A can of worms was opened within the poker world a couple of weeks in the past when a clipped video that includes Ludwig Ahgren called out unregulated poker site ACR Poker for allegedly refusing to pay him out. Ludwig later clarified his feedback that he had been paid for his providers however had points cashing out funds on the unlicensed website.
Nevertheless, the fallout revealed that a number of different streamers hadn’t been paid by Finish Recreation Expertise, a third-party firm employed by ACR to seek out influencers. That firm was run by the controversial Scott Ball, and ACR spoke of them in a press release issued to Poker.org:
“ACR Poker engaged a third-party company to rearrange model advertising and marketing by streamers they presupposed to characterize. Each streamer labored below their very own expertise company. ACR paid the central company, which was to pay the streamers by way of their respective expertise brokers. That association sadly ended with critical disputes about whether or not the central company stiffed or underpaid the varied expertise companies or their particular person streamer purchasers. ACR stands by our constructive observe report with sponsored gamers, advertising and marketing campaigns, and streamers’ expertise companies. The corporate that reportedly didn’t pay expertise companies is believed to have been sued by the streamers’ expertise companies.”
ACR CEO Phil Nagy additionally went on Matt Berkey’s Solely Associates Podcast to offer a casual interview by which he laid the blame squarely on Ball’s Finish Recreation Expertise.
In response, Ball made a public publish on X on August 25:
Now, Ball is additional disputing these allegations stating that it was ACR’s non-payment of an eight-figure contract – rumored to be $30 million – that finally led to some influencers not getting paid, although many have.
“I feel that it’s extremely clear that he didn’t discuss to his authorized or press groups and made a really poor, emotionally-charged determination tozf discuss a bunch of stuff,” Ball instructed PokerNews in an unique interview. “I feel it was a fairly poor determination within the grand scheme of issues.”
He added: “We labored with ACR for over seven years, and I can let you know their assertion is simply blatantly not true. As I’ve proven right this moment, there are lots of receipts displaying that now we have paid a number of individuals, and lots of receipts displaying that ACR owes us cash. The explanation I requested for arbitration amongst impartial individuals is as a result of there isn’t any grey space right here. Nagy is saying there isn’t any grey space both, however then I can supply him a freeroll with a view to present this and put the whole lot on the market. I would like the whole lot public afterward as a result of I need to clear my identify and my firm’s identify.”
“I had a contract for tens of tens of millions of {dollars} that was honored to a complete of $0.”
Certainly, Ball shared varied paperwork, spreadsheets, and messages with this reporter to validate sure claims. Nevertheless, it was executed so on the premise that copies couldn’t be shared publicly because of varied NDAs and ongoing authorized proceedings.
Among the many paperwork shared had been a yearlong Insertion Order, and a spreadsheet highlighting funds to lots of of content material creators, with roughly 50 being unpaid and most being due both 4 or 5 figures.
“I had a contract for tens of tens of millions of {dollars} that was honored to a complete of $0,” claimed Ball. “Finish Recreation Expertise didn’t make sufficient at any level to have the ability to afford getting stiffed tens of tens of millions of {dollars}.”
In line with Ball, ACR by no means made good on the contracts and shared textual content exchanges between himself and Nagy, in addition to with somebody named Juan, who he mentioned is the CMO of ACR. In these messages, which spanned a number of months, Ball pressed for fee decision with each Nagy and Juan both delaying or outright ghosting for weeks and generally months at a time.
“I am not right here to say its ‘me versus him, his phrase versus mine.’ I confirmed you receipts voluntarily of me asking him to simply make everybody entire. That is what I care about. Make everybody entire and we’ll struggle in regards to the cash you owe me afterwards. Assist me make everybody entire as a result of I haven’t got $10 million to make everybody entire. Please assist me make everybody entire when he is instructed me up to now, he would do that. He does not do it.”
Nagy didn’t reply to makes an attempt to achieve him for this text.
Streamer Ludwig Regrets Unregulated Poker Site Sponsorship, Says He Never Got Paid
A Judgment Towards Him
Courtroom data from L.A. County present a default judgment from late June 2024 for $718,331 towards Finish Recreation Expertise from a breach-of-contract lawsuit filed by Loaded, LLC, one other expertise company for streamers. That is presumably the “firm that reportedly didn’t pay expertise companies is believed to have been sued by the streamers’ expertise companies” as identified in ACR’s assertion.
Ball doesn’t dispute the judgment exists, however claimed it was awarded because of an oversight by his lawyer, who failed to reply on time.
“Briefly, my attorneys are dealing with that and making an attempt to get the default lifted so we will return to providing an inexpensive settlement to pave the highway and are available to phrases that manner. That was a mistake on my lawyer’s half.”
Messages to lawyer David Boren, who was listed on courtroom paperwork as counsel for Loaded, LLC, weren’t returned.
Why Not Sue?
In his interview with Solely Associates, Nagy made certain to level out that if he had executed something fallacious then he would seemingly be sued.
“In non-public textual content messages to me, he’s like ‘let’s f***ing go, sue me’ after telling me he love me,” mentioned Ball. “I can not sue an organization in Costa Rica. I am gonna get a judgment as a result of I’ve contracts, I’ve receipts. I’ve them verbally and in textual content messages saying saving they owe me cash. I’ve textual content messages of them ghosting me for a number of months about gathering the cash we’re owed to pay influencers. I’ve receipts for all of this.
“There isn’t any doubt I’d get a judgment, however the US cannot acquire any judgment from Costa Rica. I really do not assume it is ever occurred earlier than the place the US has ever obtained a judgment from Costa Rica. So, I can spend lots of of 1000’s of {dollars} to get a chunk of paper that claims they owe me cash, however I am by no means going to gather it. That is why I like the concept of arbitration with revered poker gamers who’re impartial.”
Looking for Arbitration
Ball reiterated that he’s keen to go to arbitration with Nagy and ACR to resolve the state of affairs.
“In line with him within the [Solve For Why] podcast, of their assertion, they’ve executed nothing fallacious and I am the one which’s stolen a bunch of cash, or they’re implying that I stole a bunch of cash. If that is the case, that is going to be very apparent in an arbitration state of affairs, there shall be no confusion, proper?
“That is the one manner I’ve an opportunity in ever gathering a greenback that the opposite creators are nonetheless owed and that I’ve spent out of my very own pocket to make individuals as entire as I can to date.”
Ball tossed out a couple of names as impartial events for potential arbitration.
“I do not even know Phil Galfond however I’d love for somebody like him and Shaun Deeb. It will probably’t be Phil Hellmuth as a result of he’s a shareholder. These varieties of fellows which might be impartial, get 10 of them collectively, let’s put out all of our info – their information, my information – let’s escrow, the funds, let’s put it on there and allow them to decide after which difficulty the funds nonetheless they see match afterwards. That is the one manner I’ve an opportunity in ever gathering a greenback that the opposite creators are nonetheless owed and that I’ve spent out of my very own pocket to make individuals as entire as I can to date.”
Disputing Repossession Rumors
Ball alleges that ACR whereas enterprise with ACR was good for a few years, they by no means made good on the ultimate eight-figure deal and that each one funds to the influencers had been made through Finish Recreation Expertise earlier than it turned bancrupt, and at Ball’s private expense as he’s liquidated belongings, corresponding to promoting automobiles and not too long ago itemizing his Las Vegas house on the market.
To that finish, within the Solely Associates Podcast Berkey steered that Ball has had a number of automobiles repossessed. Nevertheless, PokerNews didn’t discover any repossession data and did communicate with a consultant of a high-end Las Vegas dealership that confirmed Ball had offered them a number of automobiles.
“I’ve had zero automobiles repossessed,” mentioned Ball. “I purchased automobiles and I offered automobiles very, in a short time when one thing vital in my life modified, which was not the plan and to attempt to make individuals entire as quick as I might. However I’ve had no repossessions of any of these automobiles. That is how lots of of the influencers which have been paid had been paid. That is among the belongings that I offered.”
Taking Challenge with Media Protection
Ball spoke with PokerNews after claiming he felt his portrayal by different media was biased.
“Berkey has his narrative and isn’t going to do something that does not help his narrative,” mentioned Ball, who acknowledged he was by no means contacted to offer his aspect of the story. “I do not need to say he does not have integrity as a result of I do not know him that effectively, however he isn’t a journalist, and he has no journalistic integrity in any respect in any respect. He talks about issues as in the event that they’re info about those who have a fantastic affect on their lives and the best way they supply for themselves and their household and their livelihoods with out info and he speaks of them as in the event that they’re info. That is very, very harmful. I simply assume it is actually unhappy that he goes round and promotes the propaganda.”
Ball continued: “One thing we have not talked about right this moment and I can present you this myself, I am beginning to get textual content messages from somebody leaking my cellphone variety of individuals actually threatening me and harassing me because the Remedy For Why Podcast. I’ve been referred to as a scammer and a thief and all these items as a result of Matt Berkey feels prefer it’s alright to run his mouth and say these items with no actual reality. If Matt Berkey sat with me right this moment and noticed the entire receipts there is no such thing as a manner in hell he would have mentioned the issues he mentioned on his podcast. There isn’t any confusion right here and what he is doing is a giant a part of cancel tradition. It is a large downside in society.”
Ball was, nonetheless, contacted by Poker.org however declined to remark citing an alleged battle of curiosity.
A Tarnished Popularity
As soon as thought-about a rising star locally due to his function in constructing Twitch Poker, Ball’s repute within the poker world has been tarnished lately regardless of profitable two WSOP gold bracelets in 2021. A big a part of that was Mike “The Mouth” Matusow publicly calling out Ball for allegedly defrauding a personal app house recreation run by Phil Hellmuth.
“These items had been debunked without end in the past,” mentioned Ball when requested in regards to the assertions. “I used to be accused of stealing cash from Phil Helmuth, however Phil Helmuth despatched me a video and allowed me to publish a video of him saying I did not steal cash from him. The issues that I did do fallacious had been I had items of individuals in a recreation that I did not disclose. I’d by no means do this once more. That being mentioned, this is quite common within the non-public poker recreation scene. This isn’t thought-about some loopy unethical factor. There are in all probability 10% of personal video games around the globe that this isn’t occurring. That is only a factor. Hosts are going to have items of individuals. It is the way it works. You simply have to just accept that if that is a scene.”
Matusow’s allegations resurfaced, primarily within the Solely Associates Podcast, as part of Ball’s most up-to-date predicament.
“I am not apprehensive about everybody having a fantastic opinion of me,” Ball admitted. “I used to care rather a lot about what individuals assume. I do need individuals to know that I do have integrity. I am not a thief, I am not stealing from individuals. I am not dishonest anyplace as a result of these items are all 100% reality, I am not stealing cash. I will proceed to play poker for a residing. I am in all probability going to play extra reside tournaments and a few on-line tournaments. I’ve no actual curiosity in non-public money recreation scene anymore. My focus is simply making an attempt to turn out to be the most effective model of myself. I will proceed to work out, train, examine rather a lot, and simply attempt to turn out to be the most effective participant I may be.”
What’s Subsequent?
“Firstly, I need to see the remaining creators which might be nonetheless owed receives a commission,” Ball claimed. “Secondly, I can not get into too many specifics, however there are creators that agreed to scale back pay settlements with a view to simply get some cash as a result of understanding that Finish Recreation did not receives a commission. I’d like to see the creators who’re nonetheless owed receives a commission as a result of everybody needs to be paid for the work that they do. Secondly, in an ideal world, I’d like to see the creators that took decreased pay, doubtlessly get the distinction by which they did not get in full. That will be nice.
“I do not ever need to do enterprise with them once more, and I do not need to affiliate with them, however I’d like to see creators made entire.”
“I’d like to get again among the cash that I’ve spent out of my very own pocket, however that is by no means going to occur regardless that I had a contract with them for tens of tens of millions of {dollars}; which once more, there’s receipts for these items. I do not ever need to do enterprise with them once more, and I do not need to affiliate with them, however I’d like to see creators made entire, and doubtlessly get one thing again that I’ve spent out of my very own pocket as a result of it has been very onerous on my life, clearly to liquidate virtually the whole lot you personal, and assist determine these things out after which simply shut this chapter.
“Nothing would make me happier than having all of the influencers paid. Then I can fear about my shareholders and myself later,” Ball concluded. “I’ll fortunately, if [ACR] actually agrees to do that, ship out our invoices which might be nonetheless pending in order that they know precisely what individuals are actually owed they usually can ship me affirmation that they have been paid and we will shut out all these influencers.”
For his half, Nagy did handle the state of affairs on the Solely Associates Podcast and seemingly made a suggestion to influencers to make them entire.
“I imagine in influencers. I help influencers. The very last thing I need to do is shit the place I eat. That being mentioned is, as soon as attorneys and companies and the whole lot obtained into it, it simply all floor to a fucking halt. And I’m sorry, that’s the actual world, proper. If these influencers got here to me and mentioned, ‘You realize what, we’ll go forward and do it once more, do that final no matter, pay me what I’m owed and the subsequent one I’ll do it 50% off and we’ll proceed our relationship—DONE! That’s what my attorneys try to barter with the companies.
“Influencers on the market, you may name it cash within the financial institution till we come to some sort of settlement, I’m not going anyplace. If you happen to’re ravenous, inform me, I’ll throw you an advance or one thing. I do know we’ll come to an association. It’s simply get in your agent and ensure they’re speaking to our guys and that it doesn’t drop.”
PokerNews will proceed to watch this story and supply updates if and after they turn out to be obtainable.
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