Russ Hamilton
Encyclopedia
Russ Hamilton was the 1994 World Series of Poker
main event champion. He defeated Hugh Vincent in heads-up play to win $1 million in first-prize money, as well as his body weight in silver. Following his World Series win, Hamilton served as a consultant for Ultimate Bet, an online poker server. In 2008, the Kahnawake Gaming Commission
found Hamilton largely responsible for cheating players on Ultimate Bet out of $6.1 million through software that allowed access to opponents' hole cards. In 2009, Kahnawake increased the $6.1 million estimate to $22,100,000.
Hamilton initially attended college and pursued a degree in electrical engineering, before a conversation with a professor led him to decide that playing poker
for a living would be more profitable. After playing in underground games in Detroit, he moved to Las Vegas at the age of 36 where he joined a tournament blackjack team. He enjoyed a successful run, but when tournaments started barring blackjack pros, he turned back to poker. In 1994, he won the World Series of Poker
main event bracelet. He also invented Elimination Blackjack
.
As of 2009, his total live tournament winnings exceed $1,500,000. His eight cashes at the WSOP account for $1,261,940 of those winnings.
cardroom UltimateBet where he was involved in recruiting some prominent poker players, including Phil Hellmuth
, to promote the site. He has won World Championships in several types of casino games and founded the Ultimate Blackjack Tour
in 2005.
On September 29, 2008, the Kahnawake Gaming Commission
stated it had found clear and convincing evidence that, between the approximate dates of May 2004 and January 2008, Russ Hamilton was the main person responsible for, and benefiting from, multiple sophisticated cheating incidents at UltimateBet. UltimateBet eventually refunded a total of $22,100,000 to the defrauded players.
In October 2008, 60 Minutes
aired a report profiling Hamilton and called the fraud the biggest scandal in the history of online gambling. 60 Minutes partnered with the Washington Post in their investigation.
1994 World Series of Poker
-Preliminary events:-Main Event:There were 268 entrants to the main event. Each paid $10,000 to enter the tournament. Since this was the 25th Anniversary of the event, the winner received $1,000,000, plus his/her weight in silver, in celebration of the WSOP's silver anniversary.-Final table:-Other...
main event champion. He defeated Hugh Vincent in heads-up play to win $1 million in first-prize money, as well as his body weight in silver. Following his World Series win, Hamilton served as a consultant for Ultimate Bet, an online poker server. In 2008, the Kahnawake Gaming Commission
Kahnawake Gaming Commission
The Kahnawake Gaming Commission is a gaming regulatory body that licenses and regulates a large number of online casinos, online poker rooms and online sportsbook sites, as well as three land-based poker rooms that are situated within the Mohawk Territory of Kahnawake.The Commission was first...
found Hamilton largely responsible for cheating players on Ultimate Bet out of $6.1 million through software that allowed access to opponents' hole cards. In 2009, Kahnawake increased the $6.1 million estimate to $22,100,000.
Hamilton initially attended college and pursued a degree in electrical engineering, before a conversation with a professor led him to decide that playing poker
Poker
Poker is a family of card games that share betting rules and usually hand rankings. Poker games differ in how the cards are dealt, how hands may be formed, whether the high or low hand wins the pot in a showdown , limits on bet sizes, and how many rounds of betting are allowed.In most modern poker...
for a living would be more profitable. After playing in underground games in Detroit, he moved to Las Vegas at the age of 36 where he joined a tournament blackjack team. He enjoyed a successful run, but when tournaments started barring blackjack pros, he turned back to poker. In 1994, he won the World Series of Poker
World Series of Poker
The World Series of Poker is a world-renowned series of poker tournaments held annually in Las Vegas and, since 2005, sponsored by Harrah's Entertainment...
main event bracelet. He also invented Elimination Blackjack
Elimination Blackjack
Elimination Blackjack is a tournament format of blackjack invented by Russ Hamilton, and is played on the Ultimate Blackjack Tour and in various casinos. It combines the game of blackjack with elements of No Limit Texas Hold'Em...
.
As of 2009, his total live tournament winnings exceed $1,500,000. His eight cashes at the WSOP account for $1,261,940 of those winnings.
UltimateBet fraud
Since winning his World Series bracelet, Hamilton has served as a gaming industry expert, including as a consultant for the online pokerOnline poker
Online poker is the game of poker played over the Internet. It has been partly responsible for a dramatic increase in the number of poker players worldwide...
cardroom UltimateBet where he was involved in recruiting some prominent poker players, including Phil Hellmuth
Phil Hellmuth
Phil Hellmuth is an American professional poker player. He is best known for holding a record 11 World Series of Poker bracelets, for winning the Main Event of the 1989 World Series of Poker and for his temperamental, "poker brat" personality...
, to promote the site. He has won World Championships in several types of casino games and founded the Ultimate Blackjack Tour
Ultimate Blackjack Tour
The Ultimate Blackjack Tour was a televised series of Elimination Blackjack tournaments that aired in syndication. It debuted on September 16, 2006. The show consists of a series of televised Elimination Blackjack tournaments...
in 2005.
On September 29, 2008, the Kahnawake Gaming Commission
Kahnawake Gaming Commission
The Kahnawake Gaming Commission is a gaming regulatory body that licenses and regulates a large number of online casinos, online poker rooms and online sportsbook sites, as well as three land-based poker rooms that are situated within the Mohawk Territory of Kahnawake.The Commission was first...
stated it had found clear and convincing evidence that, between the approximate dates of May 2004 and January 2008, Russ Hamilton was the main person responsible for, and benefiting from, multiple sophisticated cheating incidents at UltimateBet. UltimateBet eventually refunded a total of $22,100,000 to the defrauded players.
In October 2008, 60 Minutes
60 Minutes
60 Minutes is an American television news magazine, which has run on CBS since 1968. The program was created by producer Don Hewitt who set it apart by using a unique style of reporter-centered investigation....
aired a report profiling Hamilton and called the fraud the biggest scandal in the history of online gambling. 60 Minutes partnered with the Washington Post in their investigation.