<div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The indictments announced overnight of </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/world/nba-head-coach-chauncey-billups-and-miami-heat-guard-terry-rozier-charged-in-sports-betting-and-mafiabacked-poker-schemes/aadd4c94-042c-4985-b0ba-6a2195e0846e" rel="" target="_blank" title="a poker cheating ring involving NBA figures and backed by the mafia"><span>a poker cheating ring involving NBA figures and backed by the mafia</span></a><span> emphasised their alleged high-tech cheating methods.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>But the con tactics they described are as old as poker itself, familiar from heist movies and James Bond films.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Shady shuffles came not from quick-handed card sharks, but tricked-out machines. Instead of mirrors or guys in the corner peeking over shoulders, there were X-ray tables and high-tech contact lenses. Low-tech signals between players and old-fashioned beatings for debtors allegedly were used too.</span></div></div><div><div id="adspot-mobile-medium"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/kill-crew-trio-charged-with-kidnapping-and-murdering-alleged-drug-syndicate-members-wife/95a87355-f90b-494e-8a7c-af264c627225" target="_blank"><strong><span>'Kill crew' trio charged with murdering alleged drug syndicate member's wife</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Here's a look at how the alleged fraudsters rigged the games, according to an unsealed indictment and the announcement from federal officials.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><h3><strong><span>The poker</span></strong></h3></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The underground games were illegal by their very existence, and operated by mafia families.</span></div></div><div><div class="OUTBRAIN" data-reactroot="" data-src="//www.9news.com.au/world/sports-mafia-cheating-scandal-how-high-takes-poker-games-were-rigged/64c7fd05-9953-4ed7-a7e8-16310b502c29" data-widget-id="AR_5"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>So the indictments go out of their way to emphasise that these were extra illegal – as opposed to "straight" illegal games where at least the poker itself is legit.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Texas Hold 'em was the poker they played, like most games these days.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/mums-vaccine-plea-after-fit-athletic-daughter-almost-dies-from-meningococcal-b/475f67ce-49c7-4c78-81d2-3bb3f771a608" target="_blank"><strong><span>Mum's plea after athletic daughter almost dies from 'cruel' disease</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>It involves very few cards – just five face-up public cards and two for each player. That potentially simplifies the scamming.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><h3><strong><span>The victims and the 'face cards'</span></strong></h3></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Rich targets known as "fish" were brought in by the allure of playing for high stakes in posh secret spots in Manhattan with names like "The Lexington Avenue Game," the indictment said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>They were also attracted by the prospect of playing with pro athletes and coaches, including Portland Trail Blazers coach and Hall-of-Fame NBA player Chauncey Billups. The operators called these "face cards."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Billups was charged with participating in a conspiracy to fix high-stakes card games tied to La Cosa Nostra organised crime families that cheated unsuspecting gamblers out of at least US$7 million ($10.75 million). Also charged was former NBA assistant coach and player Damon Jones.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/world/most-of-white-house-east-wing-torn-down-photos-show/3580f2a7-6252-489d-8fcb-1433c92f52bb" target="_blank"><strong><span>Trump tears down nearly all of White House East Wing</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Authorities gave no hints about the identity of the victims other than to say they were usually wealthy people who lost tens and sometimes hundreds of thousands of dollars to the cheaters.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The "face cards" and everyone else at the table who was not a target was in on the scam.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><h3><strong><span>The cheating tactics</span></strong></h3></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The shuffling machine did most of the work.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Using machines is common, but the advanced tech on these ones could determine the exact order of cards after a shuffle, and who was holding what once they were dealt.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>That information was transmitted wirelessly to someone off-site, who would send the identity of the player with the winning hand to the phone of a player at the table, known as "the quarterback."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Then it got low-tech. The "quarterback" would use classic subtle signals like touching certain chips to pass the information to the fellow cheaters. They'd all bet accordingly.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><h3><strong><span>The other cheating methods</span></strong></h3></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The shuffling machine con was apparently the main tactic, but the conspirators supposedly tried other gadgetry, some of it similar to the tech used to identify players' hands on poker telecasts. Authorities didn't go into detail about them, but they included:</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><ul><li><span>An X-ray table that could identify the face-down cards used in Texas Hold 'em from underneath.</span></li><li><span>Hidden cameras built into the trays that hold players' chips that could identify cards.</span></li><li><span>Customised contact lenses and glasses that could detect special marks on cards.</span></li></ul></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><h3><strong><span>The postgame</span></strong></h3></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The cheating winners would share a percentage of their take with the game operators. The victims were often told to wire money to shell companies that laundered it.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>And the organisers sometimes used robbery, extortion and assault to get debtors to pay. Authorities said two game operators used their fists to extract payment from one cheated player.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Also charged was former NBA assistant coach and player Damon Jones, who stands accused of participating in a separate scheme of exploiting private information about players to win bets on NBA games.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Billups made his first court appearance Thursday before a judge in Portland, Oregon. His attorney, Chris Heywood, declined to comment after the hearing.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>A message was left at a phone number and email address listed in public records for Jones.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/how-to-follow-9news-digital/29855bb1-ad3d-4c38-bc25-3cb52af1216f" target="_blank"><strong><em><span>DOWNLOAD THE 9NEWS APP</span></em></strong></a><strong><em><span>: Stay across all the latest in breaking news, sport, politics and the weather via our news app and get notifications sent straight to your smartphone. 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