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Michael J. DiVita has lashed out at the Epic Poker League for suggesting he “Voluntarily” decided to back out of the Main Event after winning his seat. Divita was discovered on the listing of “registered sex offenders”. His “crime”, however, involved exposing his bare buttocks in a public men’s lavatory. The Epic Poker League are essentially treating him like a sexual predator.
Stephen Martin, the chairman of the Epic Poker League’s Standards and Ethics Committee, told Bluff Magazine DiVita voluntarily gave up his seat.
“I had a conversation with Mr. DiVita. I explained what the rules in our conduct policy were. I informed him that [the committee] had met in regards to the situation and he, at that point, chose to withdraw rather than proceed in playing the event.”
DiVita denied this assertion in an interview with the QuadJacks and was set to appear on their popular podcast live Wednesday afternoon (3 pm EST).
DiVita claims he showed up to the Key West room of the Palms Casino Resort on Monday, September 5, the day right after winning his seat, to register for the Main Event. At the cage, he remembers being “stalled,” and finally receiving a phone call from Stephen Martin, the committee chairman.
According to DiVita, Martin informed him that, “It would be in the best interest of Epic Poker not to let you play.”
DiVita, though disheartened, says he has been used to this kind of popular stigma for the last 20 years (his conviction was in 1991), and he did not argue with Martin. He responded by telling Martin that as long as he was reimbursed the $20,000 he felt he was entitled to for winning the Pro/Am, then he would voluntarily withdraw from the tournament without objection.
EPL refused to reimburse DiVita. Instead, security was ushered in and DiVita was removed.
According to DiVita, Martin responded with the assurance that, if he were to try to enter the tournament, “We will stop you.” DiVita recalls Martin adding that, “It will get very public, and probably be very embarrassing for you.”
DiVita is considering a lawsuit against the Epic Poker League
- Ace King, Gambling911.com
