Former WPT Player of the Year Anthony Zeno has been accused of stealing a backpack containing cash at Wynn Las Vegas. [Image: Flickr.com / World Poker Tour]
Rumor
For a few weeks, there were rumors of another poker scandal. You should always take this type of rumor with a pinch of salt, but day after day, more details emerge, which, if true, are particularly devastating.
After packing up for a tournament during the WPT World Championship at Wynn, poker player Corel Theuma left his bag containing a wad of cash on the table. According to Theuma, when the bag was recovered, it was light, and the person involved was WPT and WSOP champion Anthony Zeno.
Zinno is a very successful poker professional with a great reputation
When most people heard this rumor, they knew it was false or at least hoped it was false. It was very worrying, as Zinno is a very successful poker player with a good reputation. Surely he wouldn’t jeopardize his status for a few bucks? Also, with cameras everywhere, he will surely know that his every move will be recorded.
The claim
On Friday, January 26, Only Friends teased the story without going into too many details.
During the episode they showed a post from Willie Wiggins in which he said:
“My friend Curiel left his bag in the room while he was packing for the 3K tournament. He was looking for the bag all night because there was 20 grand in it, and the next day the cops called him in – and the apparition said they had footage of Zeno taking the bag and running to the bathroom with it. He’s now blocked Officially from entering the Encore and Wynn buildings. However, no one in the poker news or blogs is talking about it. Don’t want this thief stealing from anyone else in the future. He is currently being investigated for pet theft.
On Monday, January 29, Todd Witteles posted a version of the story on his Poker Fraud Alert website. The post was initially amplified by Ryan LaPlante on Twitter, who later removed his tweet, stating that Zeno had reached out to him to deny the allegation. This prompted Corel Theuma to speak out himself. He said that “as the victim, I confirm it” and that he is “working on getting it”. [his] “He handed over the police report” and was happy to share it once he was in his possession.
Theuma makes a public statement
Scandals are rarely broken cleanly in poker. There is usually a period of time when rumors of wrongdoing circulate in chat groups. After that, there will often be a forum post sharing the rumors with the community. It’s natural for the poker media to be reluctant to publish a story until it becomes more than just a rumor, and with this particular story, there was more hesitation on the part of poker writers because the alleged wrongdoer is a particularly respected and decorated member of the poker community.
Clearly, there was an implicit but collective decision to proceed with caution. However, when the accused or accused speaks up, the story immediately becomes newsworthy and later on Monday, and that is exactly what Theuma did. Giving his side via a series of tweets:
“After I got the 3kg bag, I left my bag under the chair – which was actually a mistake. As most of you did. When I got to my car outside Encore, I realized this and quickly ran down the long hallway (cameras can show that) to retrieve my bag. It was the merchant He was still at our table fixing the cards. I couldn’t find the bag there. I asked security. I asked the lost and found. Nothing.
“The next day I called the lost and found office. They told me that someone had returned the bag. But there was only $1,000 in it! When I know for a fact (and I will do my best to prove it) that I have $20,000. Those close to me know my financial circumstances, so there is no need for me to lie about The amount. I went to pick up the bag and filed a police report.
As soon as I arrived I saw Ant Zeno locked up and being interrogated.
“That night, I was summoned by high-ranking security officers – they said the subway was there and they wanted to talk to me because the suspect was in their custody. Once I arrived I saw Ant Zeno locked up and being interrogated. I did not review the footage myself. I can only agree with what What the security officers shared with me that night (and the reason they told me he was banned from Wayne Properties forever) was that there was footage of Anthony taking the bag and going to the bathroom with it.
“This will be my last public statement on this matter. I am working with law enforcement and attorneys to track down the police report. Once I have it, I will share my findings – with the guidance of my legal team.
Red flag
All scandals are damaging to the game, both within it and viewed from the outside. This rumour, now an allegation, is particularly troubling because it involves a big name, a poker champion who has historically made headlines for all the right reasons.
Even if there was no evidence that Zinno stole the money from the backpack, it would still be troubling if he picked it up and brought it to the one place where there were no cameras. Finding the backpack and not immediately handing it over to the dealer who has the names of all the players at the table is an immediate red flag.
“I think the report and video will speak for themselves.”
yesterday, Vegas slots news online I reached out to both Corel Theuma and Anthony Zeno to discuss the allegations. Theuma responded by saying that he had just finished a one-hour interview with Poker news In this regard, he is confident that the truth will come to light.
“I can tell you that I have just received the police report. I have been advised not to share it as it may interfere with the ongoing investigation. However, I can say that after review, I believe the report and video will speak for themselves.”
