Borgata Casino Granted Approval To Pursue Phil Ivey’s Assets In Nevada

A federal judge in New Jersey has authorized Borgata Hotel and Casino to pursue poker legend Phil Ivey’s assets in Nevada, in an ongoing effort to collect a $10.16 million judgment.

Edge Sorting Controversy

The case stems from Ivey and associate Cheng Yin Sun’s 2012 baccarat sessions at Borgata, where they used a technique called “edge sorting” to identify card imperfections and gain a significant advantage. The pair won $9.6 million from baccarat and Ivey added another $500,000 at the craps table, leading to the total judgment.

In 2016, a federal court ruled in Borgata’s favor, but efforts to collect the funds in New Jersey proved unsuccessful. Ivey’s only known asset in the state was an empty Wells Fargo bank account. Borgata alleged the funds were transferred to a Mexican bank.

Assets Located in Nevada

In 2018, Borgata filed a motion to seek Ivey’s assets outside New Jersey, citing potential holdings in Nevada. The motion mentioned Ivey Poker, LLC—believed to back his poker training site “Ivey League”—and estimated his net worth at $100 million. The motion also referenced Ivey’s disclosed luxury home in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, possibly owned through a Nevada entity.

On January 28, the court granted Borgata’s request to docket the judgment in Nevada. Judge Noel Hillman approved the order, and Ivey’s legal team did not oppose.

Similar Case in the UK

Ivey faced a similar legal outcome in London after using edge sorting to win $12.4 million at Crockfords Casino. The casino refused to pay, and the UK courts sided with the house, ruling the technique violated the rules of the game.