GOLD SUED FOR HALF WSOP WINNINGS

(332) (23-August-2006)

$6 million law suit filed in Las Vegas on online poker deal

The current 2006 World Series of Poker main event winner, Jamie Gold will not be enjoying his $12 million first prize just yet; a law suit claiming half of the giant bonanza has been filed in Las Vegas, and WSOP host Harrahs Entertainment has been restrained by court order from paying out until the case is heard on September 1.

Jamie Gold's accuser is a man named Bruce Crispin Leyser , who claims that he has voicemail messages and other evidence on an agreement with Gold to share half his winnings in return for recruiting celebrities to endorse Gold's sponsors, the Bodog group.

Reports in the Las Vegas Sun indicate that the suit alleges that as late as the morning of the main event final table game Gold confirmed the deal with Leyser. The complaint claims that Leyser recruited celebrities, upholding his side of the deal.

Apparently Chief District Court Judge Kathy Hardcastle has issued a restraining order preventing Harrah's from paying Gold his prize pending the first hearing of this lawsuit, which will be September 1st.

A Harrah's spokesperson has since confirmed that Gold has not yet been paid out. The payment of his $12 million dollars in winnings will now be delayed pending further direction from the judge.