The indictments announced Thursday of a poker cheating ring involving NBA figures and backed by the mafia emphasized their alleged high-tech cheating methods. But the con tactics they described are as old as poker itself, familiar from heist movies and James Bond films. Shady shuffles came not from quick-handed card sharks, but tricked-out machines. Instead of mirrors or guys in the corner peeking over shoulders, there were X-ray tables and high-tech contact lenses.
Rich targets known as fish were brought in by the allure of playing for high stakes in posh secret spots in Manhattan with names like The Lexington Avenue Game. The operators of these clandestine games included Portland Trail Blazers coach Chauncey Billups, who was charged with participating in a conspiracy to fix high-stakes card games, reportedly cheating unsuspecting gamblers out of at least $7 million.
The shuffling machine, capable of determining the exact order of cards, played a crucial role in the scam. Information about the winning hands was reportedly transmitted wirelessly to a designated player at the table. This individual, known as the quarterback, would relay the information through subtle signals to their accomplices.
Authorities stated that the cheating winners would share a percentage of their earnings with the game operators while victims were coerced into wiring money through shell companies, with some facing violence when they couldn't pay up. This scandal highlights the dangerous intersection of organized crime and the world of professional sports, raising serious concerns about the integrity of the NBA.
Rich targets known as fish were brought in by the allure of playing for high stakes in posh secret spots in Manhattan with names like The Lexington Avenue Game. The operators of these clandestine games included Portland Trail Blazers coach Chauncey Billups, who was charged with participating in a conspiracy to fix high-stakes card games, reportedly cheating unsuspecting gamblers out of at least $7 million.
The shuffling machine, capable of determining the exact order of cards, played a crucial role in the scam. Information about the winning hands was reportedly transmitted wirelessly to a designated player at the table. This individual, known as the quarterback, would relay the information through subtle signals to their accomplices.
Authorities stated that the cheating winners would share a percentage of their earnings with the game operators while victims were coerced into wiring money through shell companies, with some facing violence when they couldn't pay up. This scandal highlights the dangerous intersection of organized crime and the world of professional sports, raising serious concerns about the integrity of the NBA.
