cheating at star city tournament

[toysteel]

This Wednesday was my first tournament entry at star city and I was shocked at the cheating that I saw but also how blatant it was.

1. I arrived late to the tournament after it started and stood in line to register for the tournament as an alternate, there was a line about 10 deep, a young asian guy lined up behind me. An older white person who was already playing at the tournament left his table and walked up to young asian guy and said to him "Do you want the chips now?", the young asian guy appeared to be discreet while saying "Nah, later."

Both players are star city regulars whom anyone playing there on a regular basis will know by name or face.

2. I get to my table and proceed to play in the tournament, at the last level before the first break, 150/300 from memory, another star city regular, came to the table, what was striking about him is that he had no smaller denomination chips other than $500, and $1000, his stack was around $6000, in a pot just before the break, he proceeded to make a ridiculous bluff with half his stack which proceeded to fail, and he was left with $3000 in chips. He was involved in no further pots until the break, immediately after arriving back from break, I noticed that his chip stack had now magically grown and is suddenly around $8000, again, all 500 and 1000 denomination chips. I don't know how many other people noticed this at the table, I suspect given the caliber of play that noone pays much attention to anything other than the cards.

So this is my observations from my FIRST tournament at starcity, and it seems to me that cheating is RAMPANT at this tournament. It seems to be quite easy to do, all you have to do is skim a few chips from your stack when you get deep into the tournament, a few $1000 chips won't matter if your average stack is $50000, and then you can put those chips back in play earlier in the next tournament to give yourself a better chance. It seems to me that there is quite a few syndicates who do this and then share the chips amongst themselves.

In terms of EV, I don't think it matters that much since most of the play I saw there was atrocious, but I don't think I will play the tournaments at star city again given that I will be on tilt knowing that I am playing at a tournament with rampant cheating.

[Nick the Greek]

...and then

[Danny McDonagh]

Toysteel, I see this is your first post but for sure as a Tournament Director and an having a personal interest in Star City Poker I should take what you are saying on face value.

If you did not bring this to the attention to the TD on the night, please email me if you prefer (or you can contact the star city poker manager direct - I can give you her email address) with details of the table, seat number of you and the player in question and the time of the break. Seat 1 is to the left of the dealer for your info. My email is dannym@appt.com

Surveillance will still be current and with your quick actions we can nail this player.

I know Star City take very seriously the balance of their tournament chips and the balance of their high denomination chips. If for some reason there was a breach of their strict procedures, your quick action can ensure this player will never play a tournament again at Star City.

You state that "I am playing at a tournament with rampant cheating". Please email me details asap as surveillance will surely pick up a player introducing $5,000 worth of $500 and $1000 chips into the game after a break.

[Andre28]

snap

[JoeyDel]

[ ] Thread Believable

[toysteel]

the table number and seat numbers have been sent.

[GET IT RIGHT]

Interesting observation for someone who is playing his first tournament but what amazes me is that you are able to identify what you call two "regular" players. How do you know they are regulars if this is your first time there? If i have misunderstood the situation then i apologise.

[HeeHaw]

Originally Posted by GET IT RIGHT

Interesting observation for someone who is playing his first tournament but what amazes me is that you are able to identify what you call two "regular" players. How do you know they are regulars if this is your first time there? If i have misunderstood the situation then i apologise.

In fairness he did say first tourny there. He may play cash games at SC regularly.

[toysteel]

i've been playing cash games at star since the poker tables opened, this is my first tournament there.

[Andre28]

Well im certainly going to watch with interest. Love to see Danny actually follows this up and review footage etc.

Danny please post back and either

a) Confirm there were cheaters, out them, and state what disciplinary action has been taken (broken fingers etc) or

b) State footage has been reviewed thoroughly, no cheating was detected and Toysteel will need to sign up for yet another account.

Please do not come back and say that as you entered the security room (are you allowed in there?) they were just deleting the old data (or whatever they do these days) and had you not stopped to tie your shoe lace you would have been able to save the footage from deletion.