Phil Ivey’s Edge Sorting Case Versus Borgata Takes Another Twist

When Phil Ivey returned to playing tournaments at the World Series of Poker this summer, fans rejoiced.

But his decision to buy into events might now hurt him in his $10.1 million edge sorting case against the Borgata Casino in Atlantic City, NJ.

Ivey’s legal team is attempting to postpone payments owed to the casino from a legal ruling made in late 2016. Borgata filed a motion on Aug. 4 in federal court to deny Ivey and his team a delay in making payments and “avoid posting a bond.”

Lawyers representing Ivey claimed in July that the sum is such where the “enormity of that amount would clearly be of devastating impact.” The case was made that Borgata’s business would not be hurt should the judgment be further delayed.

In legal documents, Borgata called the statement made by Ivey’s team of the payment being of “irreparable harm” to be invalid.

“There is no testimony or evidence in this case that defendants will be prevented from pursuing their careers as professional gamblers if a stay is not granted,” lawyers representing Borgata said.

Ivey’s play at the World Series of Poker this summer included buy-ins ranging from the $565 Colossus all the way up to the $1 million Big One for One Drop. The high volume from Ivey led to only four cashes. His best result came in the $50,000 Poker Players Championship where Ivey finished ninth for $111,447.

Prior to the WSOP in May, Ivey cashed for $2.3 million in Montenegro in the Triton High Roller Series, making two final tables and winning a Short Deck event. Those cashes marked the first for Ivey since January 2016’s Triton High Roller Series in Manilla.

Borgata used Ivey’s WSOP buy-ins as evidence that Ivey has “no problem coming up with” entry money for poker tournaments. The money won by Ivey this summer and in Montenegro is also cited by Borgata.

A track record of success including high stakes cash games and $26.2 million in career earnings is being used against Ivey by Borgata.

“Ivey’s skill and success as a professional poker player are well documented,” Borgata said of Ivey in court documents. “He is in the top three for poker winnings all time, and there is no suggestion that he cannot continue to be successful. Entrance fees for other poker tournaments are far less than $10,000 and one can play online poker with initial deposits of under $100. He is not in danger of being prevented from playing poker.”

Ivey did play in the recent Triton High Roller Series in Jeju, South Korea following the WSOP but did not cash in any events.

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