Bail Revoked for Australian Poker Pro

An Australian professional poker player who has been charged with defrauding a number of people of around AUD$100 million has had his bail revoked.

Bill Jordanou, along with business associate Robert Zaia, had their bail revoked after claims by the police in the city of Melbourne that the men dubiously obtained over AUD$220,000 in loans while on the bail.

Upon revoking Jordanou and Zaia’s bail, Magistrate Susie Cameron said described the new allegations as being “strikingly similar” to the $100 million fraud case. Allegations that both men had major roles in a Ponzi scheme related to the $100 million fraud were first aired in 2013, with both men being officially charged the following year.

They were granted bail in May last year after 146 charges were brought against them, the overwhelming majority of which were related to fraud. It has also been alleged that the latest accusations that occurred while Jordanou was on bail were carried out with members of outlaw motorcycle groups.

That was another reason behind the Magistrate’s decision to revoke the bail of Jordanou and Zaia.

A former financial consultant, the 55-year-old Jordanou has played in a number of professional poker events in Australia over the years. Among his highest poker achievements is a third place finish in the $100,000 Challenge at the 2010 Aussie Millions in Melbourne, a performance which won him $300,000.

Jordanou also took out the $250,000 Challenge at the 2009 Aussie Millions, pocketing $200,000 while winning his first major poker event. Besides the Aussie Millions, Jordanou has also participated in the Asia Pacific Poker Tour (APPT) and the Australia and New Zealand Poker Tour (ANZPT).

Both men are expected to face a committal hearing on their original fraud charges in April. A court date for the most recent allegations has not yet been set.