In August 2023, poker pro Matt Berkey publicly said a private high-stakes poker game built around Chauncey Billups was “100 percent not on the up and up.” That comment has gained attention now that Billups is linked to an alleged multi-state cheating operation involving rigged private poker games.
Matt Berkey’s Comments About the Chauncey Billups Poker Game
@yahoosports Professional poker player Matt Berkey shared a story in 2023 about shady poker games hosted by Chauncey Billups 👀 (via SolveForWhy/YT) #nba #fyp #gambling #poker #chaunceybillups
On his Only Friends podcast (Episode 277, August 21, 2023), Berkey described a game that moved between Los Angeles and Las Vegas and was centered around Chauncey Billups being used to draw players in. Berkey said he was told the game was clean, but he pushed back, saying he knew the people running it and believed it was not legitimate.
Berkey did not play in the game himself. He said friends who did play reported hands and outcomes that did not align with normal variance, with inexperienced players winning large pots in ways that raised suspicion. Berkey said it was “for sure confirmed to be cheating” by people he trusted.
How the Alleged Poker Scheme Later Became Public
Federal indictments later accused Billups of participating in private poker games that used technology and setup advantages to exploit opponents. The scheme allegedly involved high-profile players being used as recognizable faces to attract targets, often wealthy individuals invited to exclusive games.
The reported losses across the network of games reached several million dollars. Many details about who was targeted and who ran individual sessions have not been released publicly.
How the Cheating Allegedly Worked in the Chauncey Billups Private Poker Games
The games were not standard home games. They were structured environments where operators controlled information and outcomes. The cheating was based on giving certain players real-time knowledge of card values and deck order.
- Marked decks: The cards had markings visible through specific contact lenses. Some players at the table could literally read suits and ranks by looking at the back of the card.
- Rigged shuffling machines: The shufflers were modified to stack key cards into predictable patterns. The “house” players knew when premium cards were due to appear.
- X-ray or light tables: The tables had internal sensors or thin scan layers that allowed operators in a back room to see hole cards on certain deals.
- Signal systems: Information was passed to the cheating players through subtle gestures, chip placement patterns, or even hidden earpieces.
- Staged spots for whales: The big pots were built when a targeted player had a “good but second-best” hand. The goal wasn’t to win every hand. The goal was to win the major decision points.
The setup did not need to be perfect to be profitable. If you know even 20% more than your opponent in no-limit hold’em, the entire game shifts. That’s why the reported losses were large and came quickly.
Why Berkey’s Warning Matters Now
Berkey’s comments were made before any legal case was public. They were based on his own network and what players he trusted experienced. While his remarks aren’t evidence in court, they match key details now alleged in legal documents, including:
- Game ran in private settings in Los Angeles and Las Vegas
- Recognizable athletes were present to attract players
- Unskilled players winning large pots in improbable ways
What’s Still Unknown
Names of players who lost money in the suspected rigged games have not been confirmed. Berkey did not name victims, and no victims have been publicly identified in court filings as of now. Additional details may emerge as legal proceedings continue.
