Shaun Deeb woke up to find an intruder in his room at the Rio last night, the thief running off when confronted, and Deeb warning others staying at the WSOP venue’s hotel to lock and bolt their doors…
Nothing like waking up at 6am to someone who is inside your room robbing you PSA to all staying at the Rio make sure you latch your door at night and sadly the person ran away we will see if security can actually do their job or not and find them
— shaun deeb (@shaundeeb) October 10, 2021
Shaun Deeb not the only poker player to get robbed
It’s not clear what, if anything, the night-time burglar made off with, and how he gained access to the room is also a mystery, but many of Shaun Deeb’s poker Twitter fans and followers had their own theories, a selection offered below:
– “Staff is super suspect at the Rio. Wouldn’t be shocked if they made duplicate keys.”
– “Ask security to interrogate the lock. They can see who made the key at the FD or if it is a master key.”
– “You either get robbed in the parking lot or your room…Rio sux.”
Jeff Kimber had his own version of the Rio room problem, involving hookers and punters and “empty rooms”.
Defo dodgy recepton staff at Rio.
3 years ago I check in after midnight, try to open door and it was on latch.
Half dressed man opens it and I was about to try and explain but he apologised, said gimme 2 mins. Came out dressed with some half naked hooker in tow, both age 50s…
— Jeff Kimber (@jeffkimberpoker) October 10, 2021
Jay Farber tweeted to Deeb: “Glad you’re ok. Definitely need @WSOP to get on the Rio to ensure the safety of their guests as well. Hope they catch this person.”
Though Shaun Deeb was thankfully unharmed, the potentially dangerous situation highlighted the need for players to be aware that WSOP time in Vegas brings with it an uptick in criminal activity.
Two years ago, poker pro Joey Salvaggio had $4500 robbed from him in a Rio parking lot after a cash session during the annual Vegas bash.
Just got robbed at gunpoint at @wsop Pavilion parking lot of the Rio.Guy jumped out of car in camouflage, shoved a gun in my face and demanded my backpack with thousands in it and the keys to my car. scariest moment of my life #wsop2019 #wsop @CaesarsEnt retweet for awareness.
— JoeySal (@JoeSalOG) July 1, 2019
Further poker-reltated robberies
Salvaggio later added: “This was not a random occurrence. The police told me they have evidence via film that I was targeted and followed out of the Rio. There is no possible way they cannot get facial recognition of this guy. Or at least a plate. Why even tell me I was followed if u can’t track him???”
Poker player Geoff Hunter had a similar tale in 2019, claiming, “I got robbed on the top floor of the parking garage at the Rio as well two weeks ago. Not at gunpoint, but they stole all my $. Filed a police report and they basically said they couldn’t do anything even though there’s cameras everywhere.”
There have been several serious, and occasionally life-changing attacks and robberies on poker players over the years, though few have matched the horrors faced by Tom “3Betpanda” Steinbach.
Though not a WSOP-related incident, the young pro and Instagrammer was shot in the back after an attempted robbery went wrong at the Texas card House in Austin, leaving him with horrific wounds.
Daniel “Jungleman” Cates found out that Vegas can be a very dangerous place, too, when he was assaulted and robbed in the street.
“I got mugged…I’m ok, I just got punched a few times” he told Doug Polk after appearing with a black eye on his podcast.
For former online legend and ACR’s security consultant, Randy “nanonoko” Lew, it was only his car that suffered during the 2019 WSOP.
Jokes on them because there’s nothing to steal when I’m bustonoko! The perks to being busto! #FML #nanotilt #GGtesla #runningbad pic.twitter.com/7StakvpqSO
— Randy Lew (@nanonoko) June 5, 2019
Though serious incidents do occur, it should be noted that given the number of people in Vegas such occurrences are relatively rare. Still, VIP Grinders recommend that all poker players take extra care in and around the WSOP.
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