US poker player Phil Ivey sues casino
Mr Ivey says he has won more
than $16m (£10.3m) in poker tournaments
Top US poker player Phil Ivey is suing a Mayfair casino
for £7.8m of winnings he says they are refusing to hand over.
In a claim issued at the High Court in London, Mr Ivey, 36, says he won the money fairly playing card game punto banco at Crockfords last August.
He said he was "deeply saddened" the club, which he says gave a receipt for his winnings, "left me no alternative but to proceed with legal action".
Crockfords owner Genting said it would be "defending this claim vigorously".
It is not clear why the winnings were withheld.
'Best player'
Mr Ivey, who lives in Las Vegas, Nevada, and who says he has won more than £10.3m ($16m) in poker tournaments, said in a statement he had "won and lost substantial sums" at Crockfords over the years and had "always honoured my commitments".
"At the time, I was given a receipt for my winnings but
Crockfords subsequently withheld payment," he added.
"I therefore feel I have no alternative but to take legal action."
His lawyer, Matthew Dowd, said it "was with great regret that Phil has been forced to issue court proceedings against Crockfords to secure payment of his winnings".
Genting said in a statement that it did not comment "on matters involving individual members".
"However, in this rare instance we are able to confirm that our position, which is supported by strong legal advice, has been made very clear to Mr Ivey's solicitors from the start," he added.
Start Quote
End Quote Genting
Our position, which is supported by strong legal advice, has been made very clear to Mr Ivey's solicitors from the start”
"We shall be filing our defence shortly and defending this claim vigorously."
In punto banco - a game of chance which means "player bank" - bets are placed on whether a player or a banker gets the hand with the total closest to nine.
Mr Ivey is described by his publicity team as "the youngest player to ever hold nine world series of poker championship bracelets" and "one of, if not the best, poker player alive".
Crockfords was founded as a private members gaming club in 1828 by businessman William Crockford.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-22449642
Poker Pro Phil Ivey Sues Crockfords Casino
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by Renee Israel
 Ivey, known as 'the Tiger Woods of Poker', claims that London's oldest gambling club owes him close to £7.3 million he won playing the casino game Punto Banco, a variant of Baccarat. Crockfords, owned by the Malaysian Genting Group, is allegedly withholding money won by Ivey during a private gaming session of Punto Banco, when he visited the club in August last year. Ivey is a seasoned card game player and has been recorded to be the world's sixth highest earner in Punto Banco tournaments, amassing a £9 million fortune in payouts from this game alone. Phil "Saddened" by Crockfords LawsuitPhil Ivey has stated that while he is "saddened" to have had to reach the point of filing a lawsuit against the prestigious London casino, he was left with no other choice."Over the years, I have won and lost substantial sums at Crockfords and I have always honoured my commitments," he said in a statement. "At the time, I was given a receipt for my winnings, but Crockfords subsequently withheld payment. I therefore feel I have no alternative but to take legal action." Ivey's lawyer, Matthew Dowd added: "It is with great regret that Phil has been forced to issue court proceedings against Crockfords to secure payment of his winnings." During a visit to the casino last year with his female companion, Ivey hit a winning streak at the game and over a two day period amassed winnings of over £7.3 million. However, when he asked for his payout, the casino refused to hand over the money and instead opened an internal investigation. Genting flew investigators from Kuala Lampur to review surveillance video footage, examine the cards used and interview staff and croupiers The move was criticised in light of the fact that Punto Banco is a pure game of chance with virtually no way of being 'fixed'. Genting Comments on Phil Ivey CaseAs Phil Ivey sues Crockfords, a spokesman for Genting said that while comments were not usually made regarding individual members, an exception had been made in this case."In this rare instance we are able to confirm that our position, which is supported by strong legal advice, has been made very clear to Mr Ivey's solicitors from the start. We shall be filing our defence shortly." Founded in 1828, Crockfords is the oldest casino in Britain, and some years ago was sold to the Genting gaming corporation. http://www.gamblingkingz.com/news/2013/05/09/poker-pro-phil-ivey-sues-crockfords-casino.asp |
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