Jamie Gold Settles Lawsuit

Filed in archive on February 7, 2007

2006 WSOP Champ Jamie Gold and Crispin Leyser have decided to settle thier lawsuit out of court, reports the Associated Press. Probably a good move for Gold, as things were not looking good for him with regards to winning the suit.

"Jamie always intended on sharing his winnings with Crispin," reads a joint statement released Tuesday. "Jamie and Crispin are happy to report they have fully settled this matter. They are pleased to be closing this chapter and look forward to continued success."

The two did not make clear how much money Leyser would receive. Gold already withdrew $6 million, half of his take from winning the world's largest poker tournament. The rest was frozen by court order after Leyser sued in August, claiming they had agreed to split the winnings.

Leyser said Gold agreed to the split in exchange for Leyser helping him find celebrities to play in the main event while wearing the "Bodog" label of an offshore Internet gambling site.

Leyser even kept what he said was a voicemail Gold left on his phone on the final day of the tournament in which Gold promised to pay Leyser "your half."

At a December court hearing, U.S. District Court Judge Roger L. Hunt rejected a motion by Gold's lawyers to lift an injunction set in September on the $6 million still at the tournament host, the Rio casino-hotel, and ordered the frozen funds be moved into an interest-bearing account.

Hunt also indicated Leyser likely would win his claim to the $6 million.