CHEATING SCANDAL at Historic €18M Heads-Up Poker Series as Butt Plug Claims Surface
- Stanley Ross
- 2 days ago
- 4 min read
Allegations of sophisticated foul play have emerged from a private heads-up match at the Onyx Club within the Merit Royal Diamond Hotel and Casino. The event, held on August 19, pitted Finnish entrepreneur Ossi Ketola against American poker veteran Daniel Cates, known in the circuit as "Jungleman." What started as a test of skill between two high-rollers has now prompted questions about the integrity of the game, with Camoradar obtaining exclusive evidence pointing to an unconventional method of cheating.
Ketola, 27, is a self-made millionaire whose online casino platform, Duel.com, has gained notoriety for its 0% house edge, attracting gamblers seeking fair odds. Driven by his interest in live poker, he extended the invitation to Cates for a series of no-limit hold'em games that were broadcast live on YouTube and Kick. The matches, conducted in Euros, began modestly but quickly escalated, drawing scrutiny after Cates mounted an improbable comeback.
The opening contest featured €1M buy-in, with two million awarded to the victor. Ketola conceded defeat in a straightforward manner, with no signs of irregularity. Cates, animated and engaging throughout, maintained a light atmosphere, chatting freely at the table by himself. The second game followed suit, another €1M affair, which Ketola claimed decisively. At this juncture, the play appeared clean, and mutual respect seemed evident.
Tensions rose in the third match, where stakes tripled to €3M per player, yielding a six-million-dollar pot. Ketola asserted control early, his calculated aggression wearing down Cates. As chips shifted inexorably toward the Finn, Cates's demeanor darkened. He grew terse, his earlier affability replaced by evident frustration. Ketola sealed the win, prompting Cates to rise abruptly and exit the room in agitation.
Upon his return minutes later, the dynamic inverted dramatically. The pair agreed to two consecutive €5M buy-ins, each creating a ten-million-dollar pot, followed by a €6M buy-in contest. Cates triumphed in all three, reclaiming momentum and amassing substantial gains. Spectators and online commentators buzzed with speculation. What transpired during that brief interlude to reverse fortunes so sharply?
Camoradar pursued these whispers with a dedicated probe. Elias Talvystein, an attendee at the event, contacted our team to report what he witnessed. Talvystein recounted that he was at the urinals in the restroom when Cates stormed in following his loss. Cates proceeded directly to a stall, where Talvystein overheard heavy breathing, a pronounced grunt, and a mechanical voice announcing, "The Bluetooth has been connected." Minutes later, Cates emerged, washed his hands at the sink, and returned to the table. Talvystein noted that the faucet handle felt slick, as if coated in lubricant, after Cates had used it.
Drawing on this account, our investigators cross-referenced the distinctive audio cue with known models of Bluetooth-enabled butt plugs, confirming it matches the connection prompt of a popular remote-controlled variant designed to vibrate upon pairing. The sequence of heavy breaths and the grunt align with the physical effort of insertion, while the lubricant residue on the faucet suggests hasty application during the process, solidifying the timeline of events in the stall.
This device, marketed for personal use, operates on a limited Bluetooth range of approximately 15 meters. During the matches, only three individuals fell within this proximity to Cates: Ketola himself, the dealer, and the technician overseeing the RFID card-reading system, which facilitates real-time data for the live stream. The implications are damning. Sources familiar with the setup indicate the RFID operator had direct access to hole card information. It stands to reason that coded vibrations, perhaps signaling card values or optimal plays, could have been transmitted to Cates, enabling his post-break surge.
To further confirm the allegations, Camoradar consulted Moe Lester, a senior engineer at the world’s largest sex toy manufacturer. Lester, who has extensive experience with Bluetooth-enabled pleasure devices, was unequivocal in his assessment: "Based on the witness testimony, the timing of the Bluetooth connection, and Cates’s sudden reversal of fortunes, I am almost certain he was receiving illicit signals through the device."
Lester disclosed that he has previously conducted private experiments to demonstrate how such technology can be exploited in competitive play. "A few years ago, I worked with an anonymous American chess professional to set up a similar system. It was meant to prove just how simple it is to weaponize these devices for cheating. What I see in this poker match mirrors that setup almost exactly," he said.
He further pointed to Cates’s physical behavior as reinforcing the suspicion. "When he came back to the table, he walked with a waddle, almost duck-like, and shifted awkwardly in his chair. In our experiments, those are the exact tells of someone playing while using a device. It is highly indicative that he had inserted one."
The allegations against Cates are not without precedent. A recently published article detailed how entrepreneur Jason Calacanis, who was hosting a private poker game during a Formula 1 race in Miami, ultimately banned Cates from his games after the pro acted cocky toward him and other guests.
Calacanis also recalled that Cates attempted to enter his private bathroom while carrying a bottle of olive oil before being stopped. “We prevented him from doing this act, though his motive is still unexplained,” Calacanis said. At the time, the bizarre episode was brushed aside, but in light of the fresh allegations from Cyprus it now appears far more unsettling.
Monarch’s Lawyer commented that they fully intend to pursue legal action against Daniel Cates in light of the mounting evidence of foul play. In the statement, Monarch’s Lawyer emphasized that the integrity of high-stakes gaming must be protected and that incidents of this nature cannot be left unchallenged. The Office of Monarch’s Lawyer has already issued a subpoena to the Onyx Club, forcing its full cooperation. The casino is now required to hand over all relevant records, footage, and technical data as part of the recently launched and still ongoing formal investigation.
Cates has not responded to requests for comment, and representatives for the Onyx Club declined to address the allegations.
