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Tag: Mike Postle

  • Alleged Poker Cheater Resurfaces at Tourney in Mississippi While Still Owing Money

    Alleged Poker Cheater Resurfaces at Tourney in Mississippi While Still Owing Money

    Not even a fake name and a big-ass hoodie could stop players from taking a sniff and smelling something funny at the Beau Rivage Casino’s Million Dollar Heater, and they were right. The man who said his name was “Mike Lawrence” was really accused livestream cheater Mike Postle, who churned to the surface of a final table in Mississippi this past weekend.

    Mike Postle
    Mike Postle popped up at a tourney in Mississippi. The player is accused of cheating on a livestream in 2018-19. (Image: @Mawkswell Twitter)

    Postle washed out in seventh place, which was still good for $32K, but he was going for $208K in the $1,200 main event. It was the first time Postle cashed in a tourney in three-and-a-half years, according to the Hendon Mob. He has more than $571K in tournament winnings.

    Postle’s infamy is his own doing.

    Postle was accused and sued for allegedly cheating during a year-plus while appearing on the Stone Gambling Hall live stream where he took about $250K from players playing mostly small-stakes poker. Players began calling his eccentric successful play God-like, but Veronica Brill, the stream’s co-host, wasn’t so sure.

    Brill took her suspicions public in September 2021 after analyzing hours of play, and the story went viral. Postle kept playing on the stream, and many of the popular players and vloggers, including Daniel Negreanu and Joey Ingram, put their eyes on his play and agreed with Brill — something was up.

    Or more likely, down.

    Brill and others suspected that Postle used a cell phone sitting in his lap and an unknown confederate to read the RDIF information stored on the playing cards to know what his opponent’s were holding in the 69 sessions he played on the stream. It sort of mirrors the recent Hustler Casino Live accusations that were cleared by independent investigators.

    Postle made so many straight-up weird and outlandish plays during the streams — like calling re-raises with T2, etc. — that many players sat up and took notice, especially when they were edited together by various YouTubers.

    Poker fans weren’t the only ones who noticed. Major media outlets from ESPN to Wired reported on it, and Postle’s life would never be the same.

    Not charged and back to rounding

    Although a judge dismissed a case brought against him and the owners of Stone’s Gambling Hall by accusers Brill and more than 80 others who say they were ripped off by Postle, he still carries the stink of a cheater because of how publicly it all played out.

    Postle sued accusers Brill, Negreanu, ESPN and others for $300 million in defamation in 2020, but she counter-sued and won $27K in an anti-SLAAP-judgement. Brill also claimed in 2021 that Postle owed her thousands in attorney fees. Postle dropped the defamation suit in 2021.

    Postle apparently still owes her the money, as Brill confirmed through today’s retweet that claims his cash was being held by Beau Rivage after the casino was contacted by Brill’s attorneys. CardsChat couldn’t confirm this.

    Update: The money was never held.

    Poker consumer activist Todd Witteles was named in Postle’s defamation suit, and also says he is owed money from the accused cheater via his own anti-SLAAP suit.

    Tweeting and moaning

    His appearance at the final table hit Twitter like an indignant wave.

    And here’s Postle getting knocked out of the tournament, with a slight needle.

    Postle has maintained he did not cheat on the Stone Gambling Hall stream and, to reiterate, no charges have been filed against him or anyone else. While livestreams have become a popular way to promote cardrooms across the country, Stone Gambling Hall doesn’t broadcast one anymore.

  • Veronica Brill, Todd Witteles Slap Mike Postle with Involuntary Bankruptcy Petition

    Veronica Brill, Todd Witteles Slap Mike Postle with Involuntary Bankruptcy Petition

    Mike Postle’s legal troubles continue. Just months after Veronica Brill and Todd Witteles won anti-SLAPP judgments against Postle in connection with his frivolous $330 million defamation lawsuit against them, the two have filed a joint involuntary bankruptcy petition against him.

    Veronica Brill and Todd Witteles will force Mike Postle (above) into bankruptcy court to collect the $55,000 in legal fees he owes them. (Image: LinkedIn)

    The petition, filed on Wednesday in US Bankruptcy Court for the Eastern District of Colorado, cites Postle as its target under federal Chapter 7 bankruptcy code. In May and June, respectively, Witteles and Brill each won their claims that Postle’s lawsuit against them was an unlawful attempt to stifle their First Amendment right to free speech, and he was thus liable for their legal bills.

    Presiding judge Shama H. Mesiwala awarded Witteles $26,982 and Brill $27,745. Postle reportedly has not responded to requests for payment from Witteles’s attorney, Eric Bensamochan, nor from Brill’s counsel, Marc J. Randazza.

    Postle may already be on the hook for more than the $54,727 combined that he owes Brill and Witteles. According to legaluspokersites.com, Postle has also been sued by Wells Fargo Bank and Discover Bank for another $13,700 combined in what appears to be unpaid credit-card debt.

    Going after Postle’s assets

    The involuntary bankruptcy petition is the legal mechanism through which recalcitrant debtors are forced to deal with creditors’ claims. The filing automatically grants Postle a 21-day response window — in this case, until August 12 — to answer Witteles’ and Brill’s joint claim.

    Should Postle remain non-responsive, the Chapter 7 petition would be granted automatically. That lays the groundwork for Bensamochan and Randazza to attach liens against any assets that Postle is found to own. Possible assets begin with Postle’s home in Antelope, California, the address of which is included in the petition, along with his vehicles, furniture, collectibles, and other miscellaneous possessions.

    The asset-identifying search could also reveal if Postle has attempted to hide any assets from seizure by transferring ownership to third parties. Such transactions can be unwound if a court determines such a transfer occurred in bad faith.

    Ongoing collection efforts

    Current collection efforts by Witteles and Brill have been automatically suspended until the involuntary bankruptcy petition is approved or denied. If Postle challenges the petition, he must file an objection, which would trigger another court case. Should he fail to appear, or if he unsuccessfully challenges the petition, the court will appoint a Chapter 7 trustee.

    That trustee would then be tasked with identifying all of Postle’s assets, and legally seizing and liquidating them for payment. The trustee is also mandated to use “long-arm” recovery methods in the case of assets illicitly transferred to third parties.

    Witteles’s attorney, Bensamochan, described Postle as actively evading the collection attempts.

    “Mr. Postle owes valid judgments to both Mr. Witteles and Ms. Brill,” Bensamochan told Cardschat News. “He has gone on record about a documentary being made about this whole affair and, upon information and belief has other assets, such as sports memorabilia, that could be used to satisfy his debts.

    Bensamochan, a bankruptcy attorney by specialty, is licensed in California and is thus well-suited to manage the process of seeking assets to secure payment as ordered by the courts.

  • Veronica Brill Wins $27K Frivolous-Lawsuit Judgment Against Mike Postle

    Veronica Brill Wins $27K Frivolous-Lawsuit Judgment Against Mike Postle

    Veronica Brill, the lead defendant in the massive $330 million defamation lawsuit filed by alleged poker cheat Mike Postle, has won a $27,745 judgment against Postle for her legal costs in defending the case. The amount of Brill’s judgment was announced in a minute order issued by the case’s presiding judge, Shama H. Mesiwala, on Tuesday, and Postle did not appear for Wednesday’s final hearing on the amount being awarded to Brill in the case.

    Veronica Brill YouTube
    Whistleblower Veronica Brill continued to blast away at Mike Postle’s claims even after Postle named her as one of 12 defendants in a $330 million defamation case. (Image: YouTube/Veronica Brill)

    Postle’s non-appearance leaves the $27,745 “anti-SLAPP” (Strategic Lawsuit Against Public Participation) ruling enforceable and in immediate effect. Brill, as with co-defendant Todd Witteles, was eligible to file for legal expenses under California’s laws governing frivolous cases, and when Postle filed to dismiss his claims in April, it made Brill a sure winner in that regard.

    Brill’s $27,745 win is roughly equal to the $26,982 judgment granted to Witteles in May on a parallel anti-SLAPP motion for damages. Brill’s motion for damages was initially set to be resolved in May, but was continued until June for reasons unrelated to the anti-SLAPP claim itself. Nonetheless, the combined amount Postle is liable for to both former defendants is $54,727. For both Brill and Witteles, however, Judge Mesiwala’s rulings do not include any mechanism to collect the awards; Brill and Witteles are tasked with collecting their respective amounts on their own.

    Court’s order details $28K award to Brill

    Tuesday’s minute order as issued by Judge Mesiwala breaks down the attorney’s fees and legal expenses awarded to Brill. Her defense team, led by prominent First Amendment attorney Marc J. Randazza, originally filed for a significantly higher amount of $78,600. As happened with Witteles’ parallel filing, however, Judge Mesiwala ruled the claimed legal billing hours to be excessive, given the amount of paperwork filed and the actual legal preparation involved.

    Given the judge’s earlier and roughly equal award on Witteles’ claim, the nearly $28,000 judgment granted to Brill was within the likeliest range of results for Tuesday’s ruling. As granted, the $27,745 award to Brill breaks down as follows:

    • 15 hours (at $800/hour) for lead attorney Randazza’s work – $12,000
    • 25 hours (at $450/hour) for work performed by associate attorney Alex J. Shepard – $11,250
    • 20+ hours (at $175/hour) for work performed by paralegal staffers also working on the case – $3,525
    • Court fees assessed to Brill as a defendant in the case – $961.90

    Much of the trimming performed by Judge Mesiwala came to the number of hours collectively worked by Randazza’s and Shepard’s five paralegal aides. The judge also noted that the claimed hours for preparing one of the memos in the case had erroneously been entered in duplicate.

    Possibility of appeal on award amount remains

    Brill’s attorney, Randazza, was unavailable for immediate comment on the final resolution of the case and the judgment granted to Brill. Randazza and Brill still retain the technical option to appeal the amount of the award, but may not choose to do so. In the parallel anti-SLAPP filed by Witteles, his attorney, Eric Bensamochan, accepted the similarly reduced judgment and promised to pursue Postle in collecting the $27,000 judgment.

    Though Randazza was unavailable for immediate comment, he previously torched both Postle and anyone who recommended to him to file the $330 defamation case in which none of the initial 12 defendants were ever formally served. Ten of those 12 defendants, excepting Brill and Witteles, never even bothered to respond to Postle’s frivolous claims.

    “It is unfortunate that Mr. Postle appears to have received some terrible advice from either really piss-poor lawyers who didn’t have the courage to enter an appearance in the case, or from non-lawyers who decided to play lawyer,” Randazza stated in May. “Either way — he seems to have listened to idiots.”

    Brill, speaking to CardsChat News today, said, “I’m happy with the result and I’m glad that he has to pay at least something. It feels a little bit like he’s paying something back.” Brill had been able to defend herself in the case due to the monetary assistance of multi-millionaire and high-stakes poker player Bill Perkins.

    Perkins may be first in line for any funds collected from Postle, but Brill has previously expressed her hope that any additional monies recovered might also go toward a fund she has championed for many months that would aid in the purchase of a handicapped-equipped van for fellow poker pro KL Cleeton.

  • Veronica Brill Publishes YouTube Interview with Mike Postle’s Ex-Wife

    Veronica Brill Publishes YouTube Interview with Mike Postle’s Ex-Wife

    The never-ending Mike Postle saga offered new fodder for discussion on Sunday as original whistleblower and primary Postle antagonist Veronica Brill published a video interview with Postle’s former wife, Sabrina Johnson.

    Brill, the former “Stones Live!” commentator who was the first to accuse Postle of cheating during the live-streamed Stones Gambling Hall cash games, obtained the interview with Johnson on Mother’s Day (May 9), and published it on YouTube four weeks later.

    Johnson, who struggled emotionally through her hour-long interview, spent much of the time bitterly attacking Postle and touching on many of his alleged past misdeeds. Readers looking for hard evidence of Postle’s cheating at poker were disappointed, however, as Johnson had little to offer besides hearsay and her heartfelt beliefs that Postle had cheated, based on her knowledge of his personality.

    Postle cheated “absolutely 100%, without a doubt,” said Johnson, based solely on her knowledge of her former husband’s history, which included his bragging about being “the fleecer” (allegedly in Postle’s own words) over the years. “If he can cheat you, he will. If he can steal from you, he will,” she added at another point in the interview.

    A litany of Postle’s bad behavior

    While Johnson had little to add to the allegations that Postle cheated during the “Stones Live!” games, the bigger picture she presented was of a bitter, wronged, ex-wife sharing other instances of Postle’s angle-shooting the world at large. Johnson detailed several episodes where Postle had planned in advance in how to rip off businesses in various ways.

    In one example, she explained how Postle had broken a veneer (a tooth covering), then planned a scheme to scam Reno’s Grand Sierra Resort for his needed dental work. The scam included Postle leaving out a tiny scrap of meat to dry out and harden, then going to a GSR eatery, ordering a salad, then pulling out the dried bit of meat and claiming to GSR that he’d broken his tooth on the unexpected bit of hardened meat. The episode was just one of several such scams Johnson recalled.

    When directed toward poker specifically, Johnson revealed one other instance of poker-cheating allegations against Postle. Several years earlier, though she could not provide exact dates, Johnson said Postle had been accused of cheating on PokerStars. The investigation, she said, was closed due to insufficient evidence.

    Johnson remains involved in an unusual custody battle with Postle over their daughter, which figured prominently into the interview’s latter stages and provided the framework for her onscreen bitterness. Among other alleged misdeeds, she claimed that Postle had been thrown out of a Mississippi casino, has been banned from all Caesars (formerly Harrah’s) properties, and had been arrested three times on domestic abuse allegations, once in Las Vegas and twice in Sacramento.

    None of these allegations could be verified independently via online records. Johnson also shared several text messages with Brill, published at the end of the interview, that provided evidence to the strained and manipulative nature of their relationship.

    Announced Postle documentary allegedly foundered

    Among the relatively few pieces of hard poker news that could be extracted from the interview is that the once-ballyhooed documentary about Postle and the scandal, as told from Postle’s perspective, has crashed and burned. That effort was announced by California filmmaker David Broome in September 2020, at the same time Postle was preparing his since-failed $330 million defamation lawsuit against a dozen prominent poker-media entities ranging from Brill and Todd Witteles to PokerNews and ESPN.

    Mike Postle Rounder masthead
    Mike “Polstle” appeared on the masthead of several issues of Rounder Magazine, whose publisher, Evert Caldwell, has published several pro-Postle pieces about the cheating allegations. (Image: kickasspoker.com)

    The presumably failed documentary, according to Johnson, arose from a connection between Rounder Magazine publisher Evert Caldwell and Broome. Caldwell continues to figure into the Postle backstory in several ways; he published several pro-Postle pieces in the wake of the cheating allegations becoming public, though he failed to publish a once-promised exhaustive analysis of the “Stones Live!” cash-game hands that might provide support for Postle’s claims of innocence. Postle met Johnson through Caldwell, who had hired her as a model for Rounder. Johnson said that Postle was an “investor” in Caldwell’s magazine, which has its own history of legal disputes. Postle also appeared on the masthead of several early Rounder issues directly under Caldwell’s own entry.

    Johnson also worked at Stones Gambling Hall in Sacramento when it first opened in 2012. She worked there less than a year and left the Sacramento area entirely after her marriage to Postle ended.

    Brill keeps heat on Postle in advance of anti-SLAPP judgment

    Brill’s willingness to pursue and publish the interview reinforces the enmity between her and Postle, who she’s previously described as once being a good friend. This interview appeared just over a week before Sacramento Superior Court Judge Shama L. Mesiwala is set to rule on Brill’s request for $79,000 in anti-SLAPP legal fees for her defense against Postle’s voluntarily dismissed lawsuit. Co-defendant Todd Witteles won a similar $27,000 judgment against Postle last month, but Brill’s matching claim was pushed back to a June 16 hearing date.

    The bad blood between Brill and Postle figured into the Sabina Johnson interview in another way. Johnson reported that, at first, Postle encouraged her to consider the interview with Brill and to report back to Postle about the happenings. “He told me to contact you and make friends with you so that I could get information from you to use for him,” Johnson said.

    Instead of reporting to Postle, she told Brill, she decided to do the interview and use it to shine light on some of Postle’s other misdeeds. The text messages Johnson shared with Brill show Postle’s later attempt to derail the interview before it was published. “What you did today, there’s no going back from,” Postle texted to Johnson at one point. “Unless of course, you do the right thing before you’re all over the internet tomorrow. I don’t think you understand what’s going to happen if that video gets aired.”

    “You cheated and you got caught,” Johnson responded via text. “I was going to lie to defend you. I know you cheated.” Johnson described to Brill several times how she “knew” Postle had cheated based on her extensive knowledge of his character. And, as she told Brill at one point, “He’s going to lose his shit the moment he sees this.”

  • Todd Witteles to Receive $27K Judgment from Mike Postle in Anti-SLAPP Ruling

    Todd Witteles to Receive $27K Judgment from Mike Postle in Anti-SLAPP Ruling

    Todd Witteles, the owner of the PokerFraudAlert online forums, will receive a judgment for nearly $27,000 in attorney’s fees and court costs from Mike Postle for being forced to defend himself against a defamation lawsuit filed by Postle in late 2020. The judgment comes after Witteles and his attorney, Eric Bensamochan, filed an “anti-SLAPP” (Strategic Lawsuit Against Public Participation) motion against Postle that sought to have Postle’s $330 million lawsuit declared as frivolous.

    Todd Witteles
    Todd Witteles won a judgment worth nearly $27,000 from alleged poker cheat Mike Postle, who claimed he was defamed by a poster on Witteles’ PokerFraudAlert forums. (Image: Twitter/ToddWitteles)

    Presiding California Superior Court Judge Shama H. Mesiwala ruled in favor of Witteles, who filed his claims for legal expenses five weeks ago. CardsChat News obtained advance notice of the scheduling docket for tomorrow’s (May 12) ruling in the case, which was moved forward from an initially scheduled May 20 date and which contains a minute order detailing tomorrow’s ruling.

    Judge Mesiwala will grant Witteles $26,982 in damages, though that is reduced from the $43,314.50 Witteles initially sought. Postle dropped his lawsuit against Witteles, Veronica Brill, and 10 other defendants on April 1, 2021, after failing to secure counsel willing to represent him and his claims. By voluntarily dismissing his case, Postle made himself liable for anti-SLAPP claims under California law. The minute order noted that Postle filed no opposition to Witteles’ damages claim.

    First Amendment win for poker forum

    In her ruling, Judge Mesiwala affirmed First Amendment-based freedom of speech while also noting Postle’s extreme claims regarding Witteles and his PFA forum. “Plaintiff’s claims,” wrote Judge Mesiwala, “arose from a few phrases contained in a single post by defendant on a website on the issue of plaintiff’s alleged cheating at online poker games. Defendant has established that [the] Internet post and the phrases therein were not only fully protected by the First Amendment, but also concerned matters of public interest, including ‘consumer information affecting a large number of persons.’”

    Judge Mesiwala added, “Therefore, the allegations fall squarely within the definition of a SLAPP suit.” Mesiwala also noted that Postle dropped his claims just before a court hearing where Witteles’ anti-SLAPP motion was to be addressed. Mesiwala wrote, “The voluntary dismissal of a complaint before the hearing on an anti-SLAPP motion creates a presumption that the defendant is the prevailing party on the anti-SLAPP motion.”

    Damages reduced from amount Witteles originally sought

    While ruling in Witteles’ favor, Judge Mesiwala did reduce the total amount now owed by Postle in court-related costs. The judge allowed most of the billing fees requested by Witteles’ counsel Bensamochan to stand, but reduced the number of hours billed (at $695 per hour) in connection with creating the anti-SLAPP motion, calling that portion “excessive and unnecessary.”

    As a result, the judge subtracted $16,332.50 from Witteles’ anti-SLAPP claim, leaving the final total at $26,982. The minute order took effect immediately, meaning Postle already owes Witteles that sum, though collecting the judgment is a separate process. The ruling in Witteles’ favor comes months after he and his attorney once offered not to pursue Postle for such damages if Postle voluntarily dropped Witteles from the case’s list of defendants; Postle declined the offer.

    Witteles’ attorney, Bensamochan, offered a brief statement to CardsChat News. “Mr. Witteles is pleased that the court has found him to be the prevailing party for purposes of awarding attorney fees,” said Bensamochan. “While we are disappointed that the court cut the fee request down, it is something that falls directly within the court’s purview and discretion, and [we] will accept the reduced fee award without additional argument. Mr. Witteles intends on vigorously pursuing the monies now owed to him by Mr. Postle.”

    A similar ruling is expected in the coming days on a parallel anti-SLAPP motion filed against Postle by Brill and her attorney, Marc J. Randazza. That matter is scheduled to be ruled upon on May 19.

  • Veronica Brill Seeking Nearly $79K in Legal Fees from Mike Postle

    Veronica Brill Seeking Nearly $79K in Legal Fees from Mike Postle

    Veronica Brill wants Mike Postle to pay — her attorney’s fees. Brill is looking to recoup as much as $78,600 in attorney’s fees and related legal costs incurred while defending herself against the defamation lawsuit brought against her and 11 co-defendants by the alleged poker cheat.

    Veronica Brill
    Veronica Brill has repeatedly blasted Mike Postle for his filing of a frivolous defamation suit against her and 11 other defendants. (Image: YouTube/Veronica Brill)

    In a court filing obtained by CardsChat News, Brill’s attorney, Marc J. Randazza, detailed the expenses incurred on her behalf while being forced to defend against the largely frivolous lawsuit filed by Postle in 2020. That action sought a massive $330 million in damages from Brill and others.

    Brill joins fellow defendant Todd Witteles in filing a formal compensation claim against Postle following his voluntary withdrawal of the libel lawsuit, largely due to his failure to secure replacement counsel after his original attorney successfully removed himself from the case in February. Witteles is seeking more than $43,000 in legal fees, meaning Postle’s liability could top $120,000.

    Brill’s anti-SLAPP (Strategic Lawsuit Against Public Participation) motion against Postle remains open but has been rendered moot by Postle dropping his claims. Both Brill and Witteles also have preserved their rights to pursue their legal expenses. Presiding judge Shama L. Mesiwala affirmed the defendants’ right to collect in a tentative ruling issued during an April 20 hearing, in which Postle’s case was formally dismissed.

    Legal fees to date top $68,000

    The 13-page motion to collect legal fees, filed on April 12, asks for $68,639.41 in already-incurred legal fees. That amount includes attorney-related fees of $67,677.50 for the services of Randazza’s legal firm, including a second attorney who worked on the case, Alex J. Shepard. The filing also asks for an additional $961.91 in legal fees.

    The filing also includes a presumptive claim for expenses that are still expected to be incurred. An upcoming hearing will determine the extent of Postle’s financial liability, and according to the filing, “Brill requests an estimated $10,000 in additional fees if Postle files an opposition, and $2,000 in additional fees if he does not.” That number is a “reasonable estimate” based on Randazza’s familiarity with the work involved in briefing and arguing motions for attorneys’ fees, the motion says. Randazza noted that Postle has not yet responded to the claim for fees.

    Judge Mesiwala may decide on the amount Postle owes Brill in a hearing currently scheduled for May 19. Mesiwala is also expected to rule on the parallel anti-SLAPP motion previously filed by Witteles, though the date of that decision currently remains unknown.

    Randazza blasts Postle and legal advisors

    Brill’s attorney, Randazza, didn’t mince his words when talking about the case to CardsChat News, stating, “It is unfortunate that Mr. Postle appears to have received some terrible advice from either really piss-poor lawyers who didn’t have the courage to enter an appearance in the case, or from non-lawyers who decided to play lawyer. Either way — he seems to have listened to idiots.”

    The reference to non-lawyers was aimed at the HONR Network, a group founded to battle online defamation that volunteered its services to Postle, including assisting him in his ultimately failed attempt to find replacement counsel.

    “California law is crystal clear on this,” Randazza added. “If you file a SLAPP suit, and you try to cut and run after getting hit with an anti-SLAPP motion, you are deemed the losing party and have to pay the prevailing party’s fees. Now, he [Postle] doesn’t even have a prayer of being the prevailing party.

    Randazza says he hopes that whoever advised Postle over the past few months is going to help him pay any judgment levied against him. “It only seems fair,” Randazza said.

  • Todd Witteles Seeking $43K in Legal Fees from Mike Postle

    Todd Witteles Seeking $43K in Legal Fees from Mike Postle

    The attorney representing PokerFraudAlert podcast host and pro poker player Todd Witteles has filed a motion seeking to recover more than $43,000 in attorney’s fees and court costs from Mike Postle — expenses Witteles incurred defending himself against Postle’s all-but-dismissed $330 million defamation lawsuit, in which Witteles is one of 12 named defendants.

    California lawyer Eric Bensamochan filed the claim on Witteles’ behalf on Tuesday in the Sacramento County Superior Court where Postle’s case has progressed since being filed last October.

    Todd Witteles
    Poker pro Todd Witteles (pictured) was dragged into the Mike Postle defamation fracas not for anything he said, but due to something posted on his PokerFraudAlert forum. (Image: Twitter/ToddWitteles)

    Witteles and co-defendant Veronica Brill had already announced their plans to pursue Postle for anti-SLAPP legal fees in the wake of Postle’s filing to voluntarily dismiss his lawsuit on April 1. California’s anti-SLAPP (Strategic Lawsuit Against Public Participation) law allows defendants to recover legal fees and court costs arising from frivolous lawsuits. In voluntarily dismissing his lawsuit, Postle has technically defaulted on that claim’s legitimacy.

    Presiding judge Shama H. Mesiwala has yet to rule on the initial anti-SLAPP motions brought by Witteles and Brill. Both motions are set to be considered in a virtual court hearing on April 20. Judge Mesiwala may also formally dismiss Postle’s lawsuit during that same hearing.

    $43,314.50 in defense fees

    According to the filing obtained by CardsChat News, Witteles is seeking a total reimbursement of $43,314.50. The figure includes $42,879.50 in attorney’s fees and at least $435.00 in court costs. Bensamochan wrote, “All of these fees were directly related to, or at a minimum, were ‘inextricably intertwined’ with the Anti-SLAPP motion.”

    Judge Mesiwala is not mandated to award that exact amount, however, even if she rules in Witteles’ favor. Mesiwala could award a percentage of the claimed fees or the entire claimed amount, or she could even grant fees in excess of the total being sought.

    Bensamochan noted in the claim for damages that he will file for a continuation on any upcoming hearing on the damages based on the results of the April 20 hearing, and that this claim was filed preemptively to “stop the bleeding” of legal fees. Bensamochan previously reserved a hearing date for May 20 on the legal-fees claim.

    Postle sought ‘massive and improper damages’

    In filing for the anti-SLAPP recovery of legal fees, Bensamochan blamed Postle for the needless expense. “[Postle]’s decision to file this action, seek massive and improper damages, forced Defendant Witteles to incur thousands of dollars in attorney’s fees and costs,” Bensamochan wrote.

    “This includes the attorney’s fees that Defendant Witteles necessarily (and reasonably) incurred in connection with the anti-SLAPP motion; and other related litigation activities, such as reviewing and analyzing the complaint, participating in discussions with counsel, filing the Anti-SLAPP motion, reviewing Plaintiff’s opposition, preparing reply papers, and preparing for and attending hearings related to the Anti-SLAPP motion.”

    Bensamochan added, “This was a First Amendment case, and one that could not have been taken lightly. As a matter of public policy, and in order to effectuate the intent and purpose of the SLAPP statute, it is critical that Defendant Witteles be fully compensated for his decision to present a defense to Plaintiff’s claims in this action and vindicate his right to speak openly about controversial topics.”

    Witteles’ inclusion in the case was also unusual in that it allegedly involved no direct defamation by Witteles himself. Instead, he was named as a defendant in the case due to an “inflammatory” post made by a user on a thread in Witteles’ PokerFraudAlert forum, where poker and gambling scandals are often discussed.

  • Veronica Brill, Todd Witteles Speak Out on Why Mike Postle Still Owes Them Money

    Veronica Brill, Todd Witteles Speak Out on Why Mike Postle Still Owes Them Money

    Mike Postle libel suit defendants Victoria Brill and Todd Witteles have both spoken publicly about their presumptive victory in the case following Postle’s motion last Thursday to voluntarily dismiss his $330 million complaint. While the official case dismissal awaits an April 20 hearing in Sacramento, California, Superior Court, other matters remain in play, such as both defendants’ anti-SLAPP (Strategic Lawsuit Against Public Participation) motions, designed to declare Postle’s lawsuit as frivolous.

    Veronica Brill YouTube
    Veronica Brill vows to pursue Mike Postle for legal expenses incurred in defending against his libel lawsuit. (Image: YouTube/Veronica Brill)

    Postle’s voluntary dismissal motion makes presiding judge Shama H. Mesiwala near-certain to grant the anti-SLAPP motions, and quite likely to order Postle to pay Brill’s and Witteles’ fees. With that prospect now in play, both Brill and Witteles have commented publicly on the case’s pending dismissal and related matters.

    Brill declares Postle’s lawsuit a scam

    Brill posted a brief summary of the case’s recent events on her YouTube channel, including her take on what’s likely to happen next. Regarding the libel claim’s purpose, Brill stated, “From my perspective, it was a scare tactic. It was like, ‘Everyone needs to shut up, and no one is allowed to talk about me [Postle] any more.’”

    As the lead defendant among 12, Brill filed an anti-SLAPP motion against Postle. She confirmed that multi-millionaire and poker aficionado Bill Perkins helped finance these legal expenses.

    “I think his whole lawsuit was a big scam,” Brill said. “I don’t think he had any evidence to back anything he said up. I don’t think he was prepared to actually have a real lawsuit against me and all these other people. I don’t think he could find a lawyer that would fight with him that he could afford, so he backed out of this lawsuit.”

    Brill will now have to wait for the judge’s decision to accept Postle’s voluntary dismissal. “I also have to wait for my final bill from my lawyer to see how much my total cost for the anti-SLAPP and everything was, and the judge gets to decide how much I get back,” she said.

    Brill then detailed how Postle wouldn’t be able to evade paying whatever portion of Brill’s legal fees — if any — that the judge determines is fair, because, in Brill’s words, Postle “acted with malice.” Brill also noted her understanding that Postle could file bankruptcy, but any SLAPP-related debt still wouldn’t be discharged.

    Brill said she’d pursue any judgment in her favor for 10 years or longer, if need be. “It’s his own fucking fault for doing this,” she added. She also noted that any extra funds that come her way as a result of any collected judgment would go for her ongoing project, gathering funds for an accessible van for disabled poker pro K.L. Cleeton.

    Witteles lawyer details case’s flaws

    Brill’s fellow defendant, Todd Witteles, invited his defense lawyer, Eric Bensamochan onto an “emergency broadcast” episode of his regularly occurring PokerFraudAlert podcast, which is available for replay below. (The 40-minute portion of the podcast about Postle’s defamation case begins at about the 03:13:00 mark.)

    Witteles offered a basic framework of the case, including the notice of Postle’s plans to dismiss his claims, and he then let Bensamochan offer a more detailed legal take. Bensamochan said, “I’m sure that our decision to acknowledge the lawsuit early, and vigorously defend, threw a wrench into whatever plans Mr. Postle had. Oddly enough, from last October [when the case was filed] until today, nobody else was served at all.”

    Bensamochan further noted that the lawsuit was filed against “12 defendants, high-profile public companies, big names, and it just sat there. Had we not stepped forward and had not Veronica stepped forward, it would still be out there. I have to believe at this point that that was the desire. To just be able to say, ‘Well, I’m suing Negreanu and Haralabos (Voulgaris) and ESPN and Todd and everybody else.”

    Bensamochan also pointed out that Postle’s inability to find counsel in the case was likely a sign that many professionals recognized the complaint was without merit and, therefore, not worth their time or effort. “I’m not surprised that there’s no new attorney who stepped in. These cases are very hard to win. My own personal opinion as a legal professional is that if this case had a significant amount of merit, and it was really worth 300-some million dollars in damages, there are any number of top-ranked US firms that would love 33% of that, and would step in in a heartbeat.”

    The fact that nobody seemed interested in the case is very telling, Bensamochan said. “The long and short of it is that Postle failed to retain counsel,” Bensamochan added, despite his claim to be working on finding a new attorney during a March 18 video court hearing.

    Witteles’ expense-recovery motion already pending

    Separately, Bensamochan has provided CardsChat News with a related letter to the Sacramento Superior Court Clerk. The letter requests that the pending April 20 hearing regarding Witteles’ and Brill’s anti-SLAPP motions remain on the docket, regardless of any ruling on Postle’s dismissal motion.

    The letter specifies that Witteles be declared the “prevailing party,” while also documenting case precedent that such a declaration is standard in cases of voluntary dismissal by a plaintiff. The appellate case being cited detailed it being dropped because the plaintiff “ran out of money,” a circumstance Bensamochan likely deemed applicable to Postle’s current situation after his initial lawyer dropped him.

    Bensamochan highlighted that Postle has attempted to have the case dismissed “without prejudice,” meaning he could refile and attempt a legal “do-over” at some point, should circumstances change. Bensamochan will challenge that, and Witteles noted they had already offered Postle an earlier chance to drop the case without Witteles seeking anti-SLAPP damages, which Postle’s original attorney declined.

    Bensamochan has already reserved a court date for a hearing on those presumptive damages owed to Witteles, tentatively scheduled for 1:30 pm on May 20.

  • Mike Postle Folds: He Now Wants to Drop His $330 Million Libel Suit vs. Brill, Witteles, et al.

    Mike Postle Folds: He Now Wants to Drop His $330 Million Libel Suit vs. Brill, Witteles, et al.

    Alleged poker cheat Mike Postle has filed a motion to dismiss the $330 million libel case he filed in November 2020 against a dozen largely deep-pocketed defendants. Postle filed the paperwork on Thursday in the Sacramento County, California Superior Court where his complaint was scheduled to be heard.

    Mike Postle libel case dismissal
    The April 1 court filing in which Mike Postle seeks a dismissal of his $330 million libel claim against a dozen defendants.

    Lead defendant Veronica Brill’s attorney Marc J. Randazza posted news of Postles’s filing on Friday. Brill quickly retweeted her attorney’s posting of the Postle filing, while adding an extra note to suggest the case still many not be fully over:

    Along with Brill and Todd Witteles, the only other defendant to actively respond to Postle’s libel complaint, defendants included ESPN, PokerNews parent iBus Media, Daniel Negreanu, Haralabos Voulgaris, Joey Ingram, plus several poker-instruction sites where anti-Postle commentary appeared. Those defendant sites included Upswing Poker, Run It Once, Crush Live Poker, Solve For Why, and Poker Coaching.

    Postle could still be on the hook for legal fees

    Postle’s voluntary filing to dismiss his claims does not end the case. As Brill noted, Postle likely will be found liable for her and Witteles’ legal fees. Both of those defendants filed anti-SLAPP (Strategic Lawsuit Against Public Participation) dismissal motions, seeking to have Postle’s claims dismissed as frivolous, one of the defining characteristics of a SLAPP suit. The other 10 defendants never bothered to appear in court to defend against Postle’s libel and defamation claims, despite the massive amount of damages Postle sought.

    A hearing on Brill’s and Witteles’ anti-SLAPP filings remains scheduled for April 20. If granted as filed, a scenario made much likelier by Postle’s voluntary dismissal, he would be responsible for what is probably tens of thousands of dollars in legal fees.

    Postle also notable filed his dismissal motion “without prejudice,” meaning he would technically have the right to re-file the same or similar claim in the future. The defendants’ attorneys are likely to argue that in addition to awarding their clients legal fees, the case should be dismissed with prejudice, therefore barring Postle from refiling the case in the future.

    Witteles’ attorney, Eric Bensamochan, told CardsChat, “While my client is pleased that the case is dismissed, this isn’t the end of the road for Mr. Postle. He dismissed the entire case without prejudice which means he could try something like this again in the future. As such, Mr. Witteles intends to seek a ruling on the Anti-SLAPP motion to ensure that he is not subjected to this in the future, and to also recover the legal fees spent up to this point, which are substantial.”

    Lack of counsel a contributing factor

    As Postle’s case moved forward, an apparent inability to find or hire an attorney made the damages he was seeking seem more frivolous. Postle’s original lawyer withdrew from the case, citing inadequate client communication and alleging breach of contract. Postle said the problem was that this attorney was inexperienced in online-defamation law.

    Brill’s lead counsel Randazza scoffed at such a notion. “Any claim by Postle that [former Postle attorney] Steve Lowe is ‘inexperienced’ in this kind of case is ludicrous.” Randazza said. “Steve is a very well respected attorney — and quite honestly, I would have no reservations about hiring him myself.”

    Postle claimed during the case’s last hearing, on March 18, that he was actively seeking legal help in a case in which he’d been representing himself since January. Postle told the judge he expected to have a new attorney, roughly within a week’s time, but that never came to pass.

  • Mike Postle Loses Lawyer, Faces Additional Legal Problems

    Mike Postle Loses Lawyer, Faces Additional Legal Problems

    Mike Postle ended 2020 on a high after beating a $10 million lawsuit and filing his own $330 million countersuit in its place. Now, however, a recent ruling means he could be contending with new legal issues.

    Mike Postle
    Mike Postle will have to fight his case against the people who accused of cheating without a legal team. (Image: Inkedin)

    Postle, a player from Northern California, was originally accused of cheating by a group of players at his home casino. The 2019 lawsuit, led by Veronica Brill, claims that Postle had an illegal advantage in live-streamed games at Stones Gambling Hall.

    A judge dismissed the case and Postle hit back with a defamation claim. But, in a twist of fate, he’s now fighting that claim on his own.

    Postle Will Have to Fight Alone

    Attorney Mac VerStandig, who led the initial case against Postle, said last month that the alleged cheater was facing fresh legal issues. He posted a document that showed Postle’s lawyer asking to be relieved of his duties.

    Steven T. Lowe of Lowe & Associates filed the motion with the Sacramento Superior Court on Dec. 8. His reasons for wanting to be removed imply that Postle was uncooperative and, potentially, unable to pay for Lowe’s services.

    “The client has failed to comply with the written agreement between the firm and the client, and communication has otherwise ceased between client and attorney,” reads the motion.

    Judge Richard K. Sueyoshi issued on ruling on Jan. 14. Todd Witteles, a player named in Postle’s $330 million lawsuit, tweeted on Jan. 15 that Lowe’s request had been granted.

    This leaves Postle without a legal team unless he’s found a new lawyer in the past few days. Moreover, it makes fighting the defamation case a lot more difficult.

    No One is Folding Just Yet

    Brill was quick to comment. Her barbed tweet referenced Postle’s recent strategy of going AWOL.

    “Time for Postle to find some money for a new lawyer, but he’ll probably just stay hiding in his house and do nothing,” Brill tweeted.

    To compound matters, Brill and Witteles have filed anti-SLAPP motions against Postle.

    Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation (SLAPPs) are attempts to intimate or silence critics through “expensive, baseless” legal proceedings. Anti-SLAPP motions are designed to push back and protect people exercising their First Amendment rights.

    These motions will be heard next month and, if they go against Postle, he could be forced to pay additional legal fees. These payments would be on top of anything he may or may not owe to his former legal representative.

    As things go, it’s not the best start to 2021 for Mike Postle. Even though he wasn’t charged with cheating, he now faces a fresh fight to clear his name and keep his bankroll intact.

  • Mac is Back as VerStandig Law Firm Files $5.9 Million Lawsuit Against Skillz Inc.

    Mac is Back as VerStandig Law Firm Files $5.9 Million Lawsuit Against Skillz Inc.

    Poker playing legal eagle Maurice “Mac” VerStandig is back fighting for the rights of gamers in a new lawsuit against Skillz.com.

    Mac VerStandig
    Mac VerStandig is fighting for justice in the gaming community as part of a $5.9 million lawsuit against Skillz Inc. (Image: Mid-States Poker Tour)

    VerStandig Law Firm is currently helping poker players sue Mike Postle and Stones Gambling Hall in a high-profile case.

    Even with one of poker’s biggest alleged cheating scandals keeping him busy, VerStandig has found time to represent Alyssa Ball and John Prignano. The two gamers are suing Skillz Inc for failure to pay out more than $1.5 million.

    Accusers Accused of Cheating by Skillz Inc.

    The civil case was filed in Nevada on May 17. A summons was subsequently issued to Skillz.com’s parent company, Skillz Inc. and its CEO, Andrew Paradise. The case looked to be moving forward in early June, but an application for an extension was granted last week.

    Skillz Inc. now has until July 7 to address claims that it unlawfully withheld prizes and seized money from players without due cause.

    Prignano alleges that Skillz Inc. withheld a prize before moving the goalposts without prior notification. Using the Skillz.com loyalty scheme, the Texan earned enough points to purchase a Porsche Boxster worth $60,000.

    Prignano claims his request was denied on the grounds that he hadn’t earned enough points, despite reaching a previously advertised target. He also claims his account was closed and the $280,000 balance seized.

    Ball makes a similar accusation. After notifying the company about a suspected cheat, she put in a request to have $650,000 in losses returned. Prignano claims to have lost $950,000 to the same player.

    Skillz Inc. warned the alleged cheat about their conduct, but refused to reimburse the plaintiffs. The legal documents go on the state that Ball and Prignano were then accused of being “known” cheats. As a result, their accounts were closed, and their bankrolls seized.

    VerStandig Helping Avert Another Online Gaming Scandal

    With the help of VerStandig, the plaintiffs are seeking a trial by jury and $5.9 million in damages. According to a court order made on June 10, Skillz Inc. has been granted an extension on its obligation to respond to the case. A spokesperson for the company provided CardsChat with a comment on the lawsuit.

    “This suit was filed by two people who colluded to cheat the Skillz community. They were caught by our trust & safety team, and kicked off of our platform in accordance with our terms of service and commitment to honesty, integrity, and fairness.

    Their case has no merit and is an attempt to intimidate our company and obtain illegitimate gains. We will defend ourselves vigorously and are evaluating all legal remedies to protect our community,” the Skillz Inc. spokesperson told us.

    Skillz.com is designed to appeal to poker players. The open-source network allows mobile app developers to offer skill-based games that reward players with cash prizes.

    In among puzzles, board games and virtual sports challenges, there are a variety of card games, including ones based on poker, blackjack, and rummy. Because the outcomes of each game are predominately determined by skill, the platform is legal in the US.

    If Ball and Prignano’s allegations are correct, it seems that one player has found a way to cheat the system. Similar incidents have happened in poker over the years. The infamous Potripper scandal on Absolute Poker saw one user exploit a superuser feature in the system and see other people’s hole cards.

    When things like that happen, no amount of skill can help, and the outcome is often heartbreak for the victims. Those affected by Potripper were never properly compensated. If something similar has happened to Ball and Prignano, they’ll be hoping VerStandig can get a better result.

  • Case Dismissed: California Judge Tosses out Cheating Lawsuit Against Mike Postle

    Case Dismissed: California Judge Tosses out Cheating Lawsuit Against Mike Postle

    Eighty-eight plaintiffs won’t win any portion of their $10 million lawsuit against poker player Mike Postle and the Stones casino over alleged cheating in live-streamed games. On Wednesday, a Northern California District Court judge granted the defendants’ motion to dismiss all claims against them, primarily on the grounds that California law doesn’t allow state courts to settle gambling disputes.

    Mike Postle poker cheating scandal
    Mike Postle may have won in a California civil court, but still is losing in the court of public opinion. (Image: YouTube)

    Postle was the talk of the poker world last fall after Veronica Brill publicly accused him of cheating. She and other players at Stones Gambling Hall in Citrus Heights, California, alleged that Postle had somehow gained access to his opponent’s hole cards during “Stones Live” streams, unfairly enriching the Stones Gambling Hall player by hundreds of thousands of dollars.

    The case against Postle was mostly predicated on his improbable 94% win rate and a seemingly uncanny ability to make the correct decisions at all times during “Stones Live” streams.

    As the scandal unfolded, Brill and 87 other plaintiffs filed three separate, $10 million lawsuits against Postle, King’s Casino (owner of Stones Gambling Hall), and Justin Kuraitis, the tournament director at Stones and producer of “Stones Live.” The group of players alleged that Postle, with the knowledge of Stones and Kuraitis, conspired to defraud other players by participating in a cheating scheme.

    Now it appears all three defendants are off the hook before the case even made it to trial.

    Lack of Standing

    The three defendants recently filed motions to dismiss the case against them. The casino argued that it isn’t responsible for the actions of players in a poker game on its property. Postle’s motion denied that he was cheating, and claimed he had evidence to prove it.

    US District Judge William B. Shubb sided with the defendants and granted the motion to dismiss, pointing to a California gambling law that says it’s not in the purview of the state’s judicial system to resolve gambling disputes.

    “California’s strong public policy against judicial resolution of civil claims arising out of gambling disputes mandates the dismissal with prejudice of plaintiff’s claims against Postle for fraud, negligent misrepresentation, negligence per se, and unjust enrichment,” Shubb wrote.

    Shubb stated that California’s gambling laws only protect a “business or property” from cheating, not individuals.

    “Plaintiffs lack standing under § 1964(c) to proceed with their (Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations) RICO claim because they have failed to allege facts demonstrating a concrete injury to their ‘business or property.’ Plaintiffs’ RICO claim against Mike Postle must therefore be dismissed,” the judge continued.

    Poker Players Bemoan Ruling

    Following news of the case dismissal, many poker players on social media seemed shocked at the court’s decision. “Complete b******t,” tweeted Upswing Poker cofounder Ryan Fee (@RyanFeePoker). “Absolutely sick!!” wrote Navin Mohan (@navinbits).

    Dozens of others tweeted hundreds of responses in the hours following the court’s ruling. Almost all were in favor of the plaintiffs.

    “So let’s get this straight,” commented Katy Gee (@PinkLadyxx), “someone scams people out of thousands of dollars and they get away with it. Is the US justice system really this broken?”

    Brill, the whistleblower, expressed her frustration that the court seemed to condone cheating in California card rooms. “If you decide to cheat on a live stream,” she wrote on Twitter, “you are free to do so … you are free to steal hundreds of thousands of dollars.”

    “It doesn’t seem like this judge had much an idea what was going on during the initial hearing,” tweeted poker YouTube personality Joey Ingram, who had watched countless hours of Postle’s play on video as part of his own investigation.

    Postle continues to deny any and all accusations against him.

    While the judge dismissed all of the claims against Postle, he did give attorneys for Brill and the other plaintiffs 20 days to amend some of the complaints against Stones and Kuraitis.

    On Thursday, Las Vegas attorney Mac VerStandig, who filed the case in California, said that he would be back in court.

    “Y’all realize we’re going to amend and go forward against Stones, right?” VerStandig tweeted. “Reports of the case’s death are greatly exaggerated.”

  • 5 Ways the Houston Astros Cheating Scandal Reminds Us of Postlegate

    5 Ways the Houston Astros Cheating Scandal Reminds Us of Postlegate

    We recently told you that the Houston Astros cheating scandal was similar to that of Postlegate. But as more evidence in the baseball scandal comes to light, we’ve realized that these situations are even more alike than we first thought.

    Houston Astros cheating scandal Mike Postle poker
    No, the picture on the left is not the same as the picture on the right. (Image: CardsChat News)

    One-time Astros pitcher Mike Fiers accused his former team of stealing signs to gain an edge, which is against the rules. Major League Baseball didn’t take the allegations lightly. The league investigated the claims and concluded there was truth to his statements.

    Houston is accused of stealing catcher signs so that Astros hitters could determine the upcoming pitch. That, as MLB concluded, gave the 2017 World Series champs an unfair advantage. In a poker sense, it’s comparable to a player having access to an opponent’s hole cards.

    And that’s the perfect segue into our Mike Postle comparisons. There are some striking similarities between the Houston Astros cheating scandal and also Postlegate. Perhaps, more than you may have realized. It’s almost like Postle secretly worked for the ‘Stros.

    1. It All Started With a Whistleblower

    Word of the Houston Astros cheating scandal spread thanks to Fiers, who pitched for the team during the 2017 championship season. It didn’t take long for the internet know-it-all’s and Astros fans to play the “he’s just jealous” card.

    Sound familiar? When Veronica Brill outed Mike Postle on Twitter, she was instantly dubbed by many poker fans as “jealous.” They said she envied his success on the Stones Live streams, and claimed her intentions were to harm a player she couldn’t beat.

    Fiers took similar heat from baseball fans, mostly those who support the Houston Astros. Fans initially claimed he was bitter and envious because, as they claimed, he was one of the worst players on the team. He didn’t get the same recognition from fans that star players like Jose Altuve and George Springer received. And it’s true the team most likely won in spite of him, not because of him. Fiers posted a downright pitiful 5.22 earned run average, and an equally mediocre 1.428 walks and hits per innings pitched that season.

    Similarly, Postle was a more successful cash game player than Veronica Brill. But does that mean Brill and Fiers only came forward with the damaging allegations because of pure jealousy? Absolutely not.

    2. Internet Sleuths Investigate

    After Brill brought forth the allegations against Postle, the poker community went all Sherlock Holmes. Joey Ingram led the charge with daily investigations into the Stones Live streams involving Postle, starting with a five-hour live-stream on Sep. 30, a day after the cheating scandal came to light.

    That was just the beginning of the poker podcaster’s Postle investigations. Over the following month, he posted 23 additional Postle-related videos on his popular YouTube channel. But he wasn’t the only one. Other prominent poker community members such as Matt Berkey and Jonathan Little also investigated. The poker community would soon almost unanimously determine that Postle is guilty. Brill is no longer considered “jealous,” and is instead considered a poker hero.

    After Fiers brought forth the details of the Houston Astros cheating scandal, the internet sleuths did some digging, reminiscent of Postlegate. One fan dug up old games on the MLB.TV archives and discovered a loud bang occurred in the background before an off-speed pitch was thrown when certain Astros hitters were at the plate.

    The assumption was that the loud noise was a signal to the hitter of the type of pitch to expect. Much like Postlegate, the Houston Astros cheating scandal is now more believable due to the hard work of many internet sleuths.

    3. Crazy Conspiracy Theories Spread

    Baseball and poker fans are no different than the rest of society. People love conspiracy theories, no matter how crazy they may be. Whether it’s the earth being flat, climate change being a hoax, or George W. Bush allegedly masterminding the 9-11 terrorist attacks, society has a weird fetish with loony conspiracy theories.

    So, when Fiers outed the Houston Astros, the conspiracies spread around the internet quickly. Some claimed All-Star second baseman Jose Altuve wore a wire at the plate to listen in on what pitch was coming. Others believe the niece of former Astro Carlos Beltran — who was hired as manager by the New York Mets, and fired before his first game, due to his possible connection to the cheating scandal — shared details of how the Astros cheated on Twitter.

    The supposed Beltran relative (Twitter user @SO_blessed1) tweeted that Astros stars Altuve and Alex Bregman “wore devices that buzzed on inside right should from hallway video guy.” But members of the Beltran family claim the Twitter account in question isn’t his niece, as has been reported. Instead, it could be a troll or, possibly, someone in the know. We may never know.

    During the Postle-gate scandal, many poker fans concocted their own conspiracy theories, the main one being that Postle had an electronic device near his crotch that gave him information about his opponent’s hole cards. The conspiracy theories from the poker and baseball fans may or may not be correct. We can’t prove or disprove them.

    4. Cheating to Gain an Unfair Advantage

    There is a reason why the Astros and Postle allegedly chose to cheat instead of playing by the rules. When the stakes are as high as they are in poker or Major League Baseball, certain individuals will look for a way to gain an unfair advantage over the competition.

    The Astros are accused of stealing signs to decipher the incoming pitch. This gave them an edge over the other teams as they likely scored more runs than if they played by the rules. Postle is alleged to have used some sort of unknown device to decipher his opponent’s hole cards. This information made it easy for him to make the correct decisions.

    Before you bash baseball and poker, you should be aware that cheating isn’t exclusive to these games. The New England Patriots, the NFL’s top franchise, have repeatedly taken heat for multiple alleged cheating scandals. Top college football and basketball programs have been known to illegally hand over cash and gifts to recruits, not that the NCAA does anything about it. That’s not to excuse Postle and the Astros. They deserve harsh criticism. But it’s unfair to single out baseball and poker when cheaters can be found in just about any other sport or high-stakes game.

    5. Questionable Impact of the Alleged Cheating

    The Houston Astros are accused of stealing signs during home games at Minute Maid Park in 2017, and potentially beyond. But when you look at their home versus road statistical splits from 2017, you’ll notice they were actually better at the plate on the road.

    In 81 home games, the Astros posted an .812 OPS (on-base plus slugging percentage) and 115 homers in a ballpark that is widely considered hitter-friendly. On the road, in the same amount of games, the team had an .834 OPS and 123 home runs. It’s not a big difference, but there doesn’t appear to be much of an edge gained over the course of the season from the alleged cheating, at least not from a statistical standpoint.

    That said, it’s possible the Astros didn’t start cheating until later in the season. So, perhaps once they did begin stealing signs, they started hitting better at home. One questionable stat is during the 2017 post-season where Houston went 8-1 at home and just 3-6 on the road. But that’s too small of a sample size from which to make any conclusions.

    Postle’s alleged cheating scandal is a bit similar in that we don’t know exactly how much money he won, or saved himself from losing. We’ve seen countless hours of evidence from Stones Live streams. It’s clear he is either the best decision maker on the river in poker history, or he was cheating. It’s hard to believe the former, however.

  • Houston Astros Baseball Cheating Scandal Similar to Postlegate?

    Houston Astros Baseball Cheating Scandal Similar to Postlegate?

    An MLB investigation into the actions of the Houston Astros concluded the team cheated during its 2017 World Series championship run. For those of you in the poker community who followed the alleged Mike Postle cheating scandal, you might notice some similarities, most notably the manner in which the players gained an edge over their opponents.

    Houston Astros poker Postlegate
    The Houston Astros got caught cheating in a similar way to how Mike Postle is alleged to have cheated. (Image: YouTube)

    You might also notice a few differences in how the unfortunate situations were handled. Unlike MLB and the Astros organization, the casino Postle is alleged to have cheated hasn’t done much to address the problem.

    Major League Baseball, however, came down hard on the Houston Astros. In response, the team’s owner, Jim Crane, dropped the hammer even further. The ball is now in your court to do the right thing, Stones Gambling Hall.

    Former Player Busts Houston Astros

    Mike Fiers, who pitched on the Astros’ 2017 championship team, alleged in November that his former team cheated to win. He claims that players on the ‘Stros used sign-stealing methods banned by MLB rules. If a hitter has access to an opposing catcher’s signs, they know what pitch is coming. It’s a lot easier to hit a baseball when you know what type of pitch to expect.

    It’s similar to the accusations against Mike Postle, who supposedly had access to his opponent’s hole cards during numerous Stones Live streams at Stones Gambling Hall in Northern California. If a poker player can see an opponent’s hole cards, the cheater is virtually unbeatable.

    MLB conducted a thorough investigation into the alleged Houston Astros cheating scandal. The recently released findings claim players on the team used a camera-based, sign-stealing system during the regular season and playoffs in 2017. Postle is also alleged to have used technology to gain access to his opponent’s hole cards.

    On Monday, MLB announced the one-year suspension of manager AJ Hinch and general manager Jeff Luhnow. Additionally, the Houston Astros organization must pay a $5 million fine, and lose first and second-round draft picks in 2020 and 2021.

    Hinch led the Astros to the playoffs in 2015, 2017, 2018, and 2019, including a title in 2017. The team lost to the Washington Nationals in last year’s World Series.

    Un-Postlegate-Like Response

    Immediately following MLB’s investigation, Astros owner Jim Crane stepped up to the plate. Instead of going into hiding, a la Stones Gambling Hall, he addressed the media and made instant changes.

    Crane briefly spoke to reporters on Monday and didn’t accept the one-year suspension of his GM and manager. Instead, the billionaire founder of Crane Capital Group fired Hinch and Luhnow, effective immediately.

    “MLB did a very thorough investigation, and the Astros fully cooperated,” he told reporters. “We accept their decisions and findings, and penalties.”

    Crane added that his staff “worked very hard to build this organization for our employees, fans, sponsors, community, and the city to all be proud.” After announcing his decision to fire his manager and GM, the owner made a promise to baseball fans.

    “We need to move forward with a clean slate, and the Astros will become a stronger organization because of this today,” he promised. “You can be confident that we will always do the right thing, and will not have this happen again on my watch.”

    That differs greatly from how Stones Gambling Hall responded to Postlegate. Instead of tackling the allegations head-on, the casino’s social media accounts have been silent since Nov. 8. There’s not been a single post nor a public statement on what the casino discovered in its investigation. That’s assuming there actually was a real, thorough investigation.

    Brutal 24 Hours for City of Houston

    If you’re a Houston sports fan, you’ve probably had a rough 24 hours. The Astros championship season is now tainted, at least in the minds of many baseball fans. And that might not have been the most soul-crushing revelation over the past day.

    On Sunday, the Houston Texans lost — or should we say choked — to the Kansas City Chiefs 51-31 in the NFL Playoffs. The Texans led that game 24-0 in the second quarter before Chiefs quarterback, Patrick Mahomes, took over the game.

    As bad as things seem for your right now, Houston sports fans, remember, they could be worse. You could be Mike Postle.

  • Poker Story of the Year: Mike Postle Allegedly Cheated Players Out of Six Figures

    Poker Story of the Year: Mike Postle Allegedly Cheated Players Out of Six Figures

    Mike Postle was an unknown, low-stakes poker pro out of Northern California before late September. He is now an infamous player who allegedly cheated his opponents out of hundreds of thousands of dollars on live-stream, and also the subject of the top poker story of 2019.

    Mike Postle cheating poker
    Mike Postle is the subject of poker’s top story of the year for all the wrong reasons. (Image: YouTube)

    On Sept. 28, Vernoica Brill rocked the poker world with a wild tweet storm. She alleged on Twitter that a player at Stones Gambling Hall – we’d later come to know his name as Mike Postle – had been cheating for months in Stoves Live live-streamed cash games.

    So much good happened in poker this past year. The WSOP Main Event, poker’s most prestigious tournament, had 8,569 entries– the second most in its 50-year history.

    Phil Galfond introduced the #GalfondChallenge, a heads-up challenge that will excite poker fans when it begins next year. And Chris Moneymaker, the 2003 world champion and one of poker’s top ambassadors, finally made the Poker Hall of Fame. Many others, however, will remember 2019 as the year a low-stakes poker player allegedly pulled off an elaborate scam.

    Postle Forever on Santa’s Naughty List

    Last week, we put Mike Postle atop Santa’s poker naughty list — a list he might belong on every year from now until the end of eternity, especially if the cheating allegations are proven true. We’ll stick with “alleged” until the courts determine otherwise, but most in the poker community have already made up their mind that Postle is a cheater.

    Postle made Santa’s naughty list because he potentially cheated his Stones Gambling Hall opponents out of hundreds of thousands of dollars from July 2018 to September 2019. His accusers claim he used some sort of device, potentially with the help of an individual or individuals working for Stones Live, to gain access to opponent’s hole cards.

    Having access to an opponent’s hole cards makes the game of poker easy. If you had that information, you’d always know the right play to make, and would rarely lose.

    Postle consistently made the correct decision on the river during the Stones Live streams. The likelihood of the best poker player in the world almost never making the wrong decision on the river over dozens of cash game sessions is improbable, let alone a low-stakes grinder who is unknown to most of the poker community.

    Turning a Bad Situation into a Positive

    Postle’s cheating scandal is undoubtedly a black mark on the game, but there is a positive aspect to this unfortunate situation.

    We’d like to give a hat tip to Veronica Brill, who bravely outed Postle on Twitter. If not for Brill coming forward, despite knowing she’d face some backlash, Postle may have gotten away with it for much longer.

    Joey Ingram also deserves some credit for leading the public’s investigation into the cheating scandal. The YouTube podcaster shared countless hours of Stones Live footage with his followers. His hard work even drew the attention of Scott Van Pelt, an ESPN SportsCenter host.

    Postle allegedly cheated other players out of a boat-load of money. There’s no doubt a scandal of this magnitude is bad for the game, but the usually contentious poker community came together to ensure he didn’t get away with it — and to potentially prevent another major cheating scandal in the future.

    Let’s hope when we write an article on the top poker story of 2020, we can write it about something more positive. Perhaps, the US legalizes online poker nationwide? We can dream, can’t we?

  • Jamie Gold Interview: Former World Champ on Mike Postle and NBA Ref Tim Donaghy Cheating Scandal Comparisons

    Jamie Gold Interview: Former World Champ on Mike Postle and NBA Ref Tim Donaghy Cheating Scandal Comparisons

    Jamie Gold isn’t bluffing when he says “players should be vetted so we can see what they’re bringing to the game” in response to the alleged Mike Postle poker cheating scandal. I spoke with the 2006 poker world champion to get his thoughts on the shocking scandal, and to find out how this incident compares with a famous NBA ref cheating scandal that rocked the basketball world in 2007.

    Jamie Gold Mike Postle poker
    Even in 2019, Jamie Gold still loves to bluff. (Image: Live at the Bike)

    Gold has an interesting perspective on the Postle situation. He himself has been cheated at the poker table in the past. He also served as an adviser for the upcoming movie, Inside Game, which chronicles the infamous cheating scandal of Tim Donaghy, a former NBA ref who fixed games to win bets.

    Inside Game premiers in theaters in 30 NBA cities on Friday. If you don’t happen to live in one of those towns, it will soon be available for everyone online. As an avid basketball fan, the trailer looks quite interesting.

    Gold earned a $12 million payday for winning the 2006 WSOP Main Event, one of the biggest scores in tournament history to this day. He’s one of the most popular former world champs mostly because of how he won poker’s most prestigious tournament – by pulling off a plethora of crazy bluffs while using speech play to his advantage.

    Jamie Gold Knows What It’s Like to Be Cheated

    Jamie Gold has firsthand knowledge that cheating occurs in poker. After all, he’s been the victim of “collusion” at the poker table. And he’s appeared on numerous live-stream and televised poker shows. So, he’s as much of an expert on the Mike Postle situation as anyone.

    “I’ve been cheated in some pretty incredible games at the highest level,” he told me. “We’re buying in for $100,000 to $1 million. I’ve been cheated in a few different ways, with new decks and dealers coming into the game. They weren’t even smart about it. They’d deal me quads against better quads. It was so bad, they weren’t even smart about it.”

    Jamie quit playing in a prominent poker room which he requested remain anonymous “about 10 years ago” because the staff refused to ban the cheaters.

    “There were rings of people colluding against me,” he said. “And they wouldn’t permanently ban them. They’d just ban them overnight.”

    Although Jamie Gold knows that cheating occurs in poker, he loves this game and believes only a small percentage of players cheat. From my experience playing poker for the past 16 years, I agree with the former world champ.

    Poker Champ Talks Postle Cheating Scandal

    Gold has appeared in numerous live-streams and on many televised poker shows over the years, from “High Stakes Poker” to “Live at the Bike.” Recently, he competed on “Poker After Dark” on PokerGo. He’s experienced firsthand how live-streamed cash game shows are produced. So, what does the former poker champ believe should be done to prevent another Postle situation?

    “I think no players should have cell phones or electronic devices when at the table (when playing in a live-streamed game),” he suggests. “And the players should be vetted so we can see what they’re bringing to the game.”

    I asked Gold if he’d have a problem with security patting him down prior to playing in a live-stream game to ensure for precautionary reasons.

    “Absolutely not,” he said.

    Gold referred to the Postle situation as “shady.”

    “They didn’t have certain delays that you need to have. They were also allowing too many people to have access,” he said.

    Gold suggests each live-stream show should have a “dedicated person,” and only one, who has access to hole cards in real time. He said that the producers should be transparent about who that dedicated person is. That way, he argues, if another player is caught cheating, viewers will know how that player gained access to an opponent’s hole cards.

    Mike Postle and Tim Donaghy Comparisons

    In 2007, the FBI caught NBA referee Tim Donaghy fixing games he bet on during the 2005-2006 and 2006-2007 seasons. On Aug. 15, 2007, he pleaded guilty to two federal charges, and was sentenced to 15 months in prison.

    Gold is an avid sports bettor who bet on some games that Donaghy fixed. The 2006 Main Event champ found some similarities between the NBA betting and Postle poker cheating scandals.

    “The fact that someone, really for pennies at a time, was willing to compromise themselves and the integrity of the game, willing to basically sell their soul, they saw an opportunity to make some money by cheating. And then we saw what it did to the NBA and what Postle has done to poker,” Gold said.

    Gold said he believes that Postle and Donaghy probably “grew up loving” poker and basketball, and never intended to become cheaters. He argues that, somewhere along their paths, they determined that cheating was the easiest way to make a buck.

    Paul Martino, a friend of Gold’s, produced the upcoming movie about Donaghy, Inside Game. Will Sasso, formerly of “MadTV,” and Eric Mabius, who plays the role of Donaghy, star in the movie. If you live in one of the 30 NBA cities, you can watch it in theaters beginning on Friday.

    Gold didn’t appear in the movie nor did he assist in the production, but he is helping his friend, Martino, get the word out about the upcoming flick.

    “I was brought on at the end,” he said. “I’m very close with Paul Martino, who produced and financed the movie. I wanted to help them market it. There’s such an interest in the story. The story is so incredible. Donaghy’s the only one that got caught. But you can’t tell me he’s the only referee who cheated.”

    Sadly, Gold is probably right with his analysis. Much like Gold, I’m a die-hard sports and poker fan, and I’m not too naive to believe there are cheaters who haven’t been caught yet in both sports and poker. In fact, I’ll give a shameless promotion on a recent article I wrote here at CardsChat about this exact topic.

    As I wrote in that article, Postle isn’t the only cheater in poker. And, basketball fans would be naive to believe Donaghy is the only ref who has cheated, as Gold stated. But I also don’t think cheating is more prevalent in poker than any other game where money is at stake. Gold agrees with that argument.

    What He’s Been Up To

    Those who began playing poker during the poker boom era certainly remember Gold’s run to $12 million in the 2006 WSOP Main Event. You may not be aware of what he’s been up to recently, however. He still plays poker and loves the game as much as ever. Winning tournaments isn’t a huge concern of his, however. Instead, he’s more focused on the charity aspect of poker these days.

    “I’ve focused on producing celebrity poker events, trying to raise as much money for causes I believe in as possible.”

    Gold will host a private charity poker event in Miami this winter during Super Bowl week. The former poker champ uses his platform as an ambassador to raise money for various causes.

    He also serves as an adviser to certain businesses, some of which he also backs as an investor. Poker and sports betting are two of his biggest passions. Gold still enjoys poker, but doesn’t play as often as in the past.

    “I’ve never been a full-time professional poker player,” he told me. “But I love the game so much that I try to be as good of an ambassador as I can even though I only play a few select tournaments each year when I have time. I try to use my platform for positivity for poker to raise as much money for important causes.”

    Gold still occasionally pops up on live-streamed poker shows such as “Poker After Dark.” Even 13 years after winning the Main Event, he’s still a popular figure at the poker table.

  • (OPINION) Reality Check: Mike Postle Isn’t the Only Player Cheating on Poker Live-Streams

    (OPINION) Reality Check: Mike Postle Isn’t the Only Player Cheating on Poker Live-Streams

    Few still believe Mike Postle is innocent of the allegations brought forth by Veronica Brill that he cheated during numerous Stones Live streams. So, instead of continuing to produce evidence – I believe we already have enough – I’m going to hit the poker community with a bit of a reality check that might not sit well with some of you. I have no doubt that other players are cheating on various live-streams.

    Mike Postle cheating poker
    Mike Postle probably isn’t the only poker cheater. (Image: YouTube/Jonathan Little)

    Doug Polk said he’s been receiving private messages about other potential live-stream cheaters. He dropped a heavy dose of reality on his Twitter followers about those who play on live-stream shows.

    Polk is correct. There are people – the tech team – that have access to hole cards in real-time. Players have to trust that those with access to their live, face-down cards aren’t sharing that information to another player at the table. And I’d be naive to think Postle is the only one who has found a way to cheat.

    More Cheaters Than You Know About

    Former Chicago Cubs slugger Sammy Sosa was busted for using a corked bat in 2003. During a regular season game against Tampa Bay, veteran umpire Tim McClelland discovered a piece of cork had been inserted into the barrel of Sosa’s bat, which violates Major League Baseball rules.

    Corking a bat can help a batter drive the ball. It would certainly give a hitter an unfair advantage. A fly ball to the outfield fence might have enough carry to go over the fence for a home run if the bat is corked. MLB took action, suspending Sosa for eight games.

    Sammy, unsurprisingly given his questionable character, refused to own up to cheating. Instead, he claimed it was a mistake. Apparently, intentionally cheating is considered a “mistake” to the now disgraced former baseball star. He accidentally mixed up his batting practice bat with his game bat, or so he said. Yeah, sure, Sammy, that sounds totally plausible. Only Mike Matusow would believe such a ridiculous excuse.

    No one with a functioning brain believed Sosa’s lame excuse. And I’m a Cubs fan, so this isn’t coming from some hater. Sammy’s excuse is about as believable as when Postle claims the Stones Live producers exaggerated his winnings.

    But any time a cheating scandal comes up, such as with Postle, I think back to the Sosa corked bat incident. Sammy, a player that only a myopic Cubs fans would deny used steroids during his 18-year career, hit 609 homers, good for ninth of all-time. He claims he only once used a corked bat, but I, and pretty much anyone who has the ability to think logically, believe that is utter B.S.

    If Postle Can Do It, Anyone Can

    It’s highly unlikely that the one time Sosa used a corked bat, he just so happened to get caught. And it’s equally unlikely there haven’t been many other hitters who have used corked bats. Most just haven’t been caught.

    For every cheater who gets busted, there are probably a dozen who don’t. It’s not just in baseball or other sports. I guarantee it also happens in poker. Postle got caught thanks to Veronica Brill outing him, and then poker industry professionals such as Joe Ingram, Matt Berkey, and Doug Polk putting in the time to investigate the claims.

    But, like in baseball, there are most certainly many other poker players who are running similar scams on live-streams. The difference between those individuals and Postle is, unlike Postle, they’re probably smart enough to dump some chips from time to time so that they aren’t so obvious.

    Postle was greedy and careless. Perhaps, he thought no one would ever catch him because the Stones Live streams don’t get many viewers. Honestly, he probably never would have been caught if he would have occasionally made some poor decisions on the river.

    He wasn’t smart enough to dump chips once in a while. He should have called off an occasional river bet with the worst hand or bluffed into the nuts. Instead, he always made the correct play based on his opponents cards on stream when facing a river decision.

    I always say that if you aren’t intelligent, you shouldn’t commit a crime. Dumb criminals end up in jail. It’s clear that Postle isn’t the brightest bulb on the block. I’m not going to call him a moron, but I have no doubt he isn’t a Mensa member either.

    You Can’t Completely Stop Cheating in Poker

    I love the game of poker, but I’m not naive enough to believe I’ve never been cheated at the table in my 16 years of playing. Chances are pretty good you’ve been cheated at some point as well.

    Cheating doesn’t only happen on live-stream shows. It also happens in regular cash games at just about any casino in the world. Players collude with other players, dealers collude with players, and as we saw with Postle, players can find a way to view an opponent’s hole cards on a live-stream.

    No matter what precautions are put in place, certain players will find a way to cheat. Performance enhancing drugs are banned in professional sports and athletes are required to take random drug screens. But, some athletes find a way to beat the system and use PED’s. The same thing will always happen in poker, unfortunately, even after Postlegate.

    You Can Still Take Precautions to Minimize Cheating

    Even if some players get away with cheating in poker, we can all work together to prevent it from happening as much as possible. PokerGo took a smart step in the right direction by banning the use of electronic devices at WSOP Europe feature tables.

    I applaud Poker Central’s efforts to prevent cheating, especially during a major poker series. Plus, we’re all too attached to our cell phones anyway. A few hours with no phone or Internet access won’t kill the players at the feature tables.

    There are many other ways to help prevent cheating in poker. I approve of banning the use of cell phones during live-streamed events. Postle is alleged to have used some sort of electronic device during play on Stones Live in order to cheat. Perhaps, requiring security to check out the electronic devices each player brings to the table would be a smart idea.

    Another way to help combat cheating is to continue calling out the cheaters. If you know or suspect a player is cheating, even if it’s in your local low-stakes games, let a floor manager know of your suspicions.

    By publicly outing cheaters, it might make others think twice before cheating. No one wants to end up like Postle or Russ Hamilton. Once you get caught, you will never be welcomed back into the poker community. And that’s the way it should be.

  • Lawyer for Mike Postle Sets Up Potential Legal Defense Strategy

    Lawyer for Mike Postle Sets Up Potential Legal Defense Strategy

    Mike Postle is facing a $10 million lawsuit for allegedly cheating during Stones Live streams, forcing the low-stakes pro to lawyer up. To fight back against the potential legal damage, his attorney might have already released a planned defense strategy.

    Mike Postle legal poker
    Mike Postle might already have a defense against cheating. (Image: lowlawfirm.com)

    William Portanova, Postle’s attorney, appears to have minimal understanding of modern poker strategy. Either that or he’s playing clueless as a way to set up his client’s defense.

    Postle was accused of cheating by Veronica Brill, a commentator and regular player on Stones Live. The whistleblower claims she questioned Postle’s play to Stones poker director Justin Kuraitis, but was assured he wasn’t cheating. That answer wasn’t satisfactory, so she went public, and poker is now dealing with one of the highest profile cheating scandals in its history.

    Lawyer for Postle Plays Dumb

    With Postle facing his share of a $10 million lawsuit, Portanova was hired to help set up a defense against the cheating accusations. It appears his strategy might be to act clueless about gambling.

    “I guess he wins a lot of hands of poker. I don’t gamble, because that’s how many hands I lose. But we don’t know what the facts are. I can just say this: When I play poker I lose almost every hand, so I know such streaks are possible,” Portanova said.

    Poker is a small niche within the gambling community, and an even smaller demographic compared to society as a whole. That means the average juror likely won’t have an advanced understanding of GTO and poker in general. That’s good for the defense if Brill’s attorney, Mac VerStandig, is unable to prove Postle used a physical device to cheat.

    Without proof of a physical device, most of the evidence is circumstantial. That means VerStandig’s team may have to rely heavily on proving Postle couldn’t have possibly made so many consecutive, correct decisions based on game theory, unless he was cheating. It may not be easy to explain game theory to a jury of random citizens, most of whom likely couldn’t decipher a royal flush from a royal wedding.

    Based on Portanova’s statement, it’s clear his goal is to convince the jury that if a gambler can hit a cold streak, they can also go on a hot streak. That, apparently, explains Postle’s incredible run on Stones Live streams, according to his attorney.

    As many top pros have noted on Twitter, it’s much easier to go on a losing streak than a winning streak. So, we’ll see how that defense strategy works out for Postle.

     

  • (OPINION) Mike Postle Cheating Scandal Brings Poker Community Together

    (OPINION) Mike Postle Cheating Scandal Brings Poker Community Together

    Mike Postle is accused of some serious cheating allegations that, if proven true, could leave a lasting negative impact on the poker world. But, he sure does seem to be doing a great job of bringing the poker community together.

    Mike Postle cheating scandal
    Many believe Mike Postle (left) and Stones TD Justin Kuraitis (right) were in on it together. (Image: YouTube)

    Postle is alleged to have used some sort of unknown device to access his opponent’s hole cards during Stones Live streams at Stones Gambling Hall in Citrus Heights, California. Many believe someone on the inside – perhaps a Stones employee – helped. Postle denied the allegations to CardsChat News, and on Mike Matusow’s podcast.

    Still, he doesn’t appear to have much support within the poker community.

    (Almost) General Consensus on Postle

    Postle claims he never cheated. He doesn’t need to, he says. That’s because he is “one of the best” poker players in the world, a statement he made on Matusow’s podcast last weekend.

    As new evidence comes out and those who may have been cheated begin their lawsuit against the Northern California poker pro, few remain on his side except the occasional unknown Twitter troll and Matusow, who claims to be “neutral” on this issue, even if his words suggest otherwise.

    No offense, Mikey, but when you coddle Postle in the interview and refuse to ask him a hard-hitting follow-up question, you aren’t being neutral. And when you take personal shots at the poker media, calling us “despicable” for accusing Postle of cheating, you most certainly aren’t being neutral.

    As for most of the rest of the poker community, that’s a different story. It’s hard to find many poker fans on social media defending Postle. Nearly every big name pro – from Matt Berkey to Scott Seiver – accuse him of being a cheater.

    The evidence is too clear. Unless he truly is the best poker player ever, he’s cheating. Postle is likely a solid poker player, with or without getting some illegal help. Chris Moneymaker even vouches for Mike’s talents. It’s just hard to fathom anyone could always be right when facing a decision on the river. And that’s why the poker community, as a whole, is confident he cheated.

    What the Poker Community is Saying

    Postle’s alleged cheating isn’t good for poker in the long run. Cheating scandals can scare casual poker players away. Who wants to play a game that isn’t legit? But, there is one positive from this potentially damaging story.

    Before anyone outside of the Sacramento area knew of Postle, the poker community was almost always divided. We’d argue over the silliest things, whether it be the brand of cards used at the WSOP, or if live reads can beat GTO.

    Then, Postle came along, and the poker community unified The list of people who believe he’s a cheater includes Seiver and Berkey, along with Doug Polk, Jonathan Little, Daniel Negreanu, Haralabos Voulgaris, Justin Bonomo, Tony Dunst, and many other big-name pros. The list of high-profile poker pros who proclaim his innocence begins and ends with Mike Matusow. Oh, that’s right, Mikey is “neutral.”

    Definitely being neutral there, Mike. You’re about as neutral on Postle as Sean Hannity is with Donald Trump or MSNBC is with Democrat politicians.

    The rest of the poker community, however, isn’t so friendly toward Postle. There aren’t many others who defend the accused Stones Gambling Hall cheater.

    https://twitter.com/haralabob/status/1181747477306732544

    Did Postle cheat? At this point, given all the evidence we’ve seen, it’s hard to believe he didn’t. And few, other than Matusow, have any doubts left.

  • Mike Postle, Stones Gambling Hall Hit With $10M Lawsuit in Cheating Scandal

    Mike Postle, Stones Gambling Hall Hit With $10M Lawsuit in Cheating Scandal

    If Mike Postle was indeed cheating during live streams of poker at Stones Gambling Hall, those actions could cost him and the poker room a lot more than what he won during his incredible run.

    Mike Postle Stones Cheating Lawsuit
    25 plaintiffs have filed a complaint against Mike Postle and the Stones Gambling Hall over Postle’s alleged cheating on the venue’s live streamed poker games. (Image: Stones Gambling Hall)

    On Tuesday afternoon, attorney Mac VerStandig announced that 25 plaintiffs were filing suit against Postle, Stones, and tournament director Justin Kuraitis, with the defendants facing potential damages of $10 million.

    Lawsuit Uses Results as Evidence Against Postle

    Chief among the plaintiffs is Veronica Brill, the first person to publicly discuss the possibility that Postle might be cheating in the Stones live-streamed games. The suit charges the defendants with nine counts, including racketeering, fraud, negligence, and libel, among others.

    If the lawsuit is successful, any restitution would be split proportionally among the fraud victims based on “the number of minutes they spent playing on the Stones Live Poker broadcast from January 1, 2019 through the present.”

    The lawsuit doesn’t claim the plaintiffs have perfect knowledge of how Postle allegedly cheated, or a single smoking gun piece of evidence that proves their case beyond a reasonable doubt. But, the pure weight of all the circumstantial evidence could certainly be enough for the plaintiffs to meet the burden of having a preponderance of evidence for the civil lawsuit, and more detailed information could be uncovered during the discovery process prior to a potential trial.

    The complaint goes into great statistical detail to outline Postle’s otherworldly success during the broadcasts, both in terms of his win rate, and the percentage of sessions in which he supposedly won. That, the complaint states, is more than enough to prove his performance was more than just the marriage of luck and skill.

    In short, Mr. Postle’s poker winnings – considered in the prism of both metrics and hand-for-hand decision-making – on Stones Live Poker have been not merely outliers but, in fact, exponential outliers, representing a quality of play multiple degrees higher than that achieved by the best poker players in the world.”

    The lawsuit further notes that, despite his great success on stream, Postle allegedly did not play in other streaming poker games or at higher stakes. The suit also accuses him of “using one or more wire communication mechanisms to defraud his opponents by gaining knowledge of their Hole Cards during the play of poker hands.”

    John Doe 1 Named as ‘Chief Confederate’

    The complaint also makes reference to a “John Doe 1,” who is described as Postle’s “chief confederate” in the alleged scheme. The plaintiffs suggest that the rare times when Postle lost on stream corresponded to times when this John Doe 1 wasn’t in the area, and that Postle would rarely play in the streams when this alleged conspirator wasn’t around.

    [John Doe 1] is the individual who caused to be transmitted to Mr. Postle the information concerning other players’ Hole Cards during Stones Live Poker games, and that such confederate also took steps to allay suspicions and concerns regarding Mr. Postle’s cheating so as to allow the same conduct to continue in an unabated manner for a protracted period of time in excess of one year,” the complaint reads.

    Other less dramatic charges are also made in the complaint. In particular, Brill is seeking $1,000 in damages from Stones Gambling Hall on a charge of libel for a tweet that claimed her suspicions of Postle were “completely fabricated.”

  • (OPINION) Mike Postle Has Some Explaining to Do and Time is Ticking

    (OPINION) Mike Postle Has Some Explaining to Do and Time is Ticking

    Mike Postle has been noticeably absent from social media the past few days, following his alleged cheating scandal. But, it’s time for him to unzip those lips and explain to us in the poker community how it’s “postle-ble” (shout out to Doug Polk for that pun) that he was able to win at an improbable rate, and always seems to make the right decisions.

    Mike Postle cheating scandal
    It’s getting harder to believe Mike Postle isn’t a cheater. (Image: YouTube)

    Postle hasn’t tweeted or spoken publicly since September 30. I would imagine he has obtained legal counsel and, perhaps, his attorney has instructed him to keep silent. But, the poker community needs answers to some important questions. And we need them ASAP or his god-like performance on “Stones Live” looks even more suspicious than it already does.

    Where Did You Go, Mike Postle?

    Immediately after Veronica Brill (aka “Angry Polak”) accused Postle of cheating, he went on the defense. When I spoke with him, he quickly denied cheating and said those who are calling him a cheater are “jealous” of his success.

    Fine, I thought. Maybe he’s right. What if there really is a group of players at Stones Gambling Hall who are envious of his poker skills. I don’t personally know Mike, nor have I ever played at Stones. So, I initially thought he could be onto something. Innocent until proven guilty, right? And, I like to give people the benefit of the doubt.

    But it’s been four days since we’ve heard from Postle. In that time, new evidence has come out that suggests he may have engaged in cheating during “Stones Live” streams. Even some of his friends, including Chris Moneymaker, have turned on him the past few days.

    Still, he’s just sitting on the sidelines letting numerous poker players call him a cheater. His story even made ESPN’s SportsCenter last night. Scott Van Pelt, an ESPN anchor who admittedly doesn’t play poker, was skeptical of Postle’s ability to win at such a high level without moving up in stakes.

    The mere fact that Postle isn’t coming forward with a public statement defending his actions and providing details of how he won so frequently has me, and others, taking the side of those who accuse him of being a cheater. You seem more suspicious as the days go by, and yet you remain silent, Mike.

    Questions Postle Must Answer

    If Postle wants the poker community to believe his innocence, he needs to answer some questions. I spoke with him last weekend, and he answered some of my questions, but his responses weren’t enough.

    The main question I have for him is how he can possibly be right with seemingly every river decision, despite “playing a high-variance, reckless style of poker.” Those were his words, not mine.

    If you play high-variance, reckless poker, that means you’re going to take a lot of risks. More so than the average player. When you do that, you’ll get away with more bluffs than most. But, that style of play also makes you susceptible to donking away chips and getting stacked at times when you run into the nuts, or a player who decides they’ve had enough with your constant betting and calls you down with bottom pair.

    Through the dozens of hours of play from “Stones Live”, Joey Ingram has shown his viewers on YouTube, Postle never seems to run into spot where he’s bluffing into the nuts. We have yet to see him get stacked. How is it even possible for you to avoid those situations, given your aggressiveness on the river, Mike?

    Another question I need answered, Mike, is what is Veronica’s motive for accusing you of cheating? By your own admission, and this is what you told me, you two were “close”. So, what caused her to all of a sudden become “jealous” of you?

    Cheating scandals are bad for poker as they bring negative publicity to our game. So, I’m hopeful we’re all wrong, and Postle has some legit explanation. But I wouldn’t bet on him being innocent.

     

  • Mike Postle Support Dwindling as Stones Calls on Investigators

    Mike Postle Support Dwindling as Stones Calls on Investigators

    Mike Postle is losing some defenders as the Stones Gambling Hall poker room is hiring a third-party investigator to get to the bottom of some serious cheating allegations, which may have occurred during numerous “Stones Live” streams.

    Mike Postle cheating poker stones
    Mike Postle may have gotten out of line. (Image: YouTube/Joey Ingram)

    Postle is a regular on “Stones Live” and has, what some believe, an impossible record of success on the show. He rarely, if ever, loses, and also almost never makes an incorrect decision on the river. That caused many within the poker community to accuse him of cheating his opponents out of thousands of dollars. It certainly appears the accusers might be onto something.

    Mike Postle Has Some Explaining to Do

    Postle has been noticeably absent on Twitter the past couple of days. His silence isn’t sitting well with his detractors, who feel the poker community deserves an explanation.

    Even his friends, which include Chris Moneymaker, are turning their backs on him. Moneymaker originally told CardsChat he found it hard to believe Postle cheats. But after viewing the evidence, which includes countless hours of “Stones Live” cash game footage, he’s changed his tone.

    Another friend of Postle’s, @Pokebee81 on Twitter, vehemently defended the accused cheater. On September 29, she wrote that, “clueless people” aren’t willing to “have an adult conversation with the person they accuse” and instead go to social media to make accusations. She also said her child is friends with Postle’s child, and she has great respect for him as a person and player.

    But, like Moneymaker, she is changing her tone after additional evidence has been released.

    https://twitter.com/Pokerbee81/status/1179764051489853440

    https://twitter.com/Pokerbee81/status/1179764163515600898

    Stones Ready to Investigate

    Stones Gambling Hall, a casino in Northern California, initially said they investigated claims against Postle and found no wrongdoing. But, after the poker community brought forth complaints, the casino is reopening the investigation. The first step was to suspend all “Stones Live” broadcasts, for the time being.

    Stones also announced the casino hired Michael Lipman, a former US Assistant Attorney for the Southern District of California. Lipman, a partner in Duane Morris LLP’s trial practice group, has more than 40 years trying criminal and civil cases in state and federal cases. He has extensive experience handling fraud cases.

    Despite reopening the investigation, Stones is still taking heat from some poker players. That includes Doug Polk, who was critical of the casino, saying on Twitter that “Stones continues to conduct this investigation and share outcomes with transparency.”

    Mac VerStandig of The VerStandig Law Firm, who represents poker players in civil and criminal cases, discovered a potential conflict of interest in regard to Lipman’s connection to Stones Gambling Hall.

     

    Postle has some explaining to do. But, for now, we’ll sit and wait for Lipman to investigate, and then release his findings. Let’s just hope the investigation is fair and, if cheating occurred, justice will prevail.

     

  • Mike Matusow Defends Mike Postle Against Cheating Allegations

    Mike Matusow Defends Mike Postle Against Cheating Allegations

    Mike Matusow isn’t buying the Mike Postle cheating allegations. “The Mouth” apparently, believes it’s possible to almost never make an incorrect decision at the poker table. And maybe he’s right. Or, perhaps, he’s being naive.

    Mike Matusow
    Mike Matusow doesn’t believe Mike Postle is a cheater. (Image: wsop.com)

    Matusow isn’t the only poker player who believes in Postle’s innocence. Numerous Sacramento-area pros have come forward in defense of the accused cheater. But most players on Twitter, outside the Stones Gambling Hall community, aren’t buying the story. And that includes a prominent poker figure – Chris Moneymaker – who originally defended Postle.

    Things aren’t looking good for Postle from a reputation standpoint, innocent or otherwise. But Matusow still has his back.

    Matusow ‘Feels’ Like Mike Postle is Innocent

    Maybe it’s Postle’s first name that has Matusow defending the accused cheater. Or, it could be the fact that both Mike’s seem to play a similar style, which is to use live reads, not game theory optimal (GTO) strategy, as their basis for making what they perceive to be the correct decision.

    Matusow had some choice words on Twitter for those who have investigated Postle. Namely, Doug Polk and Joey Ingram.

    Matusow knows a thing or two about making “live reads.” He openly denies the need for making sound decisions based on game theory. So, he may appreciate Postle’s apparent ability to make correct decisions without dissecting an opponent’s hand range. The only difference is that Matusow is, at times, wrong with his reads. Let’s take a look at an example of why live reads can’t always be trusted.

    In the above YouTube clip, Mikey’s live read against Phil Hellmuth failed him miserably. That isn’t a knock on Matusow’s game. It happens to everyone at times (except Mike Postle?). He was one of the best no-limit hold ’em players during the “High Stakes Poker” show days. But, it goes to show, you can’t always trust your live reads because physical tells aren’t an exact science.

    On the other hand, those who have viewed countless hours of Postle’s play – shout out to Joey Ingram – have yet to find any examples of where the accused cheater made an incorrect decision on the river. And that’s why many poker players believe he’s a cheater.

    Moneymaker Changes Tone

    When CardsChat initially spoke with Chris Moneymaker on Tuesday, he believed in Postle’s innocence. The 2003 WSOP Main Event champ has a lengthy history with Postle that dates back over a decade of playing against the alleged “Stones Live” cheater. The two battled numerous times on stream, and Moneymaker considered Postle a friend.

    After watching more clips of hands that Postle played, however, Moneymaker has changed his tune. Though he hasn’t outright called Postle a cheater, he admits he doesn’t like the “look of things.”

    With Moneymaker now stepping out of Postle’s corner, it appears there are no big-name players who believe in his innocence. Or, at least none that are publicly coming forward. Well, except for Matusow.