Christian Lusardi Charged With Multiple Crimes

Published on January 24th, 2014 7:08 pm EST

According to PressofAtlanticCity.com (link below), an arrest has been made in the Borgata counterfeit chip scandal.

According to the site, Christian Lusardi, 42, has been charged with rigging a publicly exhibited contest, criminal attempt and theft by deception. Lusardi was arrested on Friday and is currently being held on $300,000 bail.

Last Friday, tournament officials at the Borgata Winter Poker Open announced the suspension of Event #1 ($560 Big Stack No Limit Hold'em Re-Entry $2 Million Guarantee) after it was revealed that the tournament had been "compromised". The event had completed two full days of play and was down to just 27 players when the Borgata announced the suspension of the tournament.

According to PressofAtlanticCity.com, workers "clearing a clogged sewer pipe at Harrah's Resort and Casino" discovered $2.7 million in bogus Borgata poker chips. Word was quickly passed to the Borgata, who soon discovered that $800,000 in bogus tournament chips had been introduced into Event #1.

According to police, it was Lusardi who had introduced the chips into the tournament - Lusardi ended up cashing for $6,814 in the event.

--

There is no word as of yet as to what will happen to the prize pool money that is currently frozen, or if the tournament will end up refunding players who didn't cash in the event.

The investigation continues..

Source: PressofAtlanticCity.com - $2.7 Million in Counterfeit Poker Chips Found in Sewer Pipe at Harrah's

--

Filed Under: Poker Legal Issues