It’s been an odd stretch for pro poker players and what generally seems to be an epidemic of hubris making the rounds we saw pro poker blogger Jay Newnum get probation for fishing into a dealer’s tip box and extracting nearly $700 with chopsticks at Foxwoods during their Mega Stack Challenge tournament series, and now comes news that pro player Christian Lusardi has been arrested in connection with $2.7 million in counterfeit chips at the Borgata during their Winter Open series amongst them: first.

But that’s the just the tip associated with iceberg in the utter weirdness division, because this story that is latest has most of the makings of a great film plot.

Not A Straight Flush

All accounts were frozen with 27 players remaining out of an original 4,814, each of whom had paid a $560 buy-in after play was terminated in Event #1 at Borgata just over a week ago after the discovery of counterfeit chips having been introduced into the action. The next step, of course, ended up being to discover from whence came said fake potato chips, and while you might think the endless surveillance cameras that permeate any casino were the break in this case, the latter emerged from a great deal more bizarre source: clogged sewer pipes.

Turns out of the problem was discovered when some Harrah’s Resort casino workers had to learn what was causing a massive sewer clog; and what did they come upon, but $2.7 million in fake Borgata chips, apparently flushed down the toilet. We assume not all at once, however, pretty impressive that the casino’s sewer system can even accept that much roughage, isn’t it?

It all started to unravel when hotel guests called in with complaints of leaky pipes water that is dripping their rooms. The source of the pipe clog was traced to pro player Christian Lusardi, 42; the Fayetteville, North Carolina player had been staying into the originating room, according to detectives.

Caught, charged and arrested

Lusardi had long taken off from Harrah’s after his flush that is royal had been discovered and arrested by New Jersey State Police midday on Friday at a local Super 8 Motel in Atlantic City; no term how the authorities had the ability to follow Lusardi’s paper or should we say, chip path to get their man. He is been charged with rigging a contest that is publicly exhibited simply for starters. It is perhaps not yet clear if Lusardi acted alone, or if other accomplices might have been involved as well. The New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement has been area of the investigative process also, of course.

It requires a complete lot to shock casino execs, but Borgata’s senior vice president Joe Lupo says this example did the trick for him.

‘This is the first-time we’ve had anything like this happen in our ten years in business, and it’s the first time I’ve seen this in my own 27 years in gaming,’ said Lupo.

‘The investigation by the DGE and the State Police is ongoing and Borgata remains under your order the DGE issued week that is last’ added Lupo. ‘Borgata will continue to work well with the DGE and the State Police until this matter is concluded and a final order is issued by the DGE in regards to the resolution of Event I.’

The implications and how this will be handled by both Borgata and law enforcement are complex indeed, as the chips that are fake impacted the outcome of the event up to the last three tables were frozen. Authorities now say that Lusardi added chips that are counterfeit his stacks over and over again through the event; he ended up winning $6,814 an amount we’re confident he won’t be maintaining.

Perhaps Not interestingly given his advantage, Lusardi was a hefty chip frontrunner in early stages in the tourney, with 519,000 in his piles at the start of Day Two; that alone granted him a $2,000 bonus, according to news reports.

Besides the pipe-clogging chips that was the very first tip of foul play Borgata employees additionally discovered another $800,000 worth of fake potato chips had been introduced into play in the event. At that true point, regulators put the kibosh on the event and shut it straight down.

Apparently, this is not Lusardi’s first fall from gambling grace: back in 2008, he had been one of a dozen charged with illegal gambling operations and alcohol sales in his hometown of Fayetteville. Along side cards and potato chips, news reports said $12,000 in money was discovered in their home.

Perhaps this whole tale can most useful be summed by Ryan Messick, a player whom was eliminated from the Borgata occasion in early stages.

‘ The fact that this guy flushed the chips down the toilet, that just has to be the thing that is stupidest I’ve ever heard,’ noted Messick. ‘ There had been no means he had beenn’t going to be found out.’

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Meanwhile, the culprit will have enough time to contemplate clogged toilets; he was taken to the Atlantic County Justice center when he could not meet the $300,000 bail requirement.