Judge: 1/2 WSOP Champion's Winnings Remain Untouchable

26-Dec-2006, 19:13

The dispute between WSOP champion Jamie Gold and television producer Crispin Leyser took a new turn last week when a US judge upheld the continued freeze on half of Jamie Gold's $12 million winnings from the 2006 World Series of Poker Main Event. The court did agree, however, to a request from attorneys for both parties for the cash to be moved from Harrah's custody to an interest bearing account pending final resolution.

District Court Judge Roger Hunt indicated that Leyser, the television pro laying claim to half Gold's pot, is likely to get his share of the money. He also rejected a motion by Gold's lawyer to remove an order preventing the WSOP champ from accessing the cash. Since winning the Main Event in August, the money has been on hold at the Rio Hotel and Casino. Hunt said Gold's actions didn't give him assurance that the money would be turned over to Leyser if he won the case.

The lawsuit was filed by Leyser after Gold allegedly backed out of a business deal to split his WSOP winnings between the two of them. According to Leyser, Gold needed to find celebrities to compete in the tournament wearing the Bodog.com logo in order to get sponsorship from the poker room.

Leyser supplied the stars - actor Matthew Lillard and MTV personality Dax Shepard - in exchange for half of Gold's pot. Yet, after winning the Main Event, Gold said that his agreement with Leyser was a goodwill gesture and not a binding business deal and is now fighting to keep the full $12 million.