The Outcome of UltimateBet Online Poker Inquiry
Kahnawake Gaming Commission in its official statement announced that the inquiry into the cheating scandal at Tokwiro Enterprises’ Absolute Poker and Ultimate Bet online poker rooms has been concluded. Thanks to Frank Catania (former New Jersey Gaming Commissioner) matters which have been intriguing the public for some time, like the names of the main perpetrators, have been explained.
The cheating activities lasted for about 3 years and took $60 million. The public was greatly interested in the names of the fraudsters. At the beginning of the scandal, the Kahnawake Gaming Commission didn’t want to divulge the names of the culprits, weaseling out by using the “former employee” phrase.
The outcome of the investigation couldn’t be more surprising. It turned out that behind the fraud there was no one else than the OWNER of the Ultimate Bet, (and World Series Poker champion) Russ Hamilton. Obviously, Hamilton is not the only fraudster. Nevertheless, he is considered to have been the brains behind the whole cheating scandal. The fact that he was named “chief perpetrator” doesn’t leave any doubts.
Although many people may be surprised by these facts, for some time the discussion about Hamilton was held by bogglers, who (as insiders) suspected Hamilton after the Absolute Poker affair, which took place before the recent Ultimate Bet scandal. Some rather nasty descriptions were used to describe Hamilton. Now it has become obvious that they were well-deserved, taking into consideration the number of ordinary, innocent poker players, who were cheated by someone, who already was a millionaire.
Kahnawake Gaming Commission requires Ultimate Bet to pay compensations to aggrieved people. The deadline of paying the money is established for November 7, 2008. The situation today is that $6.1 million has already been paid to the people who lost their money. Ultimate Bet is also required to get rid of any “unsuitable employees”. What’s more, Ultimate Bet is obliged to make written daily reports to the Commission, be ready to submit any official documents asked for by the Commission and pay a $1.5 million fine. Not doing so is tantamount to losing their license. The poker community expects that some criminal action will be undertaken.
