Russ Hamilton

Russ Hamilton is an American poker player from Las Vegas, Nevada, with over $1.5 million in total live tournament earnings. His best live cash of $1,000,000 came in May 1994 when he finished 1st at the 25th WSOP, winning a WSOP bracelet. He was also a consultant for the now-defunct Ultimate Bet online poker site and has been implicated in a cheating scandal on UB.

Russ Hamilton: Early Life

Before becoming a professional poker player, Hamilton attended college in Michigan to study electrical engineering. A conversation with a professor convinced him that playing poker would be more profitable.

He started by playing underground poker games in Detroit. At 36, he moved to Las Vegas and joined a successful tournament blackjack team. When tournaments began banning blackjack pros, he returned to poker.

Russ Hamilton’s UltimateBet Poker Scandal

Russ Hamilton, the 1994 WSOP Main Event winner, was at the center of a massive online poker cheating scandal involving Ultimate Bet from 2004 to 2008. Hamilton, a consultant for the site, exploited a superuser account that allowed him to see his opponents’ hole cards, giving him an unbeatable edge. This “God Mode” feature enabled him to defraud players of millions of dollars, contributing to a $22 million scam.

In 2008, Ultimate Bet’s owners admitted to unfair play on the site between 2006 and 2007. An investigation by the Kahnawake Gaming Commission (KGC) found clear evidence of Hamilton’s involvement. Despite the overwhelming proof, Hamilton faced no legal consequences, serving no jail time or fines. He refused to address the allegations and remains largely absent from the poker world. His actions are considered one of the most notorious cheating scandals in poker history.

Russ Hamilton: Live Tournament Participation

Russ Hamilton recorded his first live cash in April 1988, finishing 3rd in the $300 Pot Limit Omaha event at the Pot of Gold in Reno, earning $2,103.

In April 1994, he competed in the $2,500 PLO event at the 25th WSOP in Las Vegas. He placed 4th, pocketing $29,225.

Later that year, in May, Russ, entered in a $10,000 No Limit Hold’em World Championship at the 25th WSOP. He finished in 1st place, winning his best live cash of $1,000,000.

Following this, in May 1996, he placed 4th in the $2,500 No Limit Hold’em event at the 27th WSOP in Las Vegas. He took home $43,388.

In January 1998, he earned $34,960 for a 2nd-place finish in the $1,060 PLO event at the Carnivale of Poker in Las Vegas.

Then, in July 2005, Hamilton played in a $10,000 No Limit Texas Hold’em World Championship at the 36th WSOP. He ended up in 59th place, taking home $145,875.

In January 2006, Hamilton participated in the $7,800 WPT Main Event – No Limit Hold’em at the PokerStars Caribbean Adventure in Paradise Island, finishing 41st and earning $13,500.