Phil Ivey takes Genting battle to Supreme Court

Ivey used edge-sorting techniques to win at punto banca, a derivative of baccarat, at Crockford’s Club Mayfair. The technique involves taking advantage of slight design differences or flaws in the face-down cards to determine whether they are of low or high value.

He originally sued for the winnings in 2014, putting forward that edge sorting was no form of cheating. However, a UK Civil Cout ruled against his defence, stating that the strategy had "circumvented the premise of the game and therefore was not liable for the winnings.”

After Ivey victory, the casino promised to wire the money, but by the time Ivey had gotten home and checked his bank account, found they had only returned his £1m investment.

Ivey sued the casino, and Judge John Mitting ruled that although Ivey was not a dishonest individual, edge sorting was illegal under civil law. Ivey took the case to the Court of Appeals where again, they voted 2:1 in favour of the casino, because of the intentional way Ivey and his partner in crime shifted the 1% casino edge to a 6% Ivey edge.

Speaking at an earlier hearing, Ivey said: "When I walk in the doors I look at every mathematical advantage I can to win. I found something we thought would work in casinos, that we could have an advantage over the house and make money. That is why I came to Crockfords.”

Crockford’s legal representative, Christopher Pymont, said: ‘It does not follow that just because he genuinely believed he was not a cheat he did not appreciate that what he was doing would be regarded as dishonesty by ordinary honest people. The key to cheating is not whether the player acted dishonestly but whether he acted deliberately to gain an unfair advantage in the game.”

It’s not only Crockford’s who are rather upset with Mr Ivey. The Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa, in Atlantic City, successfully sued him for US$ 10.1 million in Baccarat winnings earned in the same controversial fashion. Ivey is taking the case to the U.S. Third Circuit Court of Appeal.

Source: GMB / InterGame Online / Calvinayre.com