who is
already a millionaire to begin with, and chooses to
steal millions more from innocent and unsuspecting
people is most certainly at the top of the "scumbag
hierarchy".
As for Kahnawake's response to the report, they are
demanding that all players who were affected by the
scandal to be fully refunded by November 7, 2008. To
date, $6.1 million has already been paid back by
Ultimate Bet. The Commission also demands that UB remove
any employee deemed "unsuitable" (whatever that means),
that UB prepare a day-by-day written report to the
Commission regarding player activity, submit all
software and transaction logs whenever requested and pay
a $1.5 million fine. Otherwise, they lose their license.
The idea now is that some criminal action should take
place. That's what the poker community wants - and
rightfully so.
Seed
Newsvine