Exposing Poker Cheating: Insiders Speak Out
High-Stakes Poker Players, Including Mike Holtz, Eric Zheng, and Patrick Leonard, Allege Widespread Cheating in Nevada Casinos
Poker pros are sounding the alarm on a growing issue in Las Vegas' poker scene - cheating during tournaments.
Leading the charge is Eric Zheng, who took to social media to express his frustration over chip dumping at The Venetian. In his lengthy post, Zheng detailed his encounter with players colluding to transfer chips, claiming the casino floor staff refused to investigate.
Patrick Leonard echoed similar sentiments, sharing his experience at The Venetian, as well as at Resorts World where he was allegedly told, "if the cards aren't exposed we can't do anything."
Mike Holtz joined the chorus, claiming he caught the same group of individuals cheating during an $800 Main Event at Resorts World just last weekend. Supporting evidence in the form of a video further detailed the incident.
The Full Story Unfolds
In a subsequent video, Holtz, a popular podcaster, provided more details about the suspected cheaters at Resorts World. He claimed that the nine and two seat at his table appeared to be working together, with the nine seat frequently opening, only for the two seat to fold in such a way that his cards were revealed to the nine seat. Despite Holtz' persistent complaints, staff allegedly took no action.
Upon being moved to a new table, one of the same cheaters' associates spoke to their friend in a different language, prompting Holtz to again flag potential cheating. The man fled the poker room in response. Holtz believes the players behind these incidents are connected to those called out by Zheng and Leonard at The Venetian.
Not a Lone Wolf Issue
Holtz didn't stop there, reporting another player accused of pocketing chips, despite numerous complaints to staff. The player was allegedly only removed from the tournament four hours later. Holtz also accused a dealer of exposing cards to players, resulting in a verbal reprimand.
"We have to come together as a community and say f--k this bulls--t," Holtz declared. "Stop cheating us." Holtz believes that cheating is a pervasive issue in the poker community and needs to be confronted head-on before it becomes insurmountable.
A Cry from the Community
"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. But someone has to be that guy, man," Holtz admitted. He commended the Wynn Las Vegas for their efforts in addressing cheating, stating, "The Wynn is on point. Everywhere else should be like there."
While the provided search results have no details on recent actions taken by Las Vegas casinos regarding cheating, it's essential for poker enthusiasts to address this issue collectively to maintain integrity in the game. As Holtz emphasized, "It's about who can cheat better. We have to come together as a community and say f--k this bulls--t. Stop cheating us."
- Eric Zheng and Patrick Leonard, along with others, have raised concerns about chip dumping and collusion in poker tournaments at casinos like The Venetian and Resorts World in Las Vegas.
- Mike Holtz, a podcaster, has accused a group of suspected cheaters at Resorts World, claiming they were working together and that casino staff ignored his complaints.
- Holtz provided more details about the suspected cheaters in a subsequent video, alleging that their actions were connected to those previously reported by Zheng and Leonard at The Venetian.
- Beyond this group, Holtz has also reported other instances of suspected cheating, including players pocketing chips, dealers exposing cards, and staff failing to take action despite repeated complaints.
- Holtz has called on the poker community to unite in addressing this issue, commending the Wynn Las Vegas for their efforts and urging other casinos to follow suit.
- As the issue of cheating in poker tournaments continues to grow, it's crucial for poker enthusiasts to collectively confront and address this problem to maintain the integrity of casino-games like poker within casino-culture and gambling-trends.
