Las Vegas Judge Tosses Czech Casino Owner’s 'Conspiracy' Claim in Poker Suit

Czech casino mogul Leon Tsoukernik alleged that he lost $3 million to a professional poker player because the Aria casino conspired with that player to ply him with booze.  A Las Vegas judge wasn't buying it and dismissed the claim this past Tuesday.  Scroll Down For More...

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Tsoukernik's action was a countersuit against poker pro Matthew Kirk, who sued Tsoukernik after he failed to pay $2 million owed from the head-to-head match at Aria in May.   A judge in that matter ruled that the transaction amounted to "an unenforceable gambling debt".  Kirk is still seeking $2 million from Tsoukernik.

In his countersuit, the King's casino owner made the unusual claim that Kirk had failed to disclose where his money was coming from, the implication being that Aria financially backed the pro, something that has never been proven.

“What does that matter, if he’s an independent poker player, where he gets his money from?” the judge said. “That’s not something that any person gambling is required to tell any other person gambling. How can on the face that be fraud?”

In tossing out Tsoukernik’s counterclaim, District Judge Linda Bell also ordered his lawyers to pay legal fees for Kirk’s attorneys, Richard Schonfeld and David Chesnoff, the Las Vegas Review Journal reported.

- Ace King, Gambling911.com