Column: The Safety of Live Poker

Following the shocking news of Theo Jorgensen being shot and robbed, Barry Carter asks if live poker players are doing enough to stay safe?

Theo Jorgensen

I was saddened this week to hear about Theo Jorgensen being robbed and shot in the leg three times.

I've interviewed Theo a few times and he really is one of the nicest guys I've interviewed in poker, and the manner of the robbery I wouldn't wish on my worst enemy.

We often talk about the safety of our funds in online poker after numerous scams, cheating scandals and of course Black Friday, but what about live poker?

I know Theo was robbed at home, not during poker, but being a predominantly live poker player he was no doubt perceived to have lots of cash close to hand.

This week's news was pretty shocking to all of us, but in a way I am shocked it doesn't happen more often.

Back to the road gambler days?

The EPT Berlin robbers

Thankfully poker has come a long way since the days where road gamblers like Doyle Brunson would routinely get robbed at gunpoint.

However the sheer size of the game today makes me wonder why we don't hear more of violent crimes towards live poker players.

Doyle himself was robbed in Las Vegas recently, Greg Raymer was also once attacked by two armed men and perhaps most famously in recent memory Jonathan Duhamel was beaten up, robbed and had his bracelet stolen, in a robbery allegedly orchestrated by a former girlfriend. 

For me, however, nothing compared to the armed robbery at EPT Berlin in 2010 to demonstrate how vulnerable live poker players are. This was one of the biggest events in Europe and there were millions in bank notes just waiting to be snatched. In hindsight, why didn't it happen sooner?

Flippant with money?

Ivey's wad of cash too big for his pockets

If we take a step back and be honest, we poker players can sometimes be quite flippant with money. Readily having it on display and probably carrying around more than is absolutely needed.

Generally in a casino that money is probably safe, because they are so heavily guarded. But once we step outside of the casino that is no longer the case.

Nor is it the case when a large event takes place in a hotel near to the casino, as often happens for EPTs and other large events.

There is not much we can do to potentially stop someone if they are waiting outside a casino looking for a mark. Other than being vigilant and remembering that it is not normal to always carry around huge wads of cash. More importantly, try not to flash your cash for all the world to see.

On the rare occasion I win something in a casino, if it's large I try to get it wired somewhere instead of carrying it around (Sadly it's a problem I rarely encounter) and at the very least when asked by strangers or taxi drivers taking me home, I tell them I lost.

Go paperless

Jonathan Duhamel was beaten and robbed.

Luckily for us the world is one day going to be paperless and carrying around bank notes will be a thing of the past.

Although that will probably conjure up more sophisticated ways to get robbed, hopefully it will at least reduce the chances of it happening in person.

I am delighted to see in recent years that most casinos and events have an array of ways to manage money electronically.

Most will let you wire money to them and most events you can buy-in online, either on the website or even better on a partner poker site where you likely had money anyway.

Between these robberies and Black Friday, I hope most poker players realise there simply is no value keeping all of your bankroll in any one place at any one time.

If you are observing correct bankroll management rules, you don't need to have all your money in your pocket or on the one site anyway. No one place is truly safe enough to keep all your funds.

As for Theo it sounds like he didn't really do anything wrong, he wasn't flippant with his cash or showing off, in fact it sounded like he had made every precaution possible for something like this happening. It seems like he was targetted simply for being famous and successful.

I hope he makes a full recovery and if only one positive can come from this, is that perhaps it serves as a reminder to other poker players to be vigilant when it comes to carrying around cash.

By Barry Carter

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