One of the biggest names in Australian poker, Chris Skinner, was caught on camera cheating as he was participating in a small tournament on New Year’s, called Poker With Fred.
Skinner Falls from Poker Grace over What Appears Petty Cheating
The event required an AUD $125 buy-in or about $85, and it was recorded on camera, which is where things went south. Skinner was caught on camera adding chips to his stack without authorization.
The video went viral, with social media rancor mounting and criticism of Skinner’s actions mounting. Skinner, though, acted properly and quickly admitted that he had indeed cheated in that particular instance.
“I cheated. I brought chips into play that I had no right to bring into the game. No matter the amount or the result, it was wrong. There is no excuse for it.”
He said that there was no excuse for his actions and added that he regrets his actions and the consequences to his reputation in the poker community. Skinner has further added that he will go on a break from poker, as he reflects on his actions.
“Knowing I’ve let that community down and damaged trust with people who matter to me is something I regret deeply and am genuinely heartbroken about,” he added.
Response has not been limited to just criticism, however. Some poker insiders have said that this behavior ought to merit a ban, no matter what the stakes of the game are – it is the integrity of poker and players that has been brought into question.
Bans Issued, Questions of Lifetime Integrity Next
Others, such as the Southern Poker Tour, have terminated their relationship with the player, but this is hardly all there is. Poker With Fred’s Fred Baybon, who hosts the event, also banned the player.
If Skinner was caught cheating at a fairly small event, such as Poker With Fred, the question naturally arises – was that a one-off or is it part of a bigger pattern?
What if Skinner has actually been cheating all along in previous wins as well? He has amassed $312,270 in live poker winnings, according to The Hendon Mob, a website that tracks poker players’ wins at in-person events.
A career professional, Skinner’s biggest all-time win at an event is $32,094, and he has played in multiple events in Australia.
In the meantime, Southern Poker Tour stated that its own staff members transported chips, something that was previously attributed in certain cases to Skinner himself, according to another player, Asti Savage.
“The cheaters only regret getting caught,” a social media user chimed in.