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Gambling911.com, threatened with legal action by Absolute Poker after publishing this article last week, believes it can find better ways in which for Absolute to spend its money. We've listed them below.
But first, a recap. As you may recall, G911 discovered that alleged Absolute Poker cheats (who just happened to be a founder of the company and another an employee with back end access to the online poker room), we discovered spending its players money on huge mansions, SUVs, a yacht. Gambling911.com promptly reported this and the news that one of the investors in the company was under sealed indictment back in the US (Absolute Poker and the culprits involved in the cheating scandal reside in Costa Rica).
Next came threat of a lawsuit.
Glad to see these folks have their priorities straight.
Let's now look at better means for Absolute Poker to spend their money, in no particular order.
1. A muzzle for Allan Grimard. He's the kid that is alleged to have been center stage of the Absolute Poker "cheat scandal" where certain key people working at the online poker room were able to see their own players hole cards. These key people (it's alleged Grimard was one of them) then posed as poker players themselves and walked off with the winnings.
Grimard was given a one way pass to gallop into the sunset by Absolute Poker apparently. It's not as if they tried to press charges or anything. Well, why would they? He's buddies with one of the owners. Instead of keeping a low profile, Grimard emerged with more bravado than ever before. He even bragged about getting beat up by his own bodyguard.
Then the unthinkable: Joann Priam, PR rep for Absolute Poker, defended Allan and claimed that Gambling911.com's revelations about Mr. Grimard and his new toys (a yacht, mansion, Toyota Prado) were "inaccuracies". She's also the person who threatened G911 with legal action and even went as far as to suggest that Gambling911 was being paid to "only write positive press about Absolute".
She might need a muzzle more than Allan.
2. Better Transparency - You can't just make these things go away. Absolute Poker needs to demonstrate that they are serious about righting the serious violations that have occurred - some say far longer than when the cheating was first discovered. They have done ABSOLUTELY nothing regarding an investigation into those who may have been involved. Oh, they've paid people to be quiet about Allan and company's whereabouts.
3. Better Lawyers - They can't even get the year right on their "oh so scary threatening demand letters".
4. A Moral Compass - How expensive can one be. While Absolute Poker's name was being dragged through the mud, these individuals decided not to lay low - like most criminals would - they decide to go rob another of their online poker rooms - UltimateBet.com. These folks are young and they'll keep on stealing until someone finally decides to lay down the law, which a little birdie tells is likely to happen really soon.
Gambling911.com believes it is possible for Absolute Poker to overcome all this. There are people that seem to want to do right at that online poker room. But no right can come out of ignorance and as long as these crooks are still associating with the company and being protected by them, it is going to be very difficult times ahead.
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Christopher Costigan, Gambling911.com
