Online Poker Scandal Investigation Completed
The Kahnawake Gaming Commission has finished its investigation into the cheating scandal at online poker room Ultimate Bet and released its findings. According to the report by the gambling regulators, the owner of the Ultimate Bet site, Tokowiro, was fined $1.5 million, as well as forced to pay restitution of over $22 million to players whose poker outcomes were determined to be involved in compromised hands.Former world champion Russ Hamilton is named as responsible for the crooked play, with suspect Internet provider addresses linking repeatedly to his name. A total of thirty-one individuals, whose identities are not disclosed, are included in the report's list of suspects.
Kahnawake officials say the information has been forwarded to law enforcement authorities, who will now decide whether there is sufficient evidence to press forward with criminal charges. They also have placed Ultimate Bet and Tokowiro on a year's probation, going forward.
Through the end of 2007 and the first part of 2008, players had noticed certain usernames winning improbable hands to the point of several statistical deviations. Keeping track of hands that seemed suspicious eventually led to the exposure of a software glitch that allowed certain players the ability to see all cards dealt at a table.
Many online poker groups had called for a more stringent investigation, and wondered aloud why no criminal charges were brought, The Kahnawake report may appease some of these protesters, although questions of conflict of interest still remain with the regulatory agency.
