Sophisticated Technology for Fraudulent Games
Dating back to at least 2019, the scam unfolded in illegal poker clubs in New York and other cities across the United States. Organizers lured wealthy players (referred to as "fish") with promises of playing alongside famous athletes. The reality? Each table was set up for the players to lose.
The key was modified card shufflers equipped with hidden cameras and sensors to read all the cards in the deck. This device determined who held the winning hand and sent the information outside the room to an operator, who relayed it to the “quarterback” at the table via mobile. The quarterback used prearranged signals, like touching certain chips or other table items, to inform accomplices, who then placed bets ensuring victims lost tens to hundreds of thousands of dollars each evening. Ironically, we wrote about concerns of live poker cheating using hacked shufflers just a day ago.
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The fraudsters used other modern technologies to rig poker games. Additional tools included:
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Chip tray analyzers with hidden cameras.
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X-ray tables to read face-down cards.
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Marked cards visible through special contact lenses or glasses.
The entire scam was meticulously organized, with members of the conspiracy performing various roles. Specialists provided the technology, while organizers ensured the games ran smoothly. When victims refused to pay debts, the mafia intervened. According to the indictment, several members of the fraudulent organization committed violent acts, including assault, extortion, and armed robbery, to secure debt repayment and maintain the scheme's success.
Mafia and Athletes: Unlikely Allies in Fraud
The scheme brought together three La Cosa Nostra families – Bonanno, Gambino, and Genovese. These families controlled illegal games in New York and took a cut from the manipulated ones – organizers paid them for protection and debt enforcement.
Prominent athletes served as bait for wealthy players. Notable names include Chauncey Billups, who, as a player, became an NBA champion in 2004 and was named the Finals MVP. The 49-year-old American now serves as the head coach of the NBA’s Portland Trail Blazers. Also charged are Terry Rozier (Miami Heat player) and Damon Jones (former NBA player). Billups and Jones allegedly participated in the rigged games, belonging to the fraudsters' team. Rozier and Jones were involved in a separate sports betting scandal with insider information.
FBI Strike: Operation “Royal Flush”
The FBI, in collaboration with HSI (Homeland Security Investigations) and NYPD, made arrests in 11 states. Detained individuals face charges of fraud, money laundering, extortion, robbery, and illegal gambling. Prosecutor Joseph Nocella Jr. described it as a sophisticated scam but also sent a warning to the fraudulent group: “Your winning streak is over.”
FBI Director Kash Patel highlighted the staggering scope, with victims losing at least $7 million, and the total damage estimated in the tens of millions. “It’s a wide-reaching criminal enterprise connecting the NBA and La Cosa Nostra,” he stated.
The NBA responded swiftly to the arrests, immediately suspending Billups and Rozier from their teams. “We take these allegations with utmost seriousness, and the integrity of our game remains our highest priority,” the NBA said in a statement.
Cheating as a Persistent Threat
This case follows previous scandals, such as the hacking of Deckmate 2 shufflers, the use of readers and marked cards with RFID chips, and the French scam involving tiny cameras in phones. Professional players therefore advise against private games and illegal casinos.
Operation Royal Flush demonstrates that fraud can span from the mafia to sports icons. The anticipated response from casinos and organizers is to ramp up security, while players will become more paranoid, yet the threat of potential cheating will never entirely vanish.
Source: Justice.gov, Wikipedia, NBC News, NY Post
