Gaming insights Gaming

Ivey baffled after losing Crockfords edge sorting appeal

Written by Ben Blaschke

He is widely renowned as the world’s best poker player, but Phil Ivey’s luck hasn’t translated to casino games after he lost his long-running bid to recover £7.8 million he won playing baccarat at London’s Crockfords Casino in 2012.

Barely a week after losing a similar case against the Borgata in Atlantic City after winning US$10 million in the same year as his England adventure, a London judge has again ruled against Ivey – claiming his use of a technique called edge sorting “amounted to cheating.”

Ivey and his playing partner Cheung Yin Sun were able to identify small defects on the backs of the playing cards used to give themselves an edge, although there has been widespread debate over who was at fault given that both Crockfords and Borgata willingly agreed to use the brand of cards requested by the pair at the time.

“This decision makes no sense to me,” Ivey said following the ruling. “The trial judge said that I was not dishonest and the three appeal judges agreed but somehow the decision has gone against me. Can someone tell me how you can have honest cheating? I’d like to add that I am very grateful to Lady Justice Sharp who decided that the trial judge was ‘wrong’ to decide that I had cheated.”

Ivey’s lawyer, Matthew Dowd, added, “The Court of Appeal’s decision leaves the law totally unclear as to what constitutes cheating at gambling. Four judges have looked at this issue now and none of them have been able to agree on the correct interpretation of section 42 of the Gambling Act.

“It is essential that the law is clarified and in light of today’s decision we are seeking permission to appeal to the Supreme Court.”