Nearly three months after an alleged cheating scandal rocked the world of Texas Hold Em’ poker, Hustler Casino Live and parent company High Stakes Poker Productions released a long-awaited report detailing an intense investigation into pro players Garrett Adelstein, Robbi Jade Lew and the events surrounding the September 29 game.
Experts in cybersecurity and private investigations found “no conclusive evidence of wrongdoing”, while dispelling many of the myths and theories surrounding Lew’s actions that night.
The full report and it’s conclusions can be read here.
Among the key findings:
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“The assessment of HCL’s systems and security controls are inconclusive in determining if cheating occurred. It should be noted that a lack of evidence does not imply cheating did or didn’t occur.”
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“There was no evidence of tampering, remote access, viruses, rogue hardware installed, or previously installed programs on the machines that are used daily.”
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“The Deckmate shuffling machine is secure and cannot be compromised”
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“It’s extremely unlikely that any card-reading device could have been stored in a water bottle or other object on the table”
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“The PokerGFX system was free and clear of malware, installed programs or systems that could intercept hands.”
“HSPP has spent more than $100,000 and significant hours of its time to conduct a thorough investigation,” The report stated. “Based on the findings of cybersecurity experts, interviews with players, employees and third parties, a review of video of hands played on the show and surveillance video inside the casino and parking lot, no conclusive evidence of wrongdoing related to the Sept. 29 hand was found.”
Notably, HCL stopped short of completely clearing Lew’s name, explaining that a lack of credible evidence produced by the investigation does not mean no wrongdoing took place.
We have completed a detailed investigation into the Sept. 29 hand involving Robbi Lew and Garrett Adelstein.
Read a summary of our findings here: https://t.co/sjyoysWzJQ
The full report can be viewed here: https://t.co/l0Rdg22atS
— Hustler Casino Live (@HCLPokerShow) December 14, 2022
Based on recommendations from the firms hired to conduct the investigation—including Bulletproof and The Solution Group — HCL has made a number of enhancements to its security systems and hiring procedures, though neither appear to have been compromised during play on September 29.
One of the more compelling theories posited by YouTubers and amateur sleuths involved Lew allegedly using an electronic device that could pick up RFID signals transmitted by the cards back to the production room. This notion was roundly dismissed by investigators as less than plausible.
Investigators were unable to recreate a scenario in which this method could work despite having access to the playing room, the table used during the September 29 game and all production equipment:
“A problem with applying these scenarios to an RFID poker table—aside from the antenna tuning, Electro Magnetic Interference (EMI) and power problems—is that there are multiple cards on the table, including those in the dealer’s hands, that would also be read by a strong enough reader that is sending a forward-charging signal,” The report concluded.
“Furthermore, an attacker would have to catalog each card’s value by its encoded Universal Unique Identifier (UUID) on all card decks and have it readily available to translate to the card value. If a device was strong enough to charge the coils on the playing cards from a distance, it would charge all the cards in its path, including the ones in the dealers’ hands which are around 1 inch from the 9th seat’s cards.”
Another popular theory assumed Lew was working with one or more accomplices, including former HSPP employee Bryan Sagbigsal—who stole $15,000 in chips off Lew’s stack on September 29. Lew initially declined to press charges against Sagbigsal but has since reversed course. The Los Angeles County District Attorney’s office charged Sagbigsal with two counts of felony theft, which can be read here.
Additionally, investigators dismissed any notion that Lew and Sagbigsal were working together.
“Solution Group investigators were not able to identify any prior relationship between Ms. Lew and Mr. Sagbigsal,” The report said. “Hustler Casino staff said surveillance video also failed to provide evidence of an inappropriate relationship between Ms. Lew and Mr. Sagbigsal.”
Following the controversial hand, Lew tweeted Adelstein strong-armed her into returning his half of the $269,000 pot. It’s unclear if Adelstein will now hand that money back to Lew.
In the meantime, Adelstein has written numerous blog posts explaining how Lew cheated despite offering clear evidence. He has not played in a pro tournament or live-stream since.
“There’s I guess a world in the next several weeks or months where maybe I’m able to process this and want to play a poker game. But at the moment, that’s not how I feel,” Adelstein told Andrea Chang of the Los Angeles Times in mid-October.
“I’m not playing poker on a stream again unless I see tangible, noticeable, measurable differences in livestream security. That’s for my own benefit and it’s for the benefit of the poker community at large.”
On Twitter, Lew has been teasing a return to live-streamed games, including HCL, though it’s unclear when she’ll be back at the table.
