The current 2006 World Series of Poker main event winner, Jamie Gold
will not be enjoying his $12 million first prize just yet; a law suit
claiming half of the giant bonanza has been filed in Las Vegas, and
WSOP host Harrahs Entertainment has been restrained by court order
from paying out until the case is heard on September 1.
Jamie Gold's accuser is a man named Bruce Crispin Leyser, who claims
that he has voicemail messages and other evidence on an agreement
with Gold to share half his winnings in return for recruiting celebrities
to endorse Gold's sponsors, the Bodog group.
Reports in the Las Vegas Sun indicate that the suit alleges that as
late as the morning of the main event final table game Gold confirmed
the deal with Leyser. The complaint claims that Leyser recruited celebrities,
upholding his side of the deal.
Apparently Chief District Court Judge Kathy Hardcastle has issued
a restraining order preventing Harrah's from paying Gold his prize
pending the first hearing of this lawsuit, which will be September
1st.
A Harrah's spokesperson has since confirmed that Gold has not yet
been paid out. The payment of his $12 million dollars in winnings
will now be delayed pending further direction from the judge.
As we went to press, no comment was yet available from Gold or his
legal advisers.