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The living legend can't take a rest, the attorneys of the casino keep a close I on him.
The legendary gambler, Phil Ivey has a long-going case against Atlantic City, New Jersey’s Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa which started years ago over a baccarat game, played in 2012. The high-profile case ended with the judge ordering Ivey to pay back $10.1 million, but he refused to do so. Since then, the Borgata's legal team struck several times but failed to get a cent from Phil.
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The 50th edition of the World Series of Poker has ended a few days ago, and Ivey showed up several times, playing many events and cashing for $133,395. He got 64th in Event #37: $800 No-Limit Hold'em Deep Stack for $3,700, finished 76th in Event #44: $1,500 No-Limit Hold'em Bounty for $2,752, busted in 82nd place in Event #55: $1,000 WSOP.com Online Double Stack for $2,533 and also made a deep run in the $50,000 Poker Players Championship where his 8th place earned him another $124,410.
His appearance at the tournaments caught the attention of Borgata's and while the min-cashes didn't arouse interest from the casino, the six-figure score in the PPC did. It's unclear whether Borgata was able to seize any of Ivey's winnings, but many people started speculating on the consequences of the case.
As long as this judgment hangs over all of his potential winnings in the future, it may not worth it for Ivey to keep playing in the US.
The online forums noticed the issue as well, and some people commenting there believe, that Ivey only played these events - especially the lower ones - because he crossbooked and made side bets behind the curtain, which could make him significantly larger amounts than what he made in the tournaments - money that is invisible for authorities and the Borgata.