Over 80 poker players from Station Casinos will have to wait until next month to find out if they will receive their portion of a $120,000 bad beat jackpot won at Red Rock Casino, Resort & Spa in July, according to the Nevada Gaming Control Board (NGCB).
Whenever the Jumbo Hold ‘Em Poker Progressive Jackpot of Station Casinos hits, a percentage of it is paid out to players in all its five poker rooms. The jackpot is funded by a small percentage from every pot played.
Everyone assumed that the $120,000 jackpot was won when recreational player Len Schreter’s straight flush defeated 83-year-old Avi Shamir’s lower straight flush at Red Rock on July 7.
Shamir was poised to receive $60,000 as a result of the bad beat, while Schreter stood to gain $30,000 for dealing it. Furthermore, anyone who was playing poker at a Station Casinos room during that time would also receive a share. Approximately 80 people were expected to benefit from this.
However, Schreter revealed his cards before the final betting round of the hand.
Jackpot invalidated
At a NGCB hearing held last week, testimonies were presented indicating that surveillance video had caught Schreter prematurely revealing his cards. Upon reviewing the video and consulting with fellow Red Rock executives, Forrest Caldwell, who was then the poker room manager at Red Rock, declared the jackpot void.
The decision was made because revealing the cards equated to discussing the hands during play, which, according to the official rules of Jumbo Hold ‘Em Jackpot, is not allowed for players. These rules also provide the manager with the authority to void the jackpot.
However, the players involved assert that Schreter revealing his cards after the final board card was dealt did not affect the outcome at all.
Station Casinos requests a hearing
Initially, the players requested the NGCB to scrutinize the situation. Bill Olliges, an investigator from NGCB, complied and gave a verdict in favor of the players. He concurred that Schreter’s behavior exhibited poor poker etiquette, however, it did not alter the result of the hand.
Station Casinos requested a hearing on the issue which took place this past Tuesday and lasted three hours. During this time, Schreter made an emotional appeal to the board.
My status changed from a local hero to a local outcast, and in one instance, I was perceived as a local villain. Red Rock emotionally wounded me, whereas it caused financial harm to Shamir. Red Rock’s actions were a gut punch to me, but for Shamir, the blow was even more devastating.
Chan Lengsavath, the Managing Member of Vegas Valley Law and NGCB Audit Supervisor, chaired the hearing. He is anticipated to submit a report to the three-person NGCB panel by early January.
The Nevada Gaming Control Board (NGCB) is anticipated to review recommendations from the report during its meeting in Las Vegas on January 10-11.
