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Poker participant lied about terminal most cancers to lift $50,000 to play

userSeptember 21, 2023
Poker participant lied about terminal most cancers to lift ,000 to play

A poker participant who needed to enter the World Sequence of Poker in Las Vegas lied about having terminal colon most cancers to lift as much as $50,000 on GoFundMe. Rob Mercer (pictured left) says he didn’t have stage 4 most cancers when he began a GoFundMe to lift $10,000 to take part within the No-limit Maintain’em World Championship. ‘I did lie about having colon most cancers. I haven’t got colon most cancers. I used that to cowl my state of affairs,’ Mercer mentioned in an interview with the Las Vegas Overview-Journal.

According to the Review-Journal, Mercer received donations estimated between $30,000 to $50,000, including a suite at the Bellagio during the event. Even worse, the amateur poker player says he has no intention to repay the money as he believes he has undiagnosed breast cancer and that he really is sick. Talking with the outlet, Mercer doubled down on his apology about lying but maintained that he does not plan to give the money back. 'What I did was wrong. I shouldn't have told people I have colon cancer. I did that just as a spur-of-the-moment thing when someone asked me what kind of cancer I had,' Mercer said in a phone interview. 'I'm sorry for not being honest about what my situation was. If I would have done that from Day One, who knows what would have happened,' he continued.

In line with the Overview-Journal, Mercer obtained donations estimated between $30,000 to $50,000, together with a set on the Bellagio throughout the occasion. Even worse, the beginner poker participant says he has no intention to repay the cash as he believes he has undiagnosed breast most cancers and that he actually is sick. Speaking with the outlet, Mercer doubled down on his apology about mendacity however maintained that he doesn’t plan to offer the cash again. ‘What I did was improper. I should not have instructed folks I’ve colon most cancers. I did that simply as a spur-of-the-moment factor when somebody requested me what sort of most cancers I had,’ Mercer mentioned in a telephone interview. ‘I am sorry for not being trustworthy about what my state of affairs was. If I’d have finished that from Day One, who is aware of what would have occurred,’ he continued.

In total, the man's GoFundMe raised just over $12,000. One person identified as Benjamin Lee donated nearly half of the funds, a whopping $4,649. Others donated hundreds and one other person donated $1,000. Mercer said he was contacted by a GoFundMe representative who told him the fund would not be allowed to accept additional gifts as it violates the terms of service.

In whole, the person’s GoFundMe raised simply over $12,000. One particular person recognized as Benjamin Lee donated almost half of the funds, a whopping $4,649. Others donated tons of and one different particular person donated $1,000. Mercer mentioned he was contacted by a GoFundMe consultant who instructed him the fund wouldn’t be allowed to simply accept extra items because it violates the phrases of service.

Aside from the monetary donations, Mercer received perks including a suite at the Bellagio, which can cost several thousand dollars depending on several factors. In a statement to the Review-Journal, a representative for the Bellagio said that they could not confirm if Mercer was a guest or how much the suite cost. 'There are many different factors that go into prices, so there isn't any definitive price I can give you,' the spokesperson said. The authenticity of Mercer's cancer diagnosis was first raised by members of the poker community, primarily poker influencer Doug Parscal Jr.

Except for the financial donations, Mercer obtained perks together with a set on the Bellagio, which might value a number of thousand {dollars} relying on a number of elements. In a press release to the Overview-Journal, a consultant for the Bellagio mentioned that they might not affirm if Mercer was a visitor or how a lot the suite value. ‘There are lots of various factors that go into costs, so there’s no definitive value I may give you,’ the spokesperson mentioned. The authenticity of Mercer’s most cancers prognosis was first raised by members of the poker group, primarily poker influencer Doug Parscal Jr.

Parscal first responded to a DM from Mercer in February in which Mercer asked Parscal for help because he had cancer. The influencer offered to stake him - bankroll his game - for a tournament in Lincoln, California earlier this year. 'He responded and said, 'I'm too sick right now, but I appreciate the offer,' Parscal said to the Las Vegas outlet. 'And that was it.' In June, however, Mercer reached back out to Parscal and asked him to spread the word about his GoFundMe to cover his buy-in for the WSOP event. Parscal then used his own connections to help his fellow player raise money, including connecting him with famous player Nick Vertucci.

Parscal first responded to a DM from Mercer in February through which Mercer requested Parscal for assist as a result of he had most cancers. The influencer provided to stake him – bankroll his sport – for a event in Lincoln, California earlier this yr. ‘He responded and mentioned, ‘I am too sick proper now, however I admire the provide,’ Parscal mentioned to the Las Vegas outlet. ‘And that was it.’ In June, nonetheless, Mercer reached again out to Parscal and requested him to unfold the phrase about his GoFundMe to cowl his buy-in for the WSOP occasion. Parscal then used his personal connections to assist his fellow participant increase cash, together with connecting him with well-known participant Nick Vertucci.

According to the Review-Journal, Vertucci offered to cover the difference if Mercer's GoFundMe did not end up reaching its goal. The fundraiser ended up reaching its goal as well as private donations and gifts. At the tournament, Mercer was eliminated a few hours into the game and the lie began unfolding in front of the world. Vertucci said that Mercer was seen gambling in the casino after his elimination, leaving many to wonder if he was spending fundraised money. When he was confronted, he became defensive, Vertucci told the outlet.

In line with the Overview-Journal, Vertucci provided to cowl the distinction if Mercer’s GoFundMe didn’t find yourself reaching its purpose. The fundraiser ended up reaching its purpose in addition to personal donations and items. On the event, Mercer was eradicated a number of hours into the sport and the lie started unfolding in entrance of the world. Vertucci mentioned that Mercer was seen playing within the on line casino after his elimination, leaving many to marvel if he was spending fundraised cash. When he was confronted, he turned defensive, Vertucci instructed the outlet.

After that, the senior poker player distanced himself from the amateur. It was only after another poker player and donor pulled him aside at the World Series of Poker event that they realized he may be lying about his health. Cody Daniels - a chronically ill poker player who donated $2,500 to Mercer - said Mercer gave vague answers to his questions about his health while they were talking. 'He was very vague on the answers,' Daniels said. 'Nobody wanted to say it. It was fishy to us, and obviously we weren't the only ones.'

After that, the senior poker participant distanced himself from the beginner. It was solely after one other poker participant and donor pulled him apart on the World Sequence of Poker occasion that they realized he could also be mendacity about his well being. Cody Daniels – a chronically unwell poker participant who donated $2,500 to Mercer – mentioned Mercer gave imprecise solutions to his questions on his well being whereas they have been speaking. ‘He was very imprecise on the solutions,’ Daniels mentioned. ‘No one needed to say it. It was fishy to us, and clearly we weren’t the one ones.’

Parscal made the discovery after asking Mercer for proof of his cancer, in which he gave a MyChart.org note where he asked his doctor to confirm his diagnosis. Mercer presented a similar note to the poker community in June and the message was never responded to by the doctor. Parscal started to have doubts about Mercer's story after the WSOP and received multiple phone calls from donors who expressed similar concerns. After being confronted, Mercer deactivated his social media accounts.

Parscal made the invention after asking Mercer for proof of his most cancers, through which he gave a MyChart.org be aware the place he requested his physician to substantiate his prognosis. Mercer offered the same be aware to the poker group in June and the message was by no means responded to by the physician. Parscal began to have doubts about Mercer’s story after the WSOP and obtained a number of telephone calls from donors who expressed related considerations. After being confronted, Mercer deactivated his social media accounts.

He said he understood why it looked suspicious. 'Obviously I was just trying to keep up with my story,' Mercer said. 'I didn't want to get exposed because it looks bad. It does look bad. I lied. I'm not going to deny that. I lied. I should have just been transparent and comfortable with what is going on with me and tell people what was happening,' he continued.

He mentioned he understood why it seemed suspicious. ‘Clearly I used to be simply making an attempt to maintain up with my story,’ Mercer mentioned. ‘I did not need to get uncovered as a result of it appears to be like dangerous. It does look dangerous. I lied. I am not going to disclaim that. I lied. I ought to have simply been clear and cozy with what’s going on with me and inform folks what was taking place,’ he continued.

Mercer maintains that he has cancer but that he lied because he was embarrassed to admit he may have breast cancer, which also has yet to be confirmed. 'At the end of the day I lied to a lot of people because I was scared to tell the truth,' Mercer said. 'And I guess I'll have to pay for that,' Mercer said.

Mercer maintains that he has most cancers however that he lied as a result of he was embarrassed to confess he might have breast most cancers, which additionally has but to be confirmed. ‘On the finish of the day I lied to lots of people as a result of I used to be scared to inform the reality,’ Mercer mentioned. ‘And I suppose I will must pay for that,’ Mercer mentioned.

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userSeptember 21, 2023
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