Although Howard Lederer has attempted to burnish his image by working to the Lederer, it is no less that the poker community has still no sympathy for the former leader and shareholder of Full Tilt Poker. Recently, a petition has been signed to banish Lederer of the Aria. This petition was supported by regular players of NL1K and NL2K. In a short time, 50 names were on the petition wanting to exclude Lederer from the casino. According to the petition: "We believe that the casino has the moral and ethical obligation to banish Howard Lederer of any game in the poker room and if the Aria casino doesn't pursue immediate action, we, the community of players, will be forced to boycott the room". This initiative was taken by Nick DiVella (see his Twitter account), a poker pro from the Aria.
Divella adds that Lederer does not deserve to play. Maybe this will be the beginning of the creation of a black list of non creditable poker players.
Leon Wheeler, one of manager of Aria said: "we have not taken decision if Howard was to be banned. Sincerely this problem do not look us".
Really?
The petition will perhaps not result excluding Howard Lederer, but it will force even more to remain discreet in the future.
Recall that Lederer is facing a civil lawsuit brought by the Department of Justice (DoJ) of the USA and may need to respond to 42 million $ of illegal payments as a former owner of the Full Tilt Poker website.
Negreanu continues to launch its venom on Lederer
In a recent blog, Daniel Negreanu reaffirms disdain for Howard Lederer and the former head of Full Tilt Poker.
In his Full Contact Poker blog, Daniel Negreanu says be little surprised Lederer join large parts of Bellagio "with friends from whom he feels protected", the famous "Big Game" of the Bobby's Room also nicknamed "the Aquarium" as separated by windows from the rest of the poker room. "It is the only place in the world where Howard can if sit at a poker table, order wine, drink, play and laugh at all this while that the players behind the glass look at him... still without their money."
He added: "Recently I heard that Crazy Mike (Matusow) played with Howard and has persecuted it until he cries (as Mike), for those who do not know Mike, this guy speaks a mile per minute non-stop for hours" said Negreanu.
"Howard has never been a winner in the Mixed Games player and yet it was stake by David Grey. It was David who gave Howard starting money to invest in FTP. Just to show you how Howard has no shame, he later allowed David to invest but double the price of other investors so that he owed him money"says.
The appearance of Howard Lederer in a $10,000 tournament at Bellagio, where he also spent $ 20,000 buy-in in pure loss is for Negreanu "shocking, disgusting, shameful and totally disrespectful". What drives 'Kid Poker' to ask what he would do if he found himself in a part opposite Lederer.
According to Negreanu, there is 2 options:
(A) refuse to play and wait
(B) to sit, tell him that it is only a shameful shit and that his decision to play demonstrates a total lack of empathy and a lack of respect for the other players in this poker room who are still deprived of their funds. That it is in full delirium if he thinks that the world will accept with open arms after this pathetic interview with PokerNews. (...) What would you do in my place?"asks in conclusion Negreanu.
Meanwhile, new details are added in pursuing civil against Howard Lederer. PokerCollectif will give you all the details tomorrow!
Case to follow!
In the meantime, discuss this news on PokerCollectif forums: Petition to exclude Lederer of Aria