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Cheating allegations have prompted Hollywood Park Casino in Los Angeles to enforce a strict ban on electronics at its poker tables. The move follows claims made by a caller named “Joe” on Bart Hanson’s Crush Live Poker YouTube channel, who alleged that groups of cash game players were colluding to cheat using hidden technology.
According to Joe, some cheating teams allegedly used a camera concealed in a player’s hat to capture images of hole cards as dealers pitched them. That footage would reportedly be sent to an off-site accomplice who deciphered the cards and relayed the information back to the player in real time.
In response, Hollywood Park now requires players to keep phones, tablets, laptops, and other devices off the table entirely. PokerNews confirmed that floor staff regularly patrol tables to enforce the rule, and players must step away from the table if they need to use their phones during play.
Station Casinos’ Red Rock Resort in Las Vegas has adopted a similar but less restrictive policy, barring phone calls at the table and prohibiting phone use while a player is involved in a hand.
South Point Casino in Las Vegas has also taken preventive measures, adopting a European-style dealing method where cards are slid across the felt rather than pitched, potentially making it harder for hidden cameras to capture card information.
Los Angeles pro Peter O’Neill has also raised concerns about similar cheating patterns at Hollywood Park and Gardens Casino, claiming targeted games were typically $5/$10 or lower and that comparable behavior had been observed at Commerce Casino. O’Neill said cheating teams often used mixed seating strategies to gain an edge.
