- 5 updates
Top poker player Phil Ivey loses £7.7m casino case
One of the world's leading poker players has lost a multimillion pound law suit at the High Court in London over £7.7m of winnings at a top casino. Crockfords Club accused Mr Ivey of using a technique called 'edge-sorting' to give himself an unfair advantage in the card game Punto Blanco.
Live updates
Phil Ivey case: What is 'edge-sorting'?
Top poker player Phil Ivey has lost a case to reclaim £7.7m in winnings from a London casino.
The case centred on the technique of 'edge-sorting' which Mr Ivey had used to help him in the game.
The player insisted it was a "legitimate strategy" to exploit the casino's failure to protect themselves against top players such as himself.
Essentially the technique involves working out the value of a card by spotting small differences in the patterns on the back of the card.
Casino security expert Willy Allison explains how edge-sorting works to give players an advantage against the house.
Phil Ivey: 'It is not my nature to cheat'
Top card player Phil Ivey has insisted the strategy he adopted in a high-stakes card game did not amount to cheating.
The 38-year-old said the technique of 'edge-sorting' he used was "a legitimate strategy" to exploit the casino's failure to take "proper steps to protect themselves against a player of my ability".
Speaking through a spokesman, Mr Ivey said: "I am obviously disappointed with this judge's decision. As I said in court, it is not my nature to cheat and I would never do anything to risk my reputation.
"I am pleased that the judge acknowledged in court that I was a truthful witness."
Lawyers for Mr Ivey were refused permission to appeal although they can renew their application to the Court of Appeal directly.
Advertisement
Casino: Ivey ruling 'vindicates steps we have taken'
The London casino at the centre of a multimillion pound claim from top card player Phil Ivey has said it is "pleased" with its victory in the High Court today
Crockfords issued a statement saying: "We attach the greatest importance to our exemplary reputation for fair, honest and professional conduct and today's ruling vindicates the steps we have taken in this matter."
Judge rules Phil Ivey cannot claim back Baccarat win
A High Court judge has ruled in favour of the owners of a London casino who refused to pay £7.7m in winnings to top card player Phil Ivey.
Mr Ivey brought the case against Genting Casinos after he won the money during a round of the card game Punto Blanco - a version of Baccarat - in August 2012.
After four sessions he was told that his £7.7m winnings would be wired to him, but when he got back to the United States he found he had only had his original stake money of £1m returned.
The casino said Mr Ivey had used a technique called "edge-sorting" to give himself an unfair advantage.
They argued that Mr Ivey's conduct defeated the premise of the game and therefore meant there was no contract between Ivey and the casino.
Poker player Phil Ivey loses £7.7m casino case
Top poker player Phil Ivey has lost a High Court case against the owners of London's Crockfords Club casino over £7.7m of winnings.