The Chris Skinner Chip Smuggling Scandal
Australian poker is a small world. People know each other, travel to the same regional venues, and see the same faces year after year. That’s why the fallout from the Chris Skinner cheating scandal has lingered longer than most.
Skinner wasn’t an unknown player. He had close to half a million dollars in recorded live tournament winnings and a visible role as a Southern Poker Tour ambassador. For many players, he was simply part of the furniture of the Victorian circuit…
Poker Scandal: What Actually Happened
During a New Year’s Eve tournament run by Poker With Fred at The Grand Central Hotel in Cobram, tournament staff noticed extra chips on a table that didn’t add up. Security footage later showed a player adding chips from their pocket into their stack.
That player was Chris Skinner.
After initially denying wrongdoing when confronted, Skinner later admitted to cheating in a public statement. He acknowledged bringing chips into play that did not belong in the game and accepted responsibility for his actions.
There’s no suggestion this was anything other than a single incident, but in poker, that distinction only goes so far.
Poker Ambassador gone turned Poker Scandal Villain
What made this case more uncomfortable was Skinner’s history within the local scene. He had previously assisted with transporting poker equipment at various events and was trusted enough to represent a major tour as an ambassador. That level of access, fair or not, has caused players to revisit old results and old assumptions.
As one prominent player put it online, the real damage isn’t just what happened on New Year’s Eve — it’s the uncertainty it creates about everything that came before it.
The Response from the Tour
The Southern Poker Tour acted quickly. Skinner was banned indefinitely and removed as an ambassador. SPT also clarified that chip handling and storage are now strictly controlled by ownership and senior staff, and that venues are required to provide secure rooms accessible only to authorised personnel.
Those statements were clearly aimed at restoring confidence, and for the most part, they were necessary.
Victoria Police confirmed no reports were made, meaning the matter remains one of tournament integrity rather than criminal investigation.
The Awkward Detail Everyone Noticed
Skinner’s partner, herself a successful tournament player, won the same event in which he was caught cheating. There has been no allegation of wrongdoing against her, but it added another layer of discomfort for players already trying to process what had happened.
But if Australian poker takes anything from this, it should be a renewed focus on transparency, oversight, and the quiet assumption that integrity matters more than familiarity. But don’t expect to see Chris Skinner chipping up any time soon!
Because once that assumption goes, the game changes for everyone.
Read about some past poker scandals that rocked the poker world.
