Cheating Scandal in Las Vegas: Poker Players Demand Change Led by Mike Holtz

The Poker Atlas Tour was held at the Resorts World Casino in Las Vegas from February 27 to March 10. Following the $800 buy-in Main Event, multiple players raised concerns about suspected cheating.

One of the participants, Mike "BrockLesnar" Holtz, a two-time WSOP Online Player of the Year (POY), shared his negative experiences in a nearly 10-minute video. Holtz claimed he witnessed suspicious collusion between two players at his table. A short-stacked player repeatedly folded his hands in a way that allowed Juan Campayo Hernandez, the big stack who eventually won the $60,250 top prize, to see them. Holtz reported his concerns to tournament staff, but no action was taken.

Holtz also described another suspicious incident in which an eliminated player stood behind an active player and communicated with them in a foreign language during card dealing. Again, casino staff failed to intervene.

Holtz highlighted another major issue: many American dealers are not adequately trained, leading to frequent accidental card exposure during dealing. He suggested that switching from the American "pitch" dealing style to the European "slide" method could significantly improve security. In "pitch" dealing, the dealer lifts the cards slightly and tosses them through the air toward players. This method increases the risk of unintentional card exposure, especially if the dealer throws too high or at the wrong angle.

By contrast, the European-style "slide" dealing involves placing the cards flat on the table and sliding them to players, minimizing the chances of accidental exposure.

Holtz emphasized that the problem likely extends beyond a single event, suggesting that a larger cheating ring may be involved, regularly appearing at various poker tournaments in Las Vegas. Several renowned poker professionals, including Patrick Leonard, Eric Zheng, and Joel Baker, have reported similar suspicious activities.

Holtz urged the American poker community to unite and demand stricter measures against cheating, warning that ongoing scandals could severely damage the reputation of Las Vegas poker and deter players from participating. His concerns have been echoed by top players such as Ryan Riess, Tony Dunst, Allen Kessler, Andy Bloch, and Robert Mizrachi.

As a positive example, Holtz cited Wynn Las Vegas, where security measures are strict, and cheating incidents are consistently penalized.