Inside America’s $7 Million Poker Scam: How X-Ray Tables, Contact Lenses, and NBA Stars Fueled a High-Stakes Mafia Scheme
It sounded like a scene straight out of Ocean’s Eleven: high rollers seated around velvet tables in luxury suites, chips stacked high, cards fanned between manicured fingers – and absolutely no chance of winning.
In reality, it was one of the most elaborate poker frauds in U.S. history – a “mind-boggling” operation that used X-ray card tables, hidden cameras, and even smart contact lenses to fleece wealthy gamblers out of more than $7 million.
Now, after years of quiet investigation, federal prosecutors say the game is finally over.
A Hollywood-Style Heist – Without the Glamour
The scheme, uncovered by the FBI, spanned cities including New York, Miami, and Las Vegas, with alleged ties to members of La Cosa Nostra – the infamous Italian-American mafia.
According to the indictment, players were drawn into secret, high-stakes Texas Hold ’Em games where the odds were never in their favor. Behind the scenes, the cards, chips, and even the tables were wired with sophisticated technology that gave co-conspirators a real-time view of every hand.
X-ray card tables could read face-down cards. Chip trays contained hidden analysers. Dealers handled pre-marked decks that could be read only with custom-made sunglasses or contact lenses. Cameras built into table lamps and ceilings captured every move, feeding information to an off-site “operator.”
That operator would then relay coded signals to a player at the table – known as the “quarterback” – who used subtle gestures to communicate which conspirator had the winning hand.
A touch to a $1,000 chip, a tap on the wrist, or a chin scratch could mean the difference between a full house and a full-blown loss.
The Players Who Never Stood a Chance
The victims, prosecutors say, were wealthy businesspeople, celebrities, and professional athletes who believed they were playing friendly games with other high-profile names.
In reality, they were “fish” – the poker term for inexperienced players targeted for easy money. To lure them in, the masterminds recruited well-known faces to act as bait – among them Portland Trail Blazers coach Chauncey Billups and former NBA player Damon Jones.
The presence of familiar stars made the games appear legitimate, drawing in unsuspecting players who had no idea the outcome was already decided.
Millions Laundered, Reputations Shattered
Authorities say the operation began around 2019, with profits laundered through cryptocurrency, cash exchanges, and shell companies. A share of the money allegedly went straight into funding mafia activities across the United States.
By the time the FBI closed in, at least 30 people had been arrested, including members of the Bonanno, Gambino, Lucchese, and Genovese crime families.
“This alleged scheme wreaked havoc across the nation,” said FBI Assistant Director Christopher Raia, describing how the plot “exploited the fame of some and the fortunes of others to finance organized crime.”
The Fallout
Coach Chauncey Billups was arrested in Portland and has been placed on leave by the NBA, though his lawyer insists he is innocent and plans to fight the charges. Jones, meanwhile, faces multiple counts of wire fraud and money laundering conspiracy – accused of participating in both the poker scam and a separate NBA betting plot involving fake injuries.
A Game Rigged from the Start
Text messages revealed by prosecutors show just how far the conspirators went to maintain their illusion. Players deliberately lost small hands to keep victims hooked. At times, new faces would rotate into the game to deflect suspicion.
But in the end, the setup was flawless only until it wasn’t. The very technology that helped them cheat – the hidden cameras, the chips, the tables – became the evidence that exposed them.
As FBI Director Kash Patel put it, the entire plot was “mind-boggling” – not just for its complexity, but for how many believed they were playing poker when, in truth, they were being played.
