Insider Mikki Mase has shed light on an underground poker cheating scheme allegedly involving former NBA star Chauncey Billups, who is accused of hosting rigged games backed by the Mafia. According to Mase, Billups likely wasn’t an active player but a host used to add credibility to these underground games. The cheating involved advanced technology, including special glasses that allowed players to read markings on the backs of cards, such as blacklight imprints invisible to most. Mase explained how dealers or insiders might introduce marked decks, enabling players wearing these glasses to identify cards covertly. This method, paired with complex ink-marking techniques on fingers, helped cheaters gain an edge during play. While casinos prevent such cheating by restricting decks and surveillance, underground private games lacked these controls, making them vulnerable to elaborate rigging schemes. This revelation highlights the sophisticated tactics used to manipulate underground poker, implicating high-profile figures like Billups in the illicit activities.
