Gim Sleiman, aka Boston Jimmy, has seen it all over the last twenty years. He’s one of the most colorful and beloved game runners in Las Vegas, and currently runs a game at Wynn, Las Vegas.
Sleiman has played with many of the most prominent high-stakes cash players in the game yet considers himself a businessman first, not a professional player.
“I never admit I play professionally,” confessed Sleiman. “It's just not good for the game. Nobody really plays professionally. We all have investments outside of poker.”
PokerOrg reached out to Boston Jimmy to discuss how scammers can compromise high-stakes games with high-tech camera technologies and how the rules at the tables have evolved over previous years. He also shares how the games are set up daily with some of the highest-profile players in sports and entertainment.
Boston Jimmy runs a private game at Wynn Las Vegas.
Do you play strictly games in casinos?
Yes. I play high stakes, organized, and private games in casinos. Honestly, I rarely get involved in home games. It's not my vibe.
You’ve been a staple game runner in Vegas for years. I’m sure you’ve seen some cheating now and then.
I've been around poker for 22 years. I've seen it all regarding possible cheaters in the games. In the last few years, we've had waves of people from different countries who sometimes employ locals in Vegas to assist in their cheating schemes. These games have the highest stakes and a lot of money, so they draw attention. Sometimes, we’re playing for the price of a house.
You mentioned previously to me that you had some issues this past summer.
Yes. We experienced cheating during this past summer in our games. Since then, we have put many rules together to prevent and slow cheating.
How did they go about cheating in the game?
They have specific technology, and they're very well studied. I suspect they've done it worldwide for three or four years. They have leveled up and moved up to higher-stakes games recently.
The private game runners share information and know who is colluding and cheating. It's pretty solid evidence that this was happening.
Last summer, one of my very good friends thought he was getting into a great spot when this guy challenged him to a heads-up match. First off, let me tell you this: my friend is a very good pro. You have to be running really good to be able to take the lines that his opponent was taking in their heads-up game. About an hour into the match, he texted us that he was getting cheated.
The opponent was making every single correct move on every street. He's calling when he's supposed to be calling. He's raising when he's supposed to be raising. Let's put it this way: this guy was a regular in Vegas and a massive spot in all ring games. There's no way he suddenly switches that switch and becomes a super expert like that.
How do you think they were cheating?
One way is a small object – a cigarette lighter, earphone, or a little pod. It could even be a card protector. In one of our group texts with game runners, one of the guys from North Korea said they even have fake chips nowadays.
What they do is use a tiny pinhole camera. Once that camera's sitting there, all they're looking for is the dealer's pitch so they can see the bottom of the cards. It could be as simple as knowing the color or whether it's a face or non-face card. That's good enough to cheat.
Boston Jimmy: The home game set up is just very, very risky.
I know you don’t play in home games. But what are some of the things players share with you regarding compromised games?
In a lot of cases, people don't get paid. There's a famous high-stakes home game here in Vegas. I don't want to mention the players, but they are all big names. Some of them are currently in Dubai because they owe people a lot of money. They're not getting paid by their whales. Therefore, they cannot pay the pros. They owe people a lot of money around here. That game hasn't run since the WSOP.
The home game setup is just very, very risky. You still have to beat the game. You still have to believe you're not getting cheated. You still have to get paid. It's unsafe. It's just not a good setup overall.
What are some of the new rules you and Wynn have implemented recently in your games?
There are no electronics or objects of any value on the table: no earpods, cigarette lighters, nothing on the felt or rail. But I hear that some people now have cameras in their rings. It’s ridiculous.
Fortunately, I've been playing games I organize and put together myself. If I think you're shady, if I think you're doing something unruly, I'm not going to invite you back. I can easily remove you from that game because it's a private game at the casino.
The Wynn makes announcements throughout the day. The floor personnel and managers keep close tabs and kindly ask players to remove phones from the playing area. The Wynn has implemented other things, but they are internal, and we can’t discuss them in more detail because of security issues.
What happens when you’ve come across suspected cheaters in the past?
When shady stuff does happen, we have social media and group texts to share with game runners around the US and in different countries. We send texts and pictures of players suspected of cheating or being banned.
Unfortunately, casinos in Vegas, no matter who you are or what you do, will not let you in on their information because they have their protocols and rules. All I can say is that these individuals will be banned from the casino.
What goes into making these amazing high-stakes lineups in your games?
I have a vast Rolodex of players and am friendly with many other hosts in Las Vegas. I've been in the business for many years, so people know I set up great games.
When the high rollers come to town, they know they can contact me to set up games they want to play in. We make a friendly game for them. I keep the pros to a bare minimum. We gamble with them, give them action, and have fun. We slow it down when they want to slow it down; we speed it up when they want to speed it up.
Boston Jimmy has hosted games for the likes of Kevin Hart and Bruce Willis.
I am sure you get some wild games with some very successful people and some celebrities. What are some hurdles you face to make the game happen?
One of the biggest things is that you're at the mercy of these high rollers. They come to the games when their schedule allows and not any set time many days. You have to be ready to go, but we do that for a living. You're in the entertainment business. We play with people who are super successful in life, and you just have to be at the mercy of when they're ready.
You must have a lot of fun stories from over the years.
Of course. We have a blast with all the players. Kevin Hart is so much fun when he comes into the Wynn. He loves to play. We don’t film when some high-profile players are at the table unless they give us permission. We have also had championship boxer Ryan Garcia play in the game and movie and television actor Bruce Willis.
You have a pretty big weekend coming up, correct?
Yes! It's Formula One weekend. We have a lot of big names coming to Vegas this week. Formula One is our number one week. We do our best to accommodate the high rollers and make the games happen.
A lot of their assistants, as well as many hosts and casino managers, are prepared for the weekend. We’ll set up the game the minute they come into the Wynn Casino. It’s very exciting for everyone.
Thanks for sharing your experiences, Jimmy. Where can people follow you on social media?
No problem, man. You can follow me on my Instagram account, and anyone who wants to play in my games can reach out to me there.
If you want to know how to avoid being cheated at the poker table, check out our exclusiveInterview with Houston Curtis.
