Updated Cliff Notes On Absolute Poker Scandal (18th October)

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A lot of this is copy/pasted from the last cliffnotes,

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A lot of this is copy/pasted from Josem's last cliffnotes, so thanks Josem for those.

Previous thread here:
http://forumserver.twoplustwo.com/showfl...part=1&vc=1

Short version:
There is almost indisputable proof that users at AP were cheating by somehow viewing the whole cards of their opponents. Some information has come out that indicates an AP employee or ex-employee may have been involved. There is further evidence that it may be ex-owner, Scott Tom.

Long version:

1) During a tournament played by cheater 'Potripper,' the person who ended up coming second ("Marco") thought he was cheated. He emailed Absolute, and they sent him a hand history file - an XLS file.

2) Marco opened up this file, it seemed all gibberish to him, and he didn't think anything of it.

3) First Absolute Poker scandal blow up - PT screenshots, etc. Graphical representation here: http://www.absolutepokercheats.com/vpipvbb.jpg

4) Fortnight passes

5) In passing discussion, Marco mentions he has this file. He shares it with a few people, including N 80 50 24(pokerdb.com maintainer, maker of The Poker Film, part owner of Bluff Media) who analyses what is in this file

6) Nat (N 82 50 24) & 2p2 poster Snagglepuss discover that this file is a complete hand history for the tournament - showing every table, and all hole cards of every player.

Hand histories here: http://forumserver.twoplustwo.com/showfl...e=0&fpart=1
Youtube video of hands being replayed here

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Also, for the straight dope on how this we got to this point, check out N825024's blog at http://www.natarem.com/.

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7)In further analysis of the spreadsheet, Nat and Snagglepuss determine that the IP address, user number and email address of observers has been documented.

8)In 7, they determine that an account with user number 363 observes Potripper's table from 2 minutes into the tournament until the end.

9) At the start of the tournament, for the two hands that user #363 is not observing the table, Potripper folds preflop. He doesn't fold another hand pre-flop for 20minutes, when he open-folds with KK held by a player behind him.

10) They also discover another observer, with the same IP (in San Jose, Costa Rica), with a different user number and the email address scott@rivieraltd.com, observing another table for a short period of time.

11) It is speculated that 10 could be Potripper's user account.

12) It was determined that the domain rivieraltd.com was pointing to a mail server which happened to be on an IP allocated to Absolute Entertainment SA, at Mohawk Internet Technologies' data center.

12.5) Shortly (within an hour or two) after the findings in 12 are posted here, the DNS information for rivieraltd.com is deleted.

13)The IP associated with the observer in #10 turns out to be a residential cable modem registered to Scott Tom, AP's President as of 2005.

14)Mason weighs in on things here:
http://forumserver.twoplustwo.com/sh...age=0&vc=1

15)Absolute sends an email to one player saying they will undergo a formal audit from gamingassociates.com here:
http://forumserver.twoplustwo.com/sh...age=0&vc=1. AP also claims Scott Tom has not been employed by AP for over a year, although he's made posts on 2+2 spamming for AP as recently as June of this year.

16) Steven D. Levitt posts about this story on his NY Times blog for the second time:
First post
New post

10/17 update:

The Potripper account belongs to AJ Green, former Director of Operations at AP and Scott Tom's best friend. AJ Green is currently VP of operations at nine.com.

If I've missed anything important, let me know.

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18) The ABS Poker worker who sent the .xls file out no longer is employed by Absolute.

19) DanDruff speaks to a "senior" member of staff @ AP Dan Druff's 1st suggestion

A lot of uproar and criticism followed this post from DD,

DD's Next Idea

Dan Druff's view

21) Absolute agree to letting KGC audit/investigate them :

KGC Story


22) Mark Seif plays $1k tourney on Absolute and gets grilled by the rail...but then roceeds to still deny that tourney hands look suspicious and say that Dan Druff is likely to be sued for slander yadda yadda yadda...

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MARK SEIF: yes i was watching the hands on a player
MARK SEIF: i actually saw quite a few hands that suggest he couldnt see
MARK SEIF: the hands - he played very poorly if he could see them
MARK SEIF: i watched 80 something hands
MARK SEIF: i marked a few whcih troubled me
MARK SEIF: i marked a few that it appears there is no way he could see
MARK SEIF: the hands
MARK SEIF: that's my honet opinion so far
MARK SEIF: still havent seen it all
MARK SEIF: i never said he was legit - dont put words in my mouth pleas
MARK SEIF: yeah that's what i watched some of the hands on - you tube


MARK SEIF: dan druff is an out and out LIAR
MARK SEIF: and exaggerator
MARK SEIF: i have no problem going on record about that
MARK SEIF: and he is likely to be sued for his libelous and slanderous
MARK SEIF: statements
MARK SEIF: i dont normally say stuff like that but i read with my own
MARK SEIF: eyes some of his lies


UNSEIF: I OPEN FOLD FULL HOUSES IN CAPPED POTS

MARK SEIF: with respect to that assertion that i open folded - that is
MARK SEIF: a total and complete LIE
MARK SEIF: that never happened and i challenge anyone anyone at all to
MARK SEIF: show me that hand
MARK SEIF: its is bald face LIE
MARK SEIF: i am just a spokesperson i am not an owner, manager or direc
MARK SEIF: tor
MARK SEIF: i am concerned about this and awaiting the investigation to
MARK SEIF: decide what to do
MARK SEIF: unlike some people i believe in withholding judgment until
MARK SEIF: all the evidence is in
MARK SEIF: maybe its the lawyer in me - maybe its a sense of fairness
MARK SEIF: I played against gray cat and lost a lot
MARK SEIF: I am down over a million on ap


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23) Associated Press have picked up the story...http://www.ktvn.com/Global/story.asp?S=7229673

24) P5's Admin invited to ABS Poker offices in Costa Rica... Meeting doesn't go as people would have hoped as Absolute still denying a lot pretty much..but P5's possibly letting them off lightly when presented with a great opportunity.
Crossposted Summary

25) With regards to other account aliases on other sites :

AJ Green/Potripper on AP [almost certainly] = FATRAISER on Stars
I am reliably informed that Scott Tom has account at Ultimate Bet under the name of 'PotChopper'

Potchoppers Non-cashes from the DB

http://forumserver.twoplustwo.com/sh...umber=12554120

26) More Absolute Staff appearing to be 2+2 members :

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Josem :

I am reliably informed that:
http://forumserver.twoplustwo.com/sh...&User=7262 = RUNNINONMT on UB
That player is Brent Beckley, another major player at AP

his email is brent@rivieraltd.com and from the montana group of people who run ap



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27) Several other "suspicious" $500 MTT winners were listed but so far, nothing concrete on those and maybe a bit of paranoia...nonetheless successful tourney players :

Although - This shot is quite suspicious :

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Josem - the Swongs r 1 thing is priceless.

Nice podcast guys.

Time to make more popcorn.

The Oscar account came out earlier but we were holding back on those accounts for the time being.

Can anyone post an "all mtts played shot" of him. It's only 4.

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LOLLLLLLLLLLLLLL [img]/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img]

Deposit $15
Win seat
Win 37K

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28) Dan Druff awaiting follow up call from AP management with a possible plan of action.

Edited to add: Dan Druff's 2nd Call with AP (Is posted in full 5 posts down)

29) Gambling911 picks up the story :

http://www.gambling911.com/Absolute-Poker-101807.html




That is all I could see that were the important comments from the other 9 pages...

However if there is anything I missed - feel free to let me know and I'll modify my original and/or get it amended by a Mod..

previous cliffnotes here -gw