25 Oct 2025 According to a BBC report, the FBI uncovered a massive scheme that put wealthy amateurs, famous people, and professional athletes at rigged poker tables without their knowledge. The players got involved in high-stakes card games that were against the law. FBI agents claim that the operation was aimed at "fishes," or rich people who were tricked into playing illegal games where every hand was fixed by dealers, technology, and even sunglasses. Cities like New York, Miami, and Las Vegas reported losses of at least $7 million. One player allegedly lost $1.8 million alone. The Massive Scheme According to reports, the Gambino, Bonanno, Lucchese, and Genovese crime families devised and operated the scheme around 2019. Authorities referred to the victims of the scam as "fish," leading them to what seemed like sophisticated poker games with wealthy and renowned players. Chauncey Billups, the head coach of the Portland Trail Blazers, and Damon Jones, a former NBA player, served as the "face cards" in the scheme. Chauncey Billups and Damon Jones's popularity attracted the scammed individuals. Scammed individuals believed they were participating in genuine Texas Hold 'Em games for tens or hundreds of thousands of dollars. The dealers, players, tables, and equipment were all involved in the rigged games. Prosecutors indicated the plan included secret cameras, chip trays with analyzers, sunglasses, and contact lenses that could read marked cards, as well as X-ray tables that could determine the value of a face-down card. Technology and Collusion As per the authorities, this is not a typical case of card sharks. The scam relied on high-tech tools and carefully planned strategies. A portable camera hidden in the table sent card information to an "operator" outside the table. The "quarterback" at the table interpreted the signals and instructed the other players on their actions. Also available were pre-marked cards, rigged shuffling machines, and chip tray readers. There were reports that each game stole hundreds of thousands of dollars from its players. The stolen money was laundered through cash exchanges, phony businesses, and cryptocurrency. Later, a portion of the laundered funds was used to support the mafia's broader illicit activities. An X-ray poker table seen in Robert Stroud’s iCloud image (Photo Courtesy Of U.S Dept. of Justice) The scheme, as stated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, was described as "mind-boggling" and was expected to impact large cities significantly by exploiting both status and trust. A screenshot from Shane Hennen’s iCloud shows data from the rigged shuffler (Photo Courtesy Of U.S Dept. of Justice) Big Names, Bigger Questions After the investigation, law enforcement apprehended more than 30 individuals. One of the suspects caught was Chauncey Billups, who resigned as head coach of the Portland Trail Blazers during the investigation. Another individual involved was Damon Jones, who faced charges of wire fraud and money laundering. Billups is alleged to have recruited famous and wealthy individuals, but law enforcement agencies need to prove that he did more than simply bring them in. Critics argue that Billups's motives in the scheme are unclear, considering he earned over $100 million during his career and millions more as a coach. Everyone in the poker world is stunned that a game as prominent as this could be completely rigged. How many other games remain undiscovered? The unfolding story suggests that these charges may just be the start of additional developments. Chauncey Billups (Photo Courtesy of NBA.com) Poker Community Reaction A lot of discussion has been taking place online following the exposé. Several threads on Reddit's r/poker subreddit capture the overall sentiment: yellowcats: Comment byu/Omaha_Poker from discussion inpoker Lukenicos: Comment byu/Omaha_Poker from discussion inpoker joethecrow23: Comment byu/Omaha_Poker from discussion inpoker Nomromz: Comment byu/Omaha_Poker from discussion inpoker Mundane-News9720: Comment byu/Omaha_Poker from discussion inpoker readrOccasionalpostr: Comment byu/Omaha_Poker from discussion inpoker moneygmark: Comment byu/Omaha_Poker from discussion inpoker Many people were concerned about the possibility of such a complex scam continuing unnoticed for years. High rollers suffered significant financial losses. Some people questioned whether the so-called "face cards" were genuinely involved in the scam or if they were simply a distraction. They also inquired whether the incident would serve as a lesson for the poker industry. What does this news mean for players? This news impacts me deeply as a poker player. Finding out how easy it is to cheat in high-stakes games, even those involving big names, is concerning. This revelation makes me seriously question the fairness and integrity of the game. If it's possible to defraud millionaires, what chance do average players like us have?
