Absolute Poker Popcorn GateIn the midst of the now notorious "Absolute Poker Insider Cheating Scandal" comes word of yet another bizarre occurrence involving Absolute Poker that seems to have taken on a life of its own. Yes folks, we are talking about the shocking "Absolute Poker Popcorn Gate".
What's that?
According to reports within the online poker community, during the 2006 World Series of Poker, Absolute Poker employed busty babes to sell bags of popcorn for $1 a pop (no pun intended). Total sales of the popcorn were to go to a children's charity.
Rumors began spreading like wildfire that Absolute Poker never donated the funds derived from popcorn sales to charity but instead elected to run off with the money.
But even those who have been especially hard on Absolute Poker have attempted to prove the money did in fact go to a good cause.
A Two Plus Two member who did a little investigative work of his own disputes the notion that the sale of popcorn was somehow part of a more elaborate scheme to siphon off monies.
With regards to what has become known as "popcorngate" -- I've recently been filled in on a number of the details. While I did not get the information from a confidential source, the person who gave it to me would prefer that his name is not used here. However, he is currently pretty high up in management in AP and is a credible source.
There are a number of issues to address.
First, Absolute Poker made the donation to "Sunrise Children’s Foundation" via wire transfer to a bank in Las Vegas. Not the best website I've seen, but you can check it out here: http://www.sunrisechildren.org .
Second, the donation was not made until February of 2007. The guy who I spoke with admits that the timeframe for the donation was not ideal considering that the donations were received in July/August-ish of 2006. I'm told that it was largely an administrative screw-up due to a changeover in marketing companies (ie, the people who ran it). Regardless of the explanation, obviously it should have been made sooner.
And there you have it. Even a few of the more hardcore Absolute detractors do not believe there is a kernel of truth to the s0-called "popcorn money theft". Still, there are those who won't be see quick to swallow the above explanation.
It is reported that upwards of $10,000 was raised through the sale of popcorn and the charity claims to have received the monies taken in from the Absolute Poker efforts.
-----
Peyton O'Brien, Gambling911.com Senior Editor
Originally published October 28, 2007 12:43 am ET
