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LAS VEGAS — Professional poker player Layne Flack, who passed away earlier this year, died of a drug overdose, Gambling 911 can reveal in a world exclusive report!
In an exclusive interview today with Gambling 911, the Clark County, Nevada coroner revealed that Flack, who passed away July 19 at his Las Vegas home, died from a combined overdose of three different drugs.
“We show cause of death is listed as fentanyl, cocaine and methamphetamine intoxication,” Clark County coroner Melanie Rouse told Gambling 911. “The manner of death is accident.”
Even though Flack died nearly three months ago, the cause of death and manner of death were not known until now, because toxicology tests to determine how someone died can take up to 90 days to complete, Rouse said.
Flack, 52, who had a long history of drug abuse, was one of the most successful professional poker players in history.
He won a total of six World Series of Poker championship gold bracelets in his career and also made the final table three times in World Poker Tour championship events, winning one title. In June 2022, Flack was favored to be nominated into this year's Poker Hall of Fame.
According to official tournament records, he earned a total of just over $5 million in live tournament play in his career.
Although his first name was Dee, Flack was better known by his middle name, Layne.
He was also known by the nickname “Back to back” Flack, which he earned after winning two consecutive Legends of Poker tournaments in 1999.
One of Flack’s friends was fellow professional poker player Chris Moneymaker, who won the 2003 WSOP Main Event.
Moneymaker told Gambling 911 in an exclusive interview today: “Everyone knew Layne. He was a great guy and loved by almost everyone in the community, which is very rare.
“I think most people knew what it (the cause of death) was. But anyway, he was an amazing player and guy.
“I never heard a bad thing said about him. He always had a smile on his face.”
Flack, who was born in Rapid City, South Dakota, was buried there on August 2.
A large contingent of fellow poker pros from Las Vegas trekked to South Dakota to attend the funeral.
By Tom Somach
Gambling 911 Chief Correspondent
tsomach@aol.com
