John Racener Involved In $500k BlackJack Scam

(Photo: Seminolehardrockpokeropen.com)

It is an absolute train-wreck of a story involving a self-confessed degenerate with a liking for cocaine, a Main Event runner-up who stakes poker pros and an illegal underground gambling den where millions of dollars apparently regularly change hands.

This time, however, half a million of those dollars which Marc Klang claims to have won during a red-hot streak at the blackjack tables hasn’t changed hands, Klang alleging that John Racener is refusing to pay him and even brought in a ‘heavy’ to intimidate him when he turned up to collect his dues.

(Photo: Twitter.com)

“My name is Marc Klang. I’m not perfect. I am a 30 year old degenerate,” is how the 2+2 thread which broke the sordid-sounding tale began, a confessional to set the record straight before it could be questioned.

Klang added:

"13 years of gambling, never won in poker. Previous known scum bag – I’ve borrowed and taken forever to repay, welched on sports bets, etc. Always gambling related. I have also been arrested (but never convicted of a crime) 4 times:”

Klang then lists the ‘villains’ of his upcoming story, naming ‘Paul Dlugozima, John Racener, Justin Zaki, Fillip Khavin, and some local POS named Anthony “starfish” ‘ – who combined he claims were only too happy to take plenty of his money when he was losing badly, but when a drink-and-drug fueled blackjack session ended with him $500K up things turned sour.

The scene as Klang describes it is like something out of a movie, and a bad gangster one at that.

"I tell them I don’t really want to play, they said no come on, we’ll get you liquor etc. So I had them go out, buy 2 bottles of veuve, some macallan 18, and $600 worth of sushi. I also said have your friend bring an 8ball of blow.”

A typical home-game? Well, not mine unfortunately, but Klang says it was fairly standard, except for one thing – this time he didn’t lose…

"It finally happened, I win just under 500k.”

Klang waited all weekend before meeting up to claim his winnings, stating:

"I bring a big ass duffle bag, get there and 6 guys are sitting outside including one 6 foot, 300+ pound guy I never talked to in my life. I walk over to say hi and this guy I never see says 'you cheated, you aren’t getting paid, turn around, go home and never talk to anyone again'."

Despite (or perhaps because of) his self-confessed degenerate behavior Klang has received a lot of support since going public with his allegations…

After reading all of this, I know only one thing for certain... I want to be friends with @MarcKlanghttps://t.co/6dfrWCNRFs

— JT (@JTurn15) January 16, 2017

…while Racener and the others have been silent, deleting tweets and blocking many who have sought comment or clarification on the claims.

Racener shot to fame and fortune on the back of his 2010 runner-up spot in the WSOP Main Event – his $5.5million payday being bolstered by a further nine final tables in the annual Vegas biggie.

With Klang’s accusations being so serious (running illegal gambling no small matter to the FBI according to many sources) and injurious to Racener’s reputation, the man who Klang claimed dealt with the money and arranged the games is probably better-served staying quiet, although naturally PokerTube will be only too happy to give his side of the story.

In the meantime Klang is tweeting and appearing on podcasts and interviews at an alarming rate, and this story is set to run and run and run. Car-crash poker at its best, and still only allegations, but it’s unmissable stuff!

Got your pm. Let me know when is good time for interview. Booking fast this week https://t.co/hhy3qHoyB4

— Marc Klang (@MarcKlang) January 16, 2017