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PokerNews has obtained surveillance footage from Houston Social Cardroom depicting an altercation between poker legend Sammy Farha and dealer Doug Caillier. The incident occurred on Oct. 22 during a $1/$3/$6 Pot-Limit Omaha game with a $15 button straddle.
Caillier, who previously dealt at the World Series of Poker in the 1990s, had just awarded a large pot following an all-in call. Farha, who was not involved in the hand, accused the dealer of pulling a losing player’s cards from the muck and exposing them, an allegation Caillier denied.
The disagreement escalated into a face-to-face confrontation after another dealer replaced Caillier at the table. The video, which has no audio, shows Farha circling the table to confront Caillier directly while a floor manager and security guard attempted to intervene.
Despite the floor manager stepping between them, Farha pushed past and shoved Caillier in the chest. A security guard then separated the two, though they crossed paths again near the cashier’s cage, exchanging words before Farha departed.
Caillier claims Farha also attempted to slap him and hurled obscenities and threats, though the footage only clearly shows a shove rather than a punch. A brief gap in the video near the end leaves part of the encounter undocumented.
Caillier has been suspended from Houston Social and may not return. Farha was initially banned but was later seen back inside the venue. Several dealers and players allege Farha has a history of mistreating dealers, including a previous altercation at Houston’s Legends Poker Room.
