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A high-stakes poker night at JokerStars Poker Room in Houston was marred by scandal this past Sunday, as three players, including a former club employee, were caught executing a sophisticated cheating operation using RFID technology and a concealed card reader.

The trio—Carlito, along with two guests he personally invited, Marcelo and Ivan—were identified after a security review exposed their coordinated scheme. According to club owner Jerry Yen, the footage prompted General Manager Jason Marshall to confront Carlito directly about the incident.

A High-Tech Cheating Operation

Footage revealed that Carlito, Marcelo, and Ivan coordinated to swap in a preloaded deck equipped with RFID-enabled playing cards, paired with a concealed card-reading device. This setup allowed them to identify card values in real-time, giving them an unfair edge against unsuspecting players.

Marshall, after conducting an internal investigation behind closed doors, directly confronted Carlito. Marcelo and Ivan, however, managed to flee the premises before they could be detained or questioned.

Initially, Carlito denied the allegations, but under pressure and faced with evidence—including the device discovered in his backpack—he ultimately confessed.

Immediate Consequences

Carlito was immediately banned for life from the JokerStars Social Club. The club, in its statement, expressed deep disappointment in Carlito’s actions, especially given his past role as an employee and ambassador for the club.

“All money lost from this incident was returned and given back to the players affected,” JokerStars assured its community. “We are deeply saddened by Carlito’s actions …This is a huge disappointment not just to us but the entire poker community.”

To prevent similar breaches in the future, JokerStars is now developing custom playing cards that will be harder to compromise.

Leaked DMs Reveal Regret and Accusations

Shortly after the incident, private messages allegedly from Carlito surfaced, offering his side of the story. In the DMs, he wrote:

“I just got dragged into the system. I admitted that I made the wrong decision. I apologize to Jerry and everyone else. I owned up to my mistake and ready to pay penance.”

Carlito also claimed that the winnings from the cheating operation were relatively minor—around $400—but that JokerStars staff confiscated $2,700 of his own money as compensation.

“At the end of the day, I know I shouldn’t have done what I did and will never do it again.”

A Sophisticated Scam

High-tech cheating is rapidly becoming a growing concern in the poker world, as advances in technology make it easier for dishonest players to gain an unfair edge both live and online.

Traditional methods of cheating—such as collusion or marked cards—are now being replaced by more sophisticated tools like RFID-enabled playing cards, hidden scanning devices, and wireless communication systems. These tactics allow cheaters to instantly identify card values and share information in real-time without detection.

Based in the United Kingdom, Will started working for PokerNews as a freelance live reporter in 2015 and joined the full-time staff in 2019. He now works as Managing Editor. He graduated from the University of Kent in 2017 with a B.A. in German. He also holds an NCTJ Diploma in Sports Journalism.

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