Nick Vertucci, the Co-Owner and Showrunner of Hustler Casino Live, has been removed from his position following allegations of sexual harassment. The news was reported by VegasSlotsOnline News, revealing that Vertucci, a poker player and Founder of Down Swing Poker, is facing accusations that he used his control over the livestream poker show to harass women and silence witnesses.
The decision to remove Vertucci from High Stakes Poker Productions, the company behind Hustler Casino Live, was announced by the casino on Wednesday. Hustler Casino Live tweeted, “Effective immediately, Nick Vertucci will no longer be involved with High Stakes Poker Productions. We look forward to continuing to deliver the best high stakes poker content to the community.”
The allegations against Vertucci first came to light when Hustler Casino regular Julia ‘Queen of Palmdale’ came forward with claims of harassment. She accused Vertucci of using his position to mistreat women and prevent them from speaking out. Poker pro Veronica Brill further exposed Vertucci in a video interview with Poker Org, describing him as a “liar” and “manipulator” and sharing text messages that supported her claims.
Brill’s revelations shed light on Vertucci’s behavior, prompting her to speak out about her experiences with him. She expressed regret for believing his lies and shared screenshots of texts showing her confronting Vertucci about the allegations. In the messages, Brill accused Vertucci of trying to manipulate the situation in his favor and questioned his treatment of women.
Julia From Palmdale also shared text messages between herself and Vertucci, revealing unwanted advances made by him in September. She encouraged others in the poker community to come forward with their own stories of mistreatment by Vertucci. Julia also disclosed that a dealer named Lauren was fired after making serious harassment claims against Vertucci, alleging that the casino sided with him in that situation.
Support for Julia and Brill’s statements came from other poker pros, including Nik Airball and Doug Polk. Nik Airball expressed shock at Vertucci’s behavior and called out his misconduct towards women, while Doug Polk urged Hustler Casino to remove Vertucci from the show.
The removal of Nick Vertucci from his role at Hustler Casino Live serves as a significant development in the ongoing controversy surrounding his alleged misconduct. The poker community’s response to the accusations demonstrates a strong stance against harassment and a commitment to holding individuals accountable for their actions.