UK Supreme Court finally to review Ivey’s £7.8m appeal

UK Supreme Court Judges have agreed to hear Phil Ivey’s infamous high-stakes baccarat case against London-based Crockfords Casino.

The long-running dispute has been ongoing since August 2012, when Ivey won £7.8m playing a version of baccarat otherwise known as Punto Banco. Ivey and another playing partner were able to spot manufacturing defects on the back of the playing cards, allowing them to gain an advantage on the unsuspecting house.

Whilst Ivey had no physical involvement with the cards and “edge sorting” isn’t technically considered as cheating, the casino refused to pay him his winnings.

According to the court, Ivey had violated the UK Gambling Act 2005 by deploying the controversial technique which essentially equates to cheating. Nonetheless, the appeal judges did not define the two players’ actions as dishonest.

Immediately after the decision was made back in November, Ivey and his legal team revealed they would appeal the misleading ruling.

Nonetheless, it has now been revealed that the UK Supreme Court will allow Ivey to appeal the Court of Appeals decision that upheld the London High Court to deny Ivey’s claim against the casino.

One of Ivey’s attorneys, Matthew Dowd of Archerfield Partners LLP comments: “Phil and his legal team are delighted that the Supreme Court judges have decided that the Court of Appeal’s decision should be reviewed.

“The Court of Appeal’s ruling left the interpretation of Section 42 of the Gambling Act totally unclear and the decision to grant permission to appeal demonstrates that the Supreme Court agrees with that view.”

Commenting on the announcement, Phil Ivey said: “Last November’s Court of Appeal ruling made no sense to me. The original trial judge ruled that I was not dishonest and none of the three Appeal Court Judges disagreed, and yet the decision went against me by a majority of 2 to 1.

“I am so pleased that the Supreme Court has granted me permission to fight for what I genuinely believe is the right thing to do in my circumstances, and for the entire gaming industry.” Adding confidently that he looks “forward to the Supreme Court reversing the decision against [him]”

Ivey is currently fighting a similar case with Atlantic City’s Borgata casino, however Ivey is playing the role of defendant in this case. Unfortunately the casino paid out prior to the realisation that Ivey had outsmarted the house and now he has been ordered to repay the casino the $9.6m he won in 2012.

A judge ruled against him in October, but Ivey and his legal team are doing everything in their power to be granted permission for appeal.