02/11/04 4:16 pm EST

The Phone Call

Sports911.com has exclusively obtained the full half hour phone conversation between Ron Lewin of Hampton Casino and the player in question.  This tape was obtained by Hampton.  On two occasions there appears to be cuts in the flow of conversation, indicating that a portion of the recording might be edited.

The player has supplied a casino website, Casino with his own version of the tape, which 911 has not heard.  Reports suggest this tape also features a number of cuts.  Ron Lewin claims these cuts are substantial enough to take his words out of contents, specifically as they relate to accusations of "threats" by Lewin towards the player. 

Lewin begins the call by making it abundantly clear that he knows what has transpired here.  After accusing the player of using a robot, the player gets very loud and excitable.

Player: You are wrong! (Getting excited).  I didn't use a robot.

Ron: (raising his voice) Robot play is strictly prohibited at our casino.   We have all the proof we need.  We brought in outside help.  The matter is closed.

Player: You are not dicking me out of a million dollars.  My wife was right, you were not going to pay me. (Yelling at top of lungs).

Ron: We are a multi million dollar organization and we do not get kicked around by scammers like you.  We are an honest company.  Our players are honest and we are honest with them.  We pay high six figure winnings to our players all the time. 

Player: I am not a liar and I am not a cheater.

Ron admits to having caught 20 robot players in his four years of running Hampton Casino.

Ron: You are number 21.

Ron discloses that he knows that the player is an unemployed computer programmer.  The implication here is that some of the outside help includes private detectives.  The players seems shocked and hesitates. 

Player: I am unemployed.

The player stops short of saying that he is a computer programmer. 

Ron: We brought in top consultants.  *****, your history.... (interupted)

Player: My being a computer programmer means nothing.

Ron starts discussing the player's past history and that player has skeletons in his closet.  He suggests exposing him.  The player expresses concern that Ron has disclosed that he is a programmer. 

Player: Are you threatening me?

Ron: That is not a threat.  Don't take that as a threat.  It is a promise.

Player: That is a direct threat.

Ron: We do not pay cheaters.

Player: I am not a cheater.

First phone call ends.

We are not sure, but it appears the player calls Ron back to begin second phone call.

Ron: We have been in business close to 4 years.  You won't find a situation where player has legitimate complaint where we have cheated them.  Let's be honest with one another. 

Player: Well you do now! I did not cheat.  What is your proof?

Ron: We are 110 percent certain what transpired between your computer.  We spent a lot of time, got a lot of people involved.  We are a thousand times sure of what happened. 

Player: I did not use a robot. 

Ron explains he cannot discuss the background investigation that transpired.  Ron admits he was not a hundred percent sure what had occurred before when the player was paid initially.

The conversation shifts a bit from here on in as the player calms down.

Ron: Do you want to profit from this experience?

Player: How am I going to profit from this?

Ron: I am sure I can get you money for being completely honest.

The player takes a very deep and noticeable sigh.

Player: What are we talking about?  I can be as honest as possible.

Ron: $25,000 to your door, how honest are you going to be?

Player: Not very.

Ron: $50,000?

Player: Payment for being honest? What I have to do is.....(interrupted).

Ron: I will be at center of this deal.  In exchange for your honesty and your divulging details (step by step) what you did.

Player: You want me to say that I used a robot and how I did it?

Ron: Put down the phone for 15 seconds and think this through.

Player: My knowledge in what capacity?  That I am a computer programmer. 

Ron: I can perhaps negotiate between 25K to 75K for your knowledge.  There are two things I don't break for anybody, my balls or my word.

At this point there is a break in the conversation and it does appear that an incident has transpired between Ron and the player that is not recorded.  The discussion continues with the two of them speaking loudly and Ron insisting that this individual is playing games with him.

Ron: I was not born yesterday!  In any case, let's not talk to each other like we are fools here.  I want you to be honest.

Player: I wouldn't know what to tell you.

Ron: Rethink your priorities and see where you want to be.  I am not talking about bringing law enforcement into the picture.  There will be no turning back down the road.  Right now we are talking like friends.

Player: I will work with you but you are not my friend.

Ron: We can call each other acquaintances?

Player: (pauses for a moment) Sure.

Ron: What money can we get you to be completely honest.  The puzzle is 100 almost compete.  We are 95 percent sure of exactly what you did.  I want you to send me the program that you used.  You know what I am talking about.  Do you want to make a lot of money from the experience? 

Player: I want to profit of course.

Ron: We spend a lot of money to make sure our players are for real.

Player: You got ripped off.  (please see addendum at bottom)

Ron: Let's put different items on the table.  I want you to start talking about programs and strategies.  Believe me we have deep pockets. 

The player now discusses payment options, specifically NETeller and states that "NETeller is convertible."

Ron: We would be willing to pay a pretty penny to hear it from your end. 

There is no noticeable break in the conversation but the player appears reluctant.  It is not known why Ron makes the following statement, perhaps sensing the player was not going to be fully cooperative at this point.

Ron: You are going to see a side of me you won't appreciate if you continue playing games.

Player: That sounds like a threat.

It should be pointed out that 911 did not get the sense from either Ron or the player's tone that Ron had threatened the player with physical harm, something that has been brought up among various individuals in the online playing community.  There is no way for sure to determine what transpired during this break in the conversation.

Ron begins discussing that the two of them are from the same city originally, which seems to imply the two of them are both street smart. 

Ron: Talk about the robot. You want to sell it?

Player: (pauses for just a moment) Yeah I want to sell it.  $300,000 I will give it up.  Everything you need. 

Ron: I want the program ready made.  We can go partners.  Me and you could go to other casinos and profit from the experience.  I want to be sure that I can trust you. 

Player appears offended by Ron's implication that he cannot be trusted. 

Player: Why would you say that?

Ron: Why would we isolate this robot just for Caribbean 21?

Player: That would take some time.  Have written (stops)... I don't have a number (stops)... of robot programs.

Ron begins suggesting that the two of them can go into various online casinos as partners but stipulates that they will only play at online casinos that do not have rules against robot use "like those rules and regulations that we have". 

Ron: If we go partners, casinos cannot have terms.

As if things were not interesting enough at this point, the player suddenly becomes very nervous sounding distracted.

Player: I want to know what this company found.

The player pauses again and acts very concerned.

Player: What does it look like if we go to do this and this thing fails?  How can I fix it and correct it?   

Ron: It didn't fail, it was detected.

The player then begins questioning how the robot was detected.

Player: Are you using a signal?  Detection is something we want to avoid. 

Ron: YOU CAME IN AND WON.  I CAN'T IMAGINE 1.3 MILLION AS FAILURE.  IF YOU WROTE THE PROGRAM TO BEAT THE GAME YOU SUCCEEDED, IF YOU WROTE IT TO GO UNDETECTED THAN YOU FAILED.  If it took you one month to write the program in its current state how much more time would it take to write the program so it becomes undetected?

Player: I gave you the answer to that.  I need to know what they found.  Are they using a (technical term spoken by player but not deciphered for correct spelling) variance.  You are not going to understand the things I am to say, I am going to have to put it in English.   If I don't know what it is, it is something they will find again.  Detection is something we want to avoid.