Duke, Hellmuth release statement on UB audio recording

<img src="http://www.liquidpoker.net/staff/Raidern/ultimatebetpokerscandal270.jpg" align="right" style="margin: 5px; border:1px solid black;">Annie Duke, former UltimateBet spokesperson, has issued a long statement on the Superuser scandal audio files that were released recently by Travis Makar. The files contain the audio of a meeting where UltimateBet board members discussed how to handle the scandal and minimize damages, going so far as suggesting to trash the UB brand and focus on the Absolute Poker instead.

In the audio files, Russ Hamilton said that Annie Duke tested the cheating tool on a 15 minute delay, but never used it in the same manner as the cheaters. Duke denied that she used the cheating tool on a delay and or that she even knew that it existed until the scandal became public.

Here is a part of her statement (read the full statement on her Facebook):

Listening to the leaked audio that describes an elaborate attempt by some of UltimateBet.com’s founders, including Russ Hamilton and Greg Pierson, to cover up cheating reminds me once again how much I regret having been associated with the people that were involved in this conspiracy. The release of this audio has spurred accusations and I want to make it clear that I have never used a tool on a delay or otherwise that gave me or anyone else access to hole cards for use during real money play nor was I aware that such a tool existed until the scandal broke.

“...the data dump from Travis Makar and others also make it completely clear who the perpetrators of the UltimateBet.com cheating were, and that I was not involved in their scheme in any way.” “...at one point Russ Hamilton mischaracterizes my legitimate role as a commentator as he tries to concoct a cover story for his scheme. I can only assume that he is referring to the several times that I commentated on tournaments in which a delayed broadcast was provided to the public, as this was the only delay that I was ever aware of.”

Duke's statement comes shortly after Phil Hellmuth's. The former UB ambassador made a statement of regret about his relationship with UltimateBet.

“At the time,” Hellmuth said, “I was led to believe that if I left UB right away the business would be impacted and then less likely to pay its obligations to the victims. As such, I made the decision to believe the leaders of UB and stayed on in the hopes that they would make right to anyone cheated. They lied to me about their activities and I made a big mistake in trusting them for way too long.”

Without any actual evidence there's no way to prove it. Obviously if it is true it's an easy deflect as it stands. I think she is probably just incriminated by Hamilton's incompetence but I haven't listened to the audio, got better shit to do. When they refer to her as having "tested the cheating tool on a 15 minute delay" you know that at best she is playing and then waiting 15 minutes to see what a guy had...? Obviously unable to act retroactively.