Phil Ivey's Million-Pound Casino Showdown: The Edge Sorting Controversy

Phil Ivey, a renowned poker player, found himself in a high-stakes legal battle with Crockfords casino after winning £7.3 million playing Punto Banco in 2012. Ivey used a technique known as edge sorting, which involves identifying key cards through asymmetrical backs.

Crockfords, owned by the Malaysian corporation Genting Group, refused to pay Ivey his winnings, citing alleged cheating. The casino claimed that Ivey's technique, which involved his assistant Kelly helping him identify key cards, was a form of cheating. Ivey, however, maintained that edge sorting is a legal method of gaining an advantage in poker.

Ivey's technique gave him a significant advantage against the casino, with an estimated 20.928% edge. He claimed that Crockfords was aware of the edge sorting technique and that the casino often accommodates such requests from high-rollers to keep them as clients.