Last week I was playing at the Borgata (2-5NL) and I was involved in 3 way All-In with Seat 5, Seat 10 and Myself (Seat 3). At showdown I tabled a 7-2 spades for a Flush, Seat 5 showed pocket QQ's and mucked, Seat 10 stood up showed 1 card which was the Ace spades and slammed his hand down into the muck. Dealer turned to me (Seat 3) to count out my winning chips, as I was $400 committed and Seat 5 was approx $470 committed ( I was entitled to approx $1250-1300 and Seat 5 entitled to remaining side pot).

About 30 - 60 seconds into the dealers act of counting out chips for myself and seat 5, is when all of sudden Seat 10 said "I have the winner" now showing A-9 spades. Everybody was dumbfounded at the table because either Seat 10 just did the slowest slow roll in history or he cheated... The dealer did not question Seat 10 and just pushed all the chips to Seat 10.

Immediately Myself, Seat 5 and Seat 1 started questioning "what the Hell had just happened?" and Seat 5 stated he swore he saw Seat 10 throw his hand into muck (as well as I and Seat 1 did as well) and the only way Seat 10 could have cards is if he reached into the muck.

We immediately called the floor supervisor and as the floor supervisor was headed over to the table, the dealer started dealing the next hand in which we complained to the dealer "stop dealing". We told the floor supervisor what had happened and we demanded that security review the previous hand. The floor supervisor refused to call security to review the hand and stated that the next hand had been dealt so he couldn't do anything despite the fact that we called for the floor before the hand and the dealer dealt the next hand anyway knowing we all called the floor supervisor.

Since the floor supervisor refused to call security. me and seat 5 went to the Poker Manager, explained what happened and the Poker Manager called security for review of the hand in question. While we were talking to the floor manager, Seat 10 immediately picked up his chips, cashed out and left poker room. About 10 minutes had passed when the Poker manager informed me that Seat 10 indeed mucked his hand and reached back into the muck grabbing a few cards when the dealer had her back turned counting out the chips. Seat 8 all of sudden spoke up and confessed that he observed Seat 10 reach into muck and grab at least 3 different cards before tabling ACE-9 spades. Poker Manager questioned Seat 8 and he stated that he did not say anything because he felt that it wasn't his place "ethically" as he wasn't involved in the hand.

The Borgata poker manager and head of security informed me that they tracked the Seat 10 player who was still staying in the hotel and and they would try to identify who it was as Seat 10 was not swiped in with a player card. (Borgata Security was able to identify who the person was from Black Jack footage a few days prior where he was swiped his player card.) Borgata Security told me they would pull the individual in for questioning and give him a chance to return the money and if he didn't they would contact police.

The next day I left Borgata to head home with the wife. About 2 days later I contacted Borgata Security on the status of my stolen money and I was informed that the individual left the hotel as he was never confronted/contacted by by Boragata security personnel, only emails were sent to this individual as his phone was not in service and Borgata never contacted the NJ state police! Borgata informed me that I had to file criminal complaint with the NJ state police on the individual which would be assisted/vouched by borgata as they have his identification.

I called the NJ State Police, filed a criminal complaint but NJ Police wanted to know why Borgata never notified the police of the cheating/theft (2 felonies) immediately when it happened? and I had no idea why they didn't contact police, Borgata told me they would handle the situation. The NJ state police told me that the Borgata is notorious for dropping the ball and bumbling these types of criminal complaints and NJ Police further stated that I need to file a complaint with the Gaming Commission against the Borgata.

Has anyone ever dealt with this type of issue, and if so is there any advice? ie. filing lawsuit against Borgata, etc? shouldn't the Borgata be liable for their incompetence and non-action? thanks

Thanks bro... out of all my vast years of playing poker I have heard some crazy stories in shady and underground Brick/Mortar but never something so obvious at a mainstream Nationally/World Known Casino... and the incompetence is astounding.. smh

jeez this sucks. Everything about it. I would obviously not play there anymore, but I have no experience with this. If you ask me it is shady all around. My theory -- bare with me -- the dealer could have been in on it, knowing that dealing the next hand would cancel out floor action. I know its far fetched but why else would they not do anything about getting that player to pay up or get your money back or call the police or...ANYTHING TO HELP

lol at dealer being in on it. some of the dealers and floors there are stunningly incompetent, that's all.

not sure why you didn't stop the dealer from pushing the pot right away though, protect yourself at all times

you might have very little recourse right now, contact gaming and seek legal advice

Everything happened so fast as you can imagine.. and I can whole heartily agree with you about the incompetence of some of the dealer and floor personnel. As the dealer pushed the pot to seat 10 we were all (Seat 5, Seat 1, Seat 4 and myself) discussing/debating what had just happened "questioning" what just took place.. As we were discussing the dealer just started dealing the next hand. The poker manager admitted that the dealer was at fault for not collecting the mucked cards immediately and the consensus by the table was that the dealer knew she messed up and purposely pushed out the next hand quickly. The Poker manager actually stated that it was the dealers fault. I contacted the NJ police and they said I have a case (borgata will provide footage/statement) and they are working on it now. Im just wondering regardless that Borgata should be liable.

At Borgata? Shocking..

It sounds like he and other players tried to stop the dealer verbally. That's all you can really do. Touching the dealer / touching the pot / blocking the pot from getting pushed / interfering another way might result in you getting kicked out immediately. I've seen a floor at another (well run) poker room tell a player that it doesn't matter if he's in the right or if the dealer messed up, any physical interference will get you removed from the game.

how can you have a case, unless the camera picks up 9 spade wasnt his before he reached back in, he can just lie. borgata ****ed you but i dont see how the cops can help.

In the security footage the Poker Manager stated that Seat 10 clearly mucked his hand into the muck (his cards were in/touching the muck pile) and then when the dealers back was turned is when he pulled several cards from the muck pile. Regardless of whatever Seat 10 held, he voluntarily folded/mucked his hand.. his hand was officially dead.. also, the way the hand played out, and was being bet (Seat 10 was the aggressor leading the action to put Seat 5 and myself all-in), there is little doubt that seat 10 misread his hand.. especially when Seat 8 admitted to witnessing Seat 10 pull several cards from the muck as well... Once the cards are voluntarily folded by a player and they hit the muck pile they are officially dead. Evidently the case is valid as NJ State Police have taken the criminal case (2 felonies- Cheating regulated table game in NJ and theft of over $400)...

Contact the NJ gaming commission. And contact the casino manager (the poker manager's boss). Pronto.

Did you insist he n getting money or anything from the Borgata before leaving? It seems like it's their responsibility, as the dealer really ****ed up.

I questioned the Poker Manager about that very thing and he stated they will handle it. I even stated if I lose the money then at the very least the Borgata should comp me rooms equaling the cost of what I had stolen.. Basically they said it was just let's wait and see.. Well, I waited and saw they let the Cheat go without any personal confrontation and just sent the Cheat a few emails that haven't been replied to. The NJ state police said they were responsible and I should file with the NJ gaming commission in the meantime. My feeling is that Borgata is responsible especially since it was dealer fault and borgata security failed to properly act after identifying individual especially when he stayed in the Borgata for an additional day or two...

This.

Very rarely will you see me post that the casino is liable to cover anyone's loss, but in this situation I think the Borgata should pay you what you lost in this hand. This could have been handled by the floor supervisor that was called to the table and IMHO it was that floor supervisor's fault that this wasn't resolved. Yes, the dealer should have waited to deal the next hand, but if you explained that you tried to stop the dealer then the floor should have listened and looked into it. An accusation that a player cheated to win a pot is a serious matter and the floor should have checked into it.

If I was the floor...

This game would have stopped there, the pot would have been impounded, and surveillance would have been asked to see what happened. After review, the pot would be awarded to the correct players and then it would be up to the manager to decide how to handle seat 10.

Seat 10 might be somebody folks don't want to cross. It is New Jersey after all. Yeah I'm a little bit paranoid. It's healthy.

@Suit

As of this moment... A criminal complaint has been filed with the NJ State Police and a Detective has been assigned (Det. Clemons) and a complaint has been filed with the NJ gaming commission.

According to NJ State Police, 2 felonies have occurred- 1. Cheating a State regulated table game, 2. Theft of approximately $1400-1700.

The thing that irks me the most is the fact that Borgata had surveillance footage proof of the cheating/illegal actions, they quickly identified the individual who was staying at the Borgata for approx. 2 additional days after the incident, they did not physically reach out and confront the individual, but instead sent emails to the individuals email account as the phone number listed was not in service..... AND the Borgata never notified POLICE of the known crimes.

People are probably wondering why I didn't contact Police? I didn't contact Police because I was told by the Poker Manager and Head of Security that Borgata was handling the situation as they have protocols in place for these types of situations. I guess the protocol is to do the least possible. smh

PS- The NJ State Police told me that Borgata has had several issues like this (criminal complaints) in which they bumbled the investigations and did nothing.

Also, I inquired if this cheater (Seat 10) is banned from Borgata and/or any other NJ casinos and I was told by the Head of Security that his account is flagged, etc.. etc.. but I'm wondering since this Cheater stayed an additional 2 days after the incident if he was still allowed to gamble/play in the Borgata, etc... This whole situation is some BS..

Giant WTF at seat 8 witnessing and keeping quiet.

Don't get me wrong, I am upset that Seat 8 didn't say anything until after the fact, but I understand his feeling of being torn if he should/shouldn't say something when he wasn't involved in the pot.

It's a moral dilemma. I like to believe I would have said something as you can bet that Seat 10 has or is more likely capable of doing something like this again.

No it's not. Everyone at the table has a responsibility to do what they can to ensure a fare game.

I agree that Seat 8 should have said something, but there is a lot of factors that play into involving yourself in something like this (outing a cheater). As a poster mentioned earlier, you never know who you are playing against or what they are capable of and you can be setting yourself up for a whole lot of pain by outing some of these people. Not too mention you can't depend on Casinos like Borgata ensuring your safety or integrity of the game as evidenced by this very situation.

....but yes, Seat 8 should have said something as Seat 5 was also affected by Seat 10 as he was entitled to the side pot.

This x1000.

Terrible to read. Not shocking.

Glad you have followed up, and will continue to do so. Keep us posted.

Re: Not being 100% focused after showdown. I'm glad there aren't a bunch of posters blaming you for not being hyper vigilant about watching and stopping actions. I'm guilty in the past of just expecting the dealer to make things right after showdown. Now I do my best to make sure that the cards are mucked, pots are made right and shipped to me when I think I've got a winner.

My experience with Borgata security was about the same. I left an ipad in my room after checking out. Contacted them when I got home. Lots of run around, no action. I went back to file a local police report. Nothing came of it.

I have been playing seriously for over a decade and usually I'm pretty cognizant of the post/after action from showdown, etc. This particular time however it was just the perfect storm of how the hand played out, the way showdown went down, the seat I and Villain was in and the actions of dealer pushing pot, etc....

You can bet that my actions/outlook have changed for future showdowns/post action and players at the table may think I'm overzealous (or an ass) but.. I'm a changed player forever because of this incident...

Was Seat 10 scary looking or imposing in any way? Seat 8 definitely should speak up but I could see someone cowering out of this situation if Seat 10 looks like somebody who might tune you up for accusing him of cheating.

I mean people used to get shot accusing someone of cheating at cards. The game's come a long way obviously but it still could be dangerous to accuse the wrong person of cheating.

No, I didn't feel that Seat 10 was anything imposing, etc... but Seat 8 was an older gentlemen (mid 50's or so)... but like I said earlier, Seat 8 stated he wasn't involved in the hand and was torn on speaking up at the time. He did apologize to me and seat 5, but also said that it was kind of surreal what he was witnessing and was trying to come to terms what he was actually observing of somebody actually cheating.. Honestly, I understood where he is coming from.

I guess that's understandable. I'm pretty sure I'd call out a cheater in a second unless the guy was like 6'5", heavily muscled, with swastika tattoos (or something similar), but I haven't been in that position so I can't say for sure.