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A London court has dismissed a £100,000 lawsuit from English poker player Dr. Mortaza Sahibzada after he claimed Hippodrome Casino banned him over his short-session poker strategy.
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Sahibzada played at the PokerStars-branded poker venue in London, a room known for hosting events such as the UK and Ireland Poker Tour. He said he used a disciplined “hit-and-run” style, leaving games quickly after wins of around £75.
Other poker players often dislike that approach because it gives them little time to win chips back. Sahibzada, though, described the method as “innovative” and said it helped him win up to £2,000 a month.
The former Imperial College engineering researcher told Central London County Court that he treated his method as a safe gambling system. He also called himself “an expert in safe gambling.”
He told the court:
“I was making a living, and I became really good in my niche, which was to play for very short hours and to have a very modest target.”
Hippodrome Casino gave a different account. The venue said the September 2023 ban followed several unpleasant interactions with staff and other players, along with concerns about problem gambling.
Casino attorney Harry Stratton said:
“In September 2023, Hippodrome suspended him from membership following a number of unpleasant interactions with staff and concerns about problem gambling, and barred him from entering or gambling at its casino.”
Furthermore, Stratton called the case “totally without merit” and “bound to fail.”
He also said:
“It is not clear on what basis he says he has a legal right to gamble at Hippodrome, particularly in circumstances where Dr. Sahibzada explicitly acknowledges the casino’s statutory right to deny us the right to bet.”
Judge Andrew Holmes sided with Hippodrome Casino and found no valid basis for the claim. In his verdict he noted:
“I cannot see how it can be said that there’s been any breach of a particular contract in these circumstances.
“The casino is entitled to decide who does or doesn’t come within its premises and use its services.”