Phil Ivey Headed to UK Supreme Court Against Crockford's

Phil Ivey and his legal team finally earned some good news in his case against Crockfords over a £7.8 million baccarat session. Ivey was granted permission by the UK’s Supreme Court to appeal a decision of a lower Court of Appeals in November of 2016.

The UK Supreme Court is similar to the United States’ Supreme Court as it’s the highest court that hears cases of national importance.

In a prepared released Ivey said, “Last November’s Court of Appeal ruling made no sense to me. The original trial judge ruled that I was not dishonest and none of the three Appeal Court judges disagreed, and yet the decision went against me by a majority of 2 to 1.”

“I am so pleased that the Supreme Court has granted me permission to fight for what I genuinely believe is the right thing to do in my circumstances, and for the entire gaming industry. I look forward to the Supreme Court reversing the decision against me,” said Ivey.

Ivey also revealed that Richard Spearman QC and Max Mallin QC of Thirty Nine Essex Chambers and Wilberforce Chambers respectively and Matthew Dowd of Archerfield Partners LLP will represent him.

“Phil and his legal team are delighted that the Supreme Court judges have decided that the Court of Appeal’s decision should be reviewed,” said Dowd. “The Court of Appeal’s ruling left the interpretation of Section 42 of the Gambling Act totally unclear and the decision to grant permission to appeal demonstrates that the Supreme Court agrees with that view.”

The case stems from a Punto Banco session at Crockfords in London in August of 2012. He played over a few nights and then Crockfords withheld payment. Ivey filed suit in May of 2013 and then lost in October of 2014. Then in 2016 an Appeals Court sided with Crockford’s original decision.