Online Poker > Online Poker News
Poker News
August 25th 2006
Gold vs. Leyser: “that” phone call
Details of the lawsuit being filed by Bruce Crispin Leyser against 2006 WSOP winner Jamie Gold have recently come to public attention, including transcripts of the alleged phone call that took place the morning before the final table. It makes for fascinating reading and, if genuine, could prove a serious problem for the new poker world champion.
It appears that Jamie Gold met Bruce Leyser this July in the Rio in Las Vegas. The two men had a lot in common: both were avid poker players and both worked in the television entertainment industry. They began to discuss possible television business ventures together and Gold’s relationship to Bodog.
Gold explained that he was under contract to gather celebrities for Bodog who would wear branded gear provided by the poker room. In exchange Bodog were buying him into the $10,000 WSOP main-event tournament. According to the lawsuit Leyser claims Gold encouraged him to try and secure his own deal with Bodog and even suggested he might give Leyser his seat in exchange for some celebs. Apparently at this point the two made a verbal deal that no matter who got the seat they would split any winning 50/50.
Leyser managed to enlist a few minor celebrities but in the end Bodog decided against buying him into the event and gave the seat to Jamie Gold instead. Leyser was disappointed, but still thought he was in line for a share of the winnings. This was allegedly confirmed after Day One D of the main event when Gold promised him once again that he would receive 50 percent of any potential winnings.
The $6 million phone call
After two weeks of poker Jamie Gold had made it to the final table and had a substantial chip lead. Guaranteed a minimum $1.5 million pay day Gold elected to phone Leyser and allegedly left the following message:
“Hey, it’s Jamie. Thank you for your message. I slept pretty well so we should be fine. I have a real good plan on what to do for today. Thank you for all your help. I wanted to let you know about the money. You’re obviously very well protected. Everything will be fine. But nothing’s going to happen today, that’s for sure. I have the best tax attorneys and the best minds in the business working for me from New York and L.A. And what we’re probably going to do is set up a Nevada Corporation and it’s going to… I have to pay out of the corporation. I can’t just pay out personally because I could get nailed. So it might take a few days, so please be patient. I promise you, you can keep this recording on my word. There’s no possible way you’re not going to get you’re half after taxes. So please just be with me. I can’t imagine you’re going to have a problem with it.”
“I just don’t want any stress about any money or any of that sh-- going on today, or even after the end of the day. I’m sure you’re going to be fine. You’re going to be very well taken care of, absolutely fairly. We’re just trying to handle this properly and after now I don’t even want to talk about it or think about it. But please just trust me. You’ve trusted me the whole way. You can trust me a little bit more. I promise you there’s no way anybody will go anywhere with your money. It’s your money. All right, I send you love. Thank you for your support.”
Leyser says he has a recording of that message. The rest is history: Gold has not been to collect his winnings and consequently has not paid Leyser. Leyser has hired legal counsel and filed a lawsuit. The court has frozen Gold’s winnings and the hearing will take place on the 1st September. The poker world will be watching.
Submitted: 25/08/2006 11:54:46
Page 1 of 1
Monthly Archive
Please wait...
(UTC/GMT)
20 July 2008 21:53:41
Quick Links
Poker Room Reviews
Headlines
20/06/2007 10:56:26
2007 WSOP: Events 27 – 29
We have now passed the half way line in the 2007 World Series, and some of the more exciting events are fast approaching, such as the $10,000 Pot-Limit Omaha Championship and the $50,000 H.O.R.S.E Championship, which last year produced one of the highest quality final tables of all time. In the meantime however, there is still plenty of money and jewellery to be won.
18/06/2007 11:38:58
2007 WSOP: Events 21 to 26
With 26 events now played the 2007 WSOP is almost at the half way stage. Although numbers have been slightly down on last year the Rio is still buzzing with thousands of poker players, and the overall feeling is definitely positive, especially for these lot:
14/06/2007 17:16:34
2007 WSOP: Events #17 - #21
The WSOP continues to roll on, and as we get further into proceedings it seems the pro players are beginning to get their teeth stuck into the final tables.
News Archive