A legal stoush is developing between the Australian Poker Tour (APT) and upstart rival PlayLive Melbourne over allegations that a founder of PlayLive either stole or attempted to steal the APT’s player database.
PokerMedia Australia understands that the APT has filed a complaint with Moonee Ponds Police Station alleging intent by PlayLive’s Bridges Robinson Roe to incite criminal conduct by asking a former APT employee to steal the company’s email list.
Victoria’s gaming regulator, the Victorian Gambling and Casino Control Commission (VGCCC), is also aware of the matter and is simultaneously looking into claims that PlayLive may have broken the state’s strict laws around offering paid gambling via the sale of hospitality packages and specifically how these packages are structured.
PlayLive has denied all allegations and on Thursday released a statement to that extent pre-empting the release of this article. The statement claims that PlayLive has requested a Personal Safety Intervention Order against APT owner Tony Hachem preventing proximity to Robinson Roe and the PlayLive venue.
The central dispute between the APT and PlayLive revolves around a series of text messages sent by Robinson Roe to former APT employee Annie Burke during last year’s APT Melbourne series in June – seen by PokerMedia Australia – in which he asks, “Any chance you can steal APT email list?” Burke replies by asking if it is the APT’s “contact list” he wants, to which Robinson Roe continues, “You can export straight from [poker management program] casinoware and airdrop to your phone. First name email mobile is all I need.”
Hachem told PMA that he was only made aware of the text messages last August from a third party.
Burke is one of a number of former APT employees to have since engaged in either formal or informal work with PlayLive, PMA has learned.
PMA is not alleging any wrongdoing by PlayLive or its employees, only that allegations have been made.
In response to PMA’s inquires, PlayLive co-founder Josh Abady said there was “not a shred of truth” to the allegations and accused APT owner Tony Hachem of going on a “tirade” via an “ongoing, months long disinformation campaign”. He also accused Hachem of making threats against Robinson Roe and PlayLive’s Melbourne city premises. Hachem did not deny the claims, admitting he was upset at the time, but made it clear he had not given permission for the conversation in question to be recorded. He also said he had to this day never met either Robinson Roe or Abady in person.
Asked about Robinson Roe’s text messages, Abady described it as a “stupid joke” that was also “tongue-in-cheek”.
“The implication that we didn’t earn every single customer that we’ve gotten … I’ve got 100-plus staff busting their ass every day to run the best quality poker in Australia,” he said.
“Not one person has ever received communication from us that hasn’t signed up for it.”
Abady added, “The databases other people have are dozens the size of ours. We have a very limited database of around 3,000 people which we built one person at a time, highly organically, and we do 99% of our outreach via social media.
“The allegations directly imply that thousands of people would be getting regular communications unsolicited which is a violation of Australian law.
“It is asinine nonsense on top of nonsense and I am unbelievably frustrating that it has been allowed to get to this point.”
Nevertheless, PMA understands police are exploring whether evidence provided to them constitutes intent to incite criminal conduct, which if proven can be considered a crime even if no theft ultimately occurred.
In comments to PMA, Hachem said, “Log activity and forensic data from CasinoWare confirm access during the relevant period and we continue to investigate whether any data was exported or printed.”
He added, “Unfortunately, the poker community continues to face serious challenges from unethical and, at times, unlawful behavior. Such actions must be dealt with swiftly and transparently. It is our responsibility to ensure that the community remains informed whenever incidents occur that threaten the game’s integrity.”
PMA has since learned that the VGCCC has received complaints from players and rival operators in relation to PlayLive’s use of hospitality packages and whether they are consistent with the poker tournament fact sheet published by the VGCCC. That fact sheet stipulates that no poker game or tournament be organized with the intention to raise money for any reason other than for charitable organisations; that all money or anything else of value that is paid or staked is returned to players as winnings in full; and that a person must not receive any money or anything else of value for organising, managing or supervising the poker game or tournament.
PMA understands the VGCCC is investigating whether PlayLive used the inclusion of mandatory hospitality packages as part of tournament buy-ins at its recent Melbourne Millions series to make a profit by not providing food and beverage of equal value. Well-known Melbourne-based player Steven Kanjo – who has been banned from the PlayLive premises – confirmed to PMA that he has lodged a complaint with the regulator and that PlayLive’s hospitality packages form part of that complaint.
PMA is not claiming that PlayLive is guilty of any of wrongdoing but has seen correspondence from the VGCCC confirming that it is conducting an investigation.
VGCCC Director, Gambling, Angela Grozos, told PMA, “To protect the integrity and maintain the fairness of our regulatory activity, the Victorian Gambling and Casino Control Commission is unable to comment on whether a matter is under investigation.
“The rules for poker tournaments, played outside the Melbourne casino, can be found on our website. Where the VGCCC suspects or identifies potential wrongdoing, we will where appropriate undertake thorough investigations to determine whether any laws have been breached.”
Adaby, however, insisted he was completely unaware of any investigations into its activities and said he was disappointed that rival operators were “spreading rumours” about its business activities.
“It is so frustrating that we are possibly being made out to be the bad guy when it is quite clear to me that we’re the only ones acting in good faith in the entire market.”
Hachem, who has also complained to the VGCCC, told PMA he is concerned that breaches of Victoria’s gambling laws by any poker operator could negatively impact the poker community as a whole.
“These events underscore the urgent need for accountability and transparency across all levels of the poker industry,” he said. “It is imperative that every stakeholder whether player, staff member, media representative or business owner takes responsibility for preserving the integrity and reputation of our game.
“Through open communication, verified facts, and a shared commitment to ethical conduct, we can continue strengthening the trust and credibility that the poker community deserves.”
PlayLive opened its doors last April and, aside from Abady and Robinson Roe, boasts a powerhouse suite of high-profile American players among its investors. They include WPT host Tony Dunst, power duo Alex and Kristen Foxen, six-time WSOP bracelet winner Jeremy Ausmus, long-time pro Eric Baldwin and poker influencer Abby Merk.
Its recent Melbourne Millions series generated total prize pools of more than $4.7 million, according to the company’s social media posts.
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