Indicted Gambler Wins 2025 PokerStars North American Poker Tour renewing tolerance concerns

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On November 12, 2025, Gal Yifrach won his biggest poker score by winning the 2025 PokerStars NAPT Las Vegas Main Event. It would be better news if there weren't a dark cloud hanging over Yifrach's head. Gal is facing two felony charges alleging his involvement with running a video slot machine ring and laundering the profits through casino chip exchanges. This is not the first nor will it be the last time that poker players with a checkered past will win big, but it does bring back concerns about the poker world's tolerance for legally entangled players.

Check out the story here from Casino.org >>> Indicted Gambler Wins Major Las Vegas Poker Event, Exposing Industry Blind Spot

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Worse things happen on higher levels of society so naturally monkey see, monkey do.
Where would we even go from here? Everyone entering a high profile event would have to prove they have no criminal record?
 
As long as he isn't a card cheat, I'd have no problem with him playing regardless of what he's done.
 
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Nobody's perfect. If he did anything illegal in the past he'll be convicted for it. If he won that tournament fair and square, he deserves credit for it. A lot more shady things happen in poker- the whole Jonathan Tamayo incident. After all, both John McKeen and Dominik Nitzsche are professionals and should have know better.
For instance, in Europe they let you make a deal on the final table. In Vegas it's considered collusion and it's illegal. There are lot go grey areas everywhere.
 
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GrannySmit77 said:
For instance, in Europe they let you make a deal on the final table. In Vegas it's considered collusion and it's illegal. There are lot go grey areas everywhere.
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I never noticed that about Vegas, but you are correct. In Connecticut and New Hampshire final table deals are the norm. I've been on two final tables in Vegas however and don't remember any offer to make a deal. You learn something new every day so thank you for the information! 🙂
 
I think its only at the wsop that is held in Vegas whre they dont let u make a deal. Doubt its illegal in general but not sure.

The one time i have been to Vegas i actually made a deal HU in some small 20 Dollar daily Tournament. It was more like a sit and go, we splitted a few bucks and noone said anything. Not that this really matters though, just my experience in some small, meaningless daily like 14 years ago.
 
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