Christian Lusardi and the Infamous Borgata Counterfeit Poker Chips Scandal
The Unusual Path to Poker Fame
Not everyone who becomes a household name in the poker world does so by winning major tournaments or being featured on televised events. Christian Lusardi took a different route altogether, earning notoriety for his involvement in one of the most shocking cheating scandals in live poker history. Before the notorious events at the 2014 Borgata Winter Poker Open, Lusardi was largely unknown in the poker scene. With few, if any, notable accomplishments on his record, his decision to resort to cheating dramatically changed the course of his poker journey.
As other players built their reputations legitimately, Lusardi decided to introduce counterfeit chips into a major tournament, attempting to gain a massive, illicit edge over hundreds of competitors. He planned to blend fake chips into play, boosting his chances of a big payout. Yet, his scheme quickly unraveled in a fashion almost as remarkable as the plan itself.
Inside the Borgata Counterfeit Chip Incident
Image: Wikimedia Commons
During January 2014, Atlantic City’s Borgata Hotel & Casino hosted a high-stakes tournament with a staggering $2 million guaranteed prize pool. The event attracted over 4,000 entrants, making it one of the most anticipated events of the year. Among the sea of hopefuls, Christian Lusardi managed to build a commanding chip lead heading into Day 2, drawing attention from players and poker media. At this stage, no one suspected foul play; after all, large chip leaders are a common sight in tournaments.
That changed swiftly when tournament officials noticed discrepancies in the total number of chips in play. The sum far exceeded what should have been in circulation, raising immediate red flags. The Borgata security team, in collaboration with local law enforcement, launched a deep investigation, eventually uncovering hundreds of high-value counterfeit tournament chips interspersed among the legitimate ones.
The Scheme Unravels: The Impact and Aftermath
Confronted with growing suspicion and realizing detection was imminent, Lusardi tried to conceal the remaining fake chips. In a misguided attempt to eliminate evidence, he attempted to flush hundreds of chips down the toilet of his hotel room. This bizarre tactic backfired spectacularly—pipes became clogged, and maintenance quickly linked the plumbing issue back to Lusardi’s room, providing investigators with the evidence they needed.
Despite being eliminated from the tournament on Day 2 and taking home $6,814, his victory was short-lived. Authorities issued a warrant for his arrest, and he was tracked down in another Atlantic City hotel soon after.
The fallout from Lusardi’s scheme was severe. Tournament integrity was compromised, and officers faced the difficult decision of how to address the distorted results. Ultimately, Borgata canceled the event altogether. The 27 players remaining at the time received $19,323 each as compensation.
Image: Twitter/7thecho
The incident also triggered a lengthy legal dispute, with some participants filing lawsuits against Borgata, arguing the casino’s financial remedies were inadequate given the disruption and lost opportunities. However, the scandal did prompt positive change, prompting Borgata and other casinos to introduce more secure, tamper-proof chips to deter future cheating.
Legal Consequences for Christian Lusardi
Following his capture, investigators revealed this was not Lusardi’s first brush with the law. In addition to facing charges over the counterfeit chip operation, he was implicated in a separate case involving the illegal distribution of counterfeit DVDs. Furthermore, previous encounters had resulted in charges related to illegal gambling activities and alcohol sales.
Lusardi ultimately pleaded guilty in both the casino chips and DVD counterfeiting cases. He received a five-year concurrent federal prison sentence. In addition to prison time, the court ordered Lusardi to pay nearly $10,000 to Borgata for damaging the hotel’s plumbing, as well as $463,540 in restitution for revenue the casino lost when forced to shut down the tournament.
Image: Twitter/Casino_Org
The legal saga was not without controversy. In 2016, rumors swirled that Lusardi was released early on parole, provoking outrage within the poker community. Though records indicated parole was granted, he was never actually released that year; he was only transferred to another correctional facility. Reports confirmed he was not eligible for release until at least 2019, as he was required to serve at least 85% of his sentence.
Prior Incidents and Borgata’s Vigilance
Interestingly, Lusardi had raised suspicions at Borgata years before the counterfeit scandal. As early as 2010, the casino had been alerted to potential cheating by Lusardi, leading staff to monitor him closely. In one peculiar instance, he was questioned after discarding a backpack in the casino that contained a fake gun and what appeared to be a homemade bomb. Authorities ultimately released him when they discovered the items were not real weapons.
Lusardi’s history reveals that his cheating at the Borgata tournament may not have been an isolated event, though proof of earlier schemes is difficult to obtain.
Christian Lusardi’s Whereabouts After Prison
Image: Twitter/JenniferBogdan
Details about Christian Lusardi’s life following the end of his prison sentence have proven elusive. After the rumors about early parole in 2015 and subsequent confirmation he was still incarcerated, no new public records or poker results have surfaced. As of 2021, it appears likely that Lusardi has served his time and been released, considering his absence from all current correctional facility records in New Jersey.
A search of major databases like the Hendon Mob shows no tournament cashes for Lusardi after 2009, suggesting he has not returned to the live poker scene. Given his notoriety, it’s probable he is barred from several US casino properties, limiting any opportunity to re-enter tournaments even if he wished to do so.
The legacy of the Borgata counterfeit chips scandal endures as a warning for casinos and poker organizers, highlighting the need for rigorous security and integrity in the world of tournament poker. Christian Lusardi’s dramatic fall from obscurity to infamy remains one of the most memorable cheating scandals in the game’s history.
