Poker has always been a game of skill, psychology, and risk, but sometimes, the biggest risks aren’t taken at the tables—they unfold in cheating scandals, controversial rulings, and shocking upsets that shake the game to its core. Over the years, the poker world has seen multi-million-dollar cheating operations, online hacking scandals, and improbable victories that left fans and players stunned.
Whether it’s a professional player getting caught marking cards, an online poker site rigging games, or an underdog shocking the poker elite, these moments have changed the game forever. Let’s dive into the biggest poker scandals and upsets in history, proving that sometimes, the most intense action doesn’t come from the cards—it comes from the people behind them.
1. The Ultimate Bet & Absolute Poker Scandals (2007 – 2008)
One of the biggest scandals in online poker history was the Ultimate Bet and Absolute Poker cheating scandal, which involved superuser accounts—hidden accounts that allowed specific players to see their opponents’ hole cards.
What happened?
- Players noticed strange betting patterns, where certain accounts always made the perfect play.
- Investigations revealed that insiders at Ultimate Bet and Absolute Poker had access to superuser accounts, allowing them to cheat players out of millions of dollars.
- One of the most famous incidents was an online tournament where an unknown player won suspiciously, prompting other players to dig deeper into the software’s security.
Impact on the poker world:
- The scandal led to a massive loss of trust in online poker and tighter regulations.
- Players who lost money in the scheme were eventually reimbursed, but the damage to the sites’ reputations was irreversible.
- This incident proved that online poker wasn’t as secure as people believed, forcing platforms to adopt better fraud detection measures.
2. The Full Tilt Poker Collapse & Black Friday (2011)
April 15, 2011, is known in poker history as Black Friday, the day the U.S. government shut down major online poker sites, including PokerStars, Full Tilt Poker, and Absolute Poker, accusing them of fraud and illegal gambling operations.
Why was Full Tilt the biggest offender?
- Unlike PokerStars, which had set aside player funds, Full Tilt Poker operated more like a Ponzi scheme, using player deposits for executive salaries and extravagant expenses.
- When Black Friday hit, millions of dollars in player funds were missing, leaving thousands of players unable to access their money.
- The site’s top pros, including Howard Lederer, Chris Ferguson, and Ray Bitar, faced major backlash for mismanaging player funds.
What happened next?
- In 2012, PokerStars bought out Full Tilt Poker and repaid affected players, restoring some trust in online poker.
- The scandal led to stricter regulations for online poker, making sites more accountable for player funds and fair play.
- Many professionals who had been sponsored by Full Tilt saw their reputations tarnished, showing how quickly the poker world could turn on its biggest names.
3. The Mike Postle Cheating Scandal (2018 – 2019)
Mike Postle, a relatively unknown poker player, suddenly started winning at an absurd rate in live-streamed cash games at Stones Gambling Hall in California. His unbelievable ability to make perfect plays sparked suspicion among the poker community.
What made this scandal so shocking?
- Postle played mostly low-stakes games but won at a rate that even top professionals found impossible.
- Viewers noticed that Postle rarely lost a big hand, always making the right decision, whether it was hero-calling a bluff or folding in spots where others would lose money.
- Investigators found that Postle was likely receiving real-time information about opponents’ hole cards, possibly through an electronic device or inside help from the casino’s production team.
Aftermath:
- A lawsuit was filed by dozens of affected players, but Postle denied any wrongdoing and the case was later dismissed due to lack of concrete evidence.
- While never officially proven, the scandal damaged trust in live-streamed poker games and forced casinos to re-examine their security measures.
- To this day, Postle remains one of the most controversial figures in poker history, with many in the community convinced he cheated.
4. The Biggest Underdog Win: Chris Moneymaker’s 2003 WSOP Victory
Not all upsets involve cheating—sometimes, they come from an amateur player beating the biggest names in poker.
Chris Moneymaker, a $39 online satellite winner, entered the 2003 WSOP Main Event as a total unknown. Against all odds, he defeated some of the best poker professionals in the world, including Phil Ivey and Sammy Farha, to win the $2.5 million first-place prize.
Final Thoughts: Poker’s Biggest Controversies Leave a Lasting Impact
Poker has always been a game of strategy, skill, and deception—but sometimes, the biggest shocks come from outside the game itself.
From superuser scandals and stolen player funds to legendary underdog victories, these moments have shaped the poker world, forcing it to adapt with tighter security, improved fairness, and a more educated player base.
While the game will always have its share of controversies and upsets, one thing is certain: poker’s biggest stories aren’t just about the cards—they’re about the people behind them. And with every new hand dealt, the potential for another shocking poker moment is always there.
