Annie Duke Resurfaces: Will Play in Philadelphia Poker Tournament
Annie Duke announced she will be participating in the Jewish National Fund’s 7th Annual Poker Tournament in Philadelphia on February 27. This is the first time Duke has made such a public appearance on the poker circuit in more than a year.
A polarizing figure in the poker community, Duke was more closely aligned with UltimateBet/Absolute Poker fiasco that left many players without funds. Revealing tape recording phone conversations included Duke’s apparent knowledge of a so-called “God Mode” cheating device.
One of the first females of poker issued a statement denying her involvement in any cheating scandal.
“Knowing what I know today, I would have never encouraged anyone to play on the UltimateBet.com site under that management,” wrote Duke. “I’m horrified at the lengths to which these people went to try to cover up their actions, and I am very sorry that I ever agreed to work with them.”
But Duke is also the brother of Howard Lederer, a man caught up in a ponzi scheme tied to Full Tilt Poker. US customers of that site are still waiting to be paid their funds.
Up until now, Duke is only guilty by association and hasn’t been directly implicated in either scheme.
Still, as the old saying goes, if it quacks like a duck, and a waddles like a duck….well….it’s probably a duck. No offense to Daffy and Donald or Aflac.
- Nagesh Rath, Gambling911.com
