Prominent poker professional and content creator Charlie Carrel has publicly accused British Poker Series (BPS) director Shaun Johnston of owing him $60,000. Carrel took to social media to share his claims, stating that Johnston failed to pay back funds related to winnings from an unregulated online poker game.
The Allegations
Carrel explained in an interview with PokerNews that Johnston was acting as an agent in an unregulated online poker club where Carrel was involved.
In such setups, agents are responsible for managing players, overseeing transactions, and handling credit. Carrel alleged that Johnston “hard-vouched” for a player who ultimately lost $60,000 but has not covered the debt, despite repeated assurances that he would.
According to Carrel, he initially held Johnston in high regard, having participated in a BPS event at Aspers Casino in London and having spoken positively about the organization. However, a warning from another poker player about Johnston’s past dealings led Carrel to investigate further. He subsequently discovered discussions on the TwoPlusTwo poker forum and other reports suggesting that Johnston had a history of failing to pay out players’ winnings.
Carrel stated, “Sometimes I take my time before calling somebody out publicly, but this seems like a pretty good time to do it quickly because I spoke about this person in high regards.”
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Questions Over the Missing Funds
Carrel remains unsure whether the supposed player who lost the money actually exists or if Johnston may have used a separate account to play under a different identity. He described the situation as “a lot of shady shenanigans” and expressed concerns that similar incidents could happen to other players who might not be able to afford such losses.
“I don’t know whether this player actually exists or whether it was just Shaun on a different account using a VPN,” Carrel said. “It’s very close to stealing.”
Carrel further explained that he initially trusted Johnston to pay back the amount due to his position in the industry. However, after a series of delays and excuses, Carrel felt compelled to take the matter public to warn others.
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Impact on the Poker Community
The allegations highlight ongoing concerns about the safety of online poker, particularly in unregulated environments. While Carrel acknowledged that these app-based games can be lucrative, he also emphasized the importance of reputation and due diligence when dealing with agents and game providers.
“This whole industry is built on reputation,” Carrel said, adding that some poker clubs and unions have earned strong reputations for their integrity while others have been involved in scams.
Carrel, who has a significant following on YouTube and X (formerly Twitter), expressed a desire to improve poker’s reputation by exposing bad actors. He mentioned working with Dan “Jungleman” Cates to bring more cases to light.
The controversy exploded after Carrel’s tweet on the matter gained traction, prompting responses from several respected figures in UK poker. Donna Morton, a well-known figure in the UK poker scene, replied, “He’s a nasty person. Am keeping it clean for a change,” and followed up with another post saying, “His reputation was toast many years ago, but people still thought the sun shone from his ass.’
Another user on X claimed: “Known scammer. Owes 2 of my mates in excess of £10k each. When confronted, he sends abusive messages. Have avoided BPS like the plague due to his connection.”
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Johnston’s Response
Johnston has not publicly responded to Carrel’s accusations as of yet. PokerNews also contacted Johnston but he offered no comment.
Carrel stated that he has delegated further communications regarding repayment to his staff, as dealing with unpaid debts can be mentally exhausting.
“Anyone that’s been in poker has had a friend owe them money, and it’s like, ‘Oh, next week. Oh, this happened. Oh, that happened,’” Carrel said. “It’s the most draining thing in the world.”
Carrel’s revelations also raise broader questions about the security of online poker, particularly on unregulated platforms. He pointed out that while major sites have their own security flaws, these smaller club-based games can offer an alternative, provided trustworthy individuals run them.
He stressed that players need to do thorough research before joining any online game: “Make sure that person has a stellar reputation because, really, this whole industry is built on reputation.”
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