Quick answer: The biggest threats in poker have been armed robberies of private games and large cheating scandals. Robbers target private games because the players have cash on the table. Online, the record includes the UltimateBet "superuser" scandal tied to Russ Hamilton, the DOJ's Full Tilt Poker case and real-time-assistance (RTA) bans. Several famous accusations, though, never led to criminal charges.
Armed robberies of poker games
Private and underground games keep a lot of cash in one room, which makes them targets.
- Fargo, North Dakota (2026): Three masked men held six players at gunpoint during an invite-only game and took about $2,500, according to court documents. Two brothers and a third man have been charged. As of late October 2026 no pleas or convictions have been reported, and they are presumed innocent.
- College Park, Maryland (2011): Robbers hit a game in an apartment, and some victims were pistol-whipped. Sergio Hernandez was convicted and sentenced to 60 years.
- Solon, Ohio (2009): Masked men armed with rifles and shotguns robbed 12 players at a warehouse game of about $75,000. Six defendants pleaded guilty and were sentenced.
- Saginaw Township, Michigan (2015): A robbery at an apartment game led to a fatal shooting. One co-defendant pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit armed robbery.
Online poker's biggest scams
- UltimateBet / Absolute Poker: Insiders used "superuser" accounts that could see opponents' hole cards. The Kahnawake Gaming Commission named Russ Hamilton, the 1994 WSOP Main Event champion, as the person primarily responsible. UltimateBet's owner was fined $1.5 million and refunded more than $22 million to affected players.
- Full Tilt Poker: In 2011, U.S. prosecutors called the site a "global Ponzi scheme". They said it paid insiders while owing players about $390 million. Chris "Jesus" Ferguson was named in the civil complaint and settled in 2013 without admitting liability or guilt. He agreed to forfeit $2.35 million plus other funds.
- RTA and multi-accounting bans: In 2022, Ali Imsirovic and Jake Schindler were reportedly banned by GGPoker amid allegations that they used real-time assistance (RTA) tools. The PokerGO Tour also suspended both of them. Imsirovic later admitted to multi-accounting and said GGPoker seized $320,000, but he denies using RTA. None of these were criminal cases.
Live-stream cheating accusations
- Mike Postle (Stones Gambling Hall, 2019): He was accused of cheating in live-streamed cash games, and more than 80 players joined a $30 million civil suit. In June 2020 a federal judge dismissed the claims against him with prejudice, ruling that California public policy bars recovering gambling losses. The ruling did not decide whether he cheated, and the allegations were never proven in court.
- Robbi Jade Lew vs. Garrett Adelstein (Hustler Casino Live, 2022): Robbi Jade Lew faced Garrett Adelstein. Lew called with J-4 and won a big pot, and Adelstein accused her of cheating. The casino's investigation found no credible evidence of wrongdoing, and nothing has been proven.
Why it matters
Robberies are crimes with victims and court records. Many cheating stories are allegations that were never proven. Always check whether a case ended in a conviction, a civil settlement, a platform ban or a dismissal.
FAQ
What was the UltimateBet superuser scandal? Insiders used accounts that could see other players' hole cards. A Kahnawake Gaming Commission probe found Russ Hamilton primarily responsible.
Was Mike Postle convicted of cheating? No. The claims against him in a $30 million civil suit were dismissed in 2020 on California gambling-law grounds, and the cheating allegations were never proven in court.
Did Robbi Jade Lew cheat Garrett Adelstein? Nothing has been proven. Hustler Casino Live's investigation found no credible evidence of wrongdoing.
Related names: Jesus (Chris Ferguson) · Garrett Adelstein · Robbi Jade Lew · Russ Hamilton · Mike Postle · Ali Imsirovic · Jake Schindler