Poker pro admits to chip cheating in New Year’s Eve scandal

A trusted poker ambassador’s shocking confession exposes a brazen cheating scheme. Now, the community grapples with trust—and his career lies in ruins.

, and Administrator

2026 January 10 . 1:27 AM

1 min read

In this image there are people sitting on benches and playing cards.

Poker pro admits to chip cheating in New Year’s Eve scandal

A well-known poker player from South Australia has admitted to cheating during a New Year’s Eve tournament in Cobram, Victoria. Chris Skinner, a former ambassador for the Southern Poker Tour (SPT), confessed to adding extra chips to his stack during the event. His actions have led to immediate bans and the loss of his sponsorship role.

The incident unfolded at the AU$125 'Poker With Fred' tournament, where Skinner was caught on security footage tampering with his chip stack. Fred Braybon, the event organiser, first noticed extra chips at one of the tables before reviewing the footage. When confronted, Skinner initially denied any wrongdoing.

Another player also witnessed Skinner adding chips to his stack during the game. After the evidence came to light, he admitted his actions in a public Facebook post, calling his behaviour 'wrong' and apologising for betraying the poker community. The SPT responded swiftly by stripping Skinner of his ambassadorship and imposing an indefinite ban from all its events. 'Poker With Fred' followed with its own ban, cutting ties with the player. Skinner has stated he accepts all punishments and will step away from poker for several months. Asti Savage, a figure linked to the SPT, later disputed the organisation’s claims about Skinner’s role, clarifying that he had primarily helped transport chips and tables to events rather than holding an official position.

Skinner’s admission has resulted in concrete consequences: a loss of sponsorship, tournament bans, and a self-imposed break from the game. The case serves as a documented instance of cheating in Australian poker, with organisers and players now left to address its impact on the community.