Poker professional Matt Berkey discusses major scandals and the ensuing turmoil in the poker world post-J-4 incident.
In the world of high-stakes poker, controversies and scandals are not uncommon. Over the past few years, several incidents have sparked outrage in the poker community, with some becoming notorious for their magnitude. One such controversy is the Mike Postle scandal, where allegations of real-time cheating were made against Postle, leading to a wave of investigations and discussions about the integrity of live poker events.
More recently, in June 2025, new scandals emerged at the World Series of Poker (WSOP) events, including chip dumping collusion tied to the Millionaire Maker event and a $1 million bonus from WPT Gold. These incidents have reignited public and community focus on the Postle scandal and similar issues in live poker.
Among the individuals who have been at the centre of these controversies is Matt Berkey, a well-known poker player and host of the 'Only Friends' podcast. Berkey has been vocal about his concerns regarding the preventability of such situations and the need for higher standards and security measures in poker streams.
Berkey's involvement in the poker world's controversies began with his advisory role at Hustler Casino Live. In a move that was not well-received, Berkey advised Nick, the head of Hustler Casino Live, to take a break and address internal issues following an incident involving players Nick Vertucci and Robbi Jade Lew. This incident, known as the Adelstein vs. Lew incident, led Berkey to understand the space better and learn where to insert himself into a story and when to avoid involvement.
Berkey was also in daily contact with Garrett Adelstein following the Adelstein vs. Lew incident. However, his interactions with all parties eventually led to a fallout with Hustler Casino Live. Berkey's stance was not about whether Robbi Jade Lew cheated or not, but that there was a high probability of cheating in the Adelstein vs. Lew incident. The hand was not on the up-and-up.
In a recent interview, Berkey discussed the Mike Postle scandal at Stones Gambling Hall. He also gives kudos to Alex Foxen for revealing the Ali Imsirovic allegations, although detailed information about these allegations was not found in the current search results.
Berkey's podcast, 'Only Friends', is known for discussing controversies, player disputes, and scandals in the poker world. A sneak preview of an interview with Matt Berkey is available on YouTube, Apple Podcasts, and Spotify, with the full episode premiering this week.
Previous guests on 'The Interview' include Phil Galfond, Maria Ho, and Daniel Negreanu, with Berkey's episode promising to delve deeper into the world of poker scandals and controversies. As the poker community continues to grapple with these issues, Berkey's insights and discussions are sure to provide valuable perspectives and contribute to the ongoing conversations about integrity in the poker world.
Casino-and-gambling scandals continue to plague the poker world, with Matt Berkey, a prominent player and podcast host, often at the center of these controversies. In addition to his discussions about players' disputes and scandals on his podcast, 'Only Friends', Berkey has recently talked about the Mike Postle scandal at Stones Gambling Hall, praising Alex Foxen for revealing the Ali Imsirovic allegations. This ongoing conversation about poker scandals highlights the need for higher standards and security measures in casino-games, particularly in live poker events.
