Written by Tim Lavalli
 LAS VEGAS/Monday, 03 December 2007

You can always hear rumors of “teams” working various poker rooms in Las Vegas. The truth is that yes there are cheats out there, just like anywhere else where gambling is legal. Recently several local poker forums have pointed to Bellagio as the home of a pair of regular colluders. The problem is not that people cheat, get caught and get banned but that some players feel the staff of the poker rooms do not do enough to stop the practice.

The always busy Bellagio poker room is often the site for the collusion allegations and this past week several players were identified to the staff as giving signals at the table. Surprisingly the action of the poker room staff was different each time. On the first occasion the “team” was split up and made to play at different tables. On another occasion, the player registering the complaint was told that the staff was too busy to check the security tapes for signs of collusion. The third time a report was made the two players were escorted off the property.

I personally have seen alleged cheaters removed from games at several poker rooms in Las Vegas and I have always found the floor staff to be responsive to allegations of collusion. However, I must admit that recently I have heard several regular players complain that the poker room staffs have become complacent regarding such problems.

Perhaps it is time for a survey of poker room managers to gauge the level of collusion complaints they are receiving and to review the policies of the various poker rooms when such complaints are made. Wonder how many rooms will choose not to comment?