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Phil Ivey Refused Payment After £7 Million Casino Streak
A Mayfair casino has refused to pay out over £7 million to poker player Phil Ivey after an incredible run at the Punto Banco tables over the August bank holiday weekend left them suspecting foul play.
Crockfords casino, one of the oldest private casinos in the world, are currently locked in an increasingly bitter legal battle with Ivey and have called in a team of investigators to pore over footage of his remarkable session for evidence of cheating.
According to witnesses, Ivey transferred £1 million into the casino’s bank account and proceeded to sit down at a private Punto Banco table with a female friend and bet £50,000 a hand, with a casino inspector noting that he dropped £500,000 before his remarkable comeback run gained momentum.
At the end of the session, Ivey was initially told that his payment would be delayed due to the August bank holiday, but Crockfords later changed their stance and refused to pay out, calling in investigators from Malaysia, the country where it’s owner, the gaming company Genting, is based.
Having examined CCTV film of the session as well as the deck, table and dealing shoe, the investigators have so far drawn a blank as to how Ivey could have possible cheated – and it is in fact currently unclear as to whether or not Crockfords have actually accused Ivey of any wrongdoing.
Certainly, this makes their objections increasingly bizarre as Punto Banco is a game of pure chance and – like roulette – it is virtually impossible to dictate the outcome of any given game, meaning that Ivey’s run, although statistically unlikely, is probably the result of good fortune and deep pockets.
With no resolution currently in sight between the two parties, it is understood that Ivey will settle the matter once and for all at The High Court after Crockford’s investigation is complete.
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