Posted on: December 14, 2022, 05:24h.
Final up to date on: December 14, 2022, 06:24h.
An almost three-month investigation into one of the vital controversial arms of poker ever performed has concluded. However its findings, launched on Wednesday morning, are much less conclusive than most poker gamers and followers in all probability hoped.
Poker ace Garrett Adelstein glowers at rookie Robbi Jade Lew throughout a now-infamous Hustler On line casino Dwell poker sport on Sept. 29, 2022. Adelstein accused Lew of dishonest after she made a logic-defying name throughout the match. Lew has at all times denied the allegations. (Picture: screengrab/Hustler Dwell Stream)
A 12-page report from Excessive Stakes Poker Productions (HSPP), the manufacturing firm for the Hustler On line casino Dwell (HCL) livestream present, discovered “no conclusive proof of wrongdoing” in opposition to Robbi Jade Lew. The rookie participant made one of the vital illogical calls in skilled poker historical past whereas taking part in in opposition to Garrett Adelstein, one of many sport’s most distinguished stars, on Sept. 29.
Nonetheless, the report acknowledged, “That doesn’t imply that no wrongdoing occurred. It implies that the investigation failed to search out credible proof.”
Rundown of a Unhealthy Beatdown
Through the now-infamous HCL livestream from the Gardena, Calif. on line casino, Lew referred to as Adelstein’s semi-bluff $105K all-in wager with just about nothing – a jack excessive with no draw and solely a hope of a pair on the river. (In response to a calculation by DraftKings, she had roughly 150 methods to lose her hand, however solely six methods to win.)
This grew the pot to $269K, which Lew received. Much more bizarrely, following the win, Lew gave her winnings from the controversial hand again to Adelstein, making her seem responsible. (Later, she claimed, she did so underneath duress.)
Adelstein later accused Lew of colluding with not less than one different participant on the desk and with manufacturing worker Bryan Sagbigsal. Lew has repeatedly denied the allegations.
4 days later, the scandal bought $15K weirder, when it was revealed that Sagbigsal robbed Lew of three $5K chips following the sport, and that Lew initially refused to press costs. (Later, she did, and the Gardena Police Division issued a warrant for the 25-year-old’s arrest, on Nov. 22 for felony theft.) Sagbigsal, it was later decided, had a prison document, together with a 2017 arrest for theft and jail escape (with out pressure).
Investigating the Investigation
HSPP stated it spent greater than $100K on its investigation. Cybersecurity consultants, personal investigators, and legislation corporations had been all employed for his or her experience. Dozens of hours of surveillance video had been scrutinized. The cardboard shuffler was inspected. Even the poker desk was dismantled, to test whether or not its radio frequency identification system – which reads and broadcasts every participant’s face-down playing cards to a receiver – may have been compromised in any manner.
“Upon inspection of the techniques, desk and community,” the report stated, “there was no proof of tampering, distant entry, viruses, rogue {hardware} put in, or beforehand put in applications on the machines.”
That stated, the cybersecurity agency did determine some “essential dangers” that, whereas not suggestive of dishonest on this case, wanted redressing to forestall it sooner or later:
Manufacturing Room Vulnerabilities
The gamers’ card data “could possibly be seen by anybody within the manufacturing room simply by turning their head,” in keeping with the report. A wall and door have since been put in to fortify that weak hyperlink. Now, solely a single monitor, viewable solely by the present’s director, shows hole-card data. As well as, all staff should place their digital units into signal-blocking baggage earlier than coming into the room, and solely HSPP staff have entry to the room, not Hustler On line casino staff.
Undisclosed Staking
After it was revealed by Lew that she had been staked her playing cash by one other participant on the desk, Jacob “Rip” Chavez, HSPP introduced that it’ll now require gamers to signal a waiver acknowledging they haven’t any monetary funding in anybody else within the sport. “The undisclosed monetary relationship between Ms. Lew and Mr. Chavez creates the looks of collusion between the 2 gamers,” the report stated. “Such conduct is broadly thought-about unethical within the poker group and is prohibited in ‘Hustler On line casino Dwell’ video games.”
Lack of Background Checks
HSPP, which admitted that not conducting a background test on Sagbigsal earlier than hiring him was a mistake, stated it can now conduct pre-employment background checks on all potential staff.
In an interview with the Los Angeles Instances, HCL coowner Ryan Feldman tried to border the investigation’s conclusions as if they resolve the dishonest costs and place the scandal squarely within the firm’s rear-view mirror.
“It’s going to at all times be a thriller to a level, as a result of — as I’ve stated all alongside — there’s no method to 100% show that nothing occurred,” Feldman instructed the newspaper. “However I believe lots of people might be glad by this and see that we did every part we may to attempt to determine this out. We’re prepared to maneuver on.”
