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Polarizing former Hustler Casino Live player Nikhil “Nik Airball” Arcot says the show’s co-owner, Nick Vertucci, should “step away” over sexual harassment allegations.
Julia McBride (aka “Julia from Palmdale”), once a prominent player on Hustler Casino Live, shared text screenshots on X from a September 2023 conversation in which Vertucci made sexual remarks towards her. Many poker players, including Doug Polk, have spoken out against the HCL co-founder for “using a place of power to make unwanted sexual advances on women.”
Airball Defends Feldman, Bashes Vertucci
Nik Airball hasn’t appeared on Hustler Casino Live since May. He’s currently banned from Hustler Casino but not the show, and he will compete in some HCL games when the stream airs in Cyprus next month. But he’s been sitting on the sidelines the past few months, until Tuesday when he fired off a tweet addressing the controversy.
Airball defended his friend, HCL co-founder Ryan Feldman, but said he’s “deeply troubled” by the allegations against Vertucci. Garrett Adelstein, who is banned from Hustler Casino Live, sarcastically responded, “Nicely said Ryan.”
That comment caused Nik Airball to explain who actually helped him write the tweet — his wife.
Airball didn’t stop at criticizing Vertucci for his inappropriate behavior. He wrote that until Vertucci steps away from Hustler Casino Live, he won’t continue supporting the show he’s promoted as heavily as anyone. And he’s calling upon staff members of the show and casino to “speak truthfully to HR” about the alleged perpetrator.
Magnus Shares a Different Perspective
Nadya Magnus, a former “Loose Cannon” on the PokerStars Big Game, had an opposing take to what Airball tweeted. She doesn’t “see a victim” in the Vertucci allegations and shared an “unpopular opinion” on the situation with her X followers.
“While I obviously don’t condone Nick’s behavior, I don’t condone Julia’s either. I don’t see a victim in this situation. We all make our choices of entering or not entering into personal or business relationships with anyone,” Magnus wrote.
Magnus fired off four lengthy tweets sharing her views on the issue “speaking as a female poker player who participated in poker shows.” She went on to explain that she has “always been treated with utmost respect” during her multiple appearances on The Big Game, an iconic PokerStars cash game show.
“Had I felt uncomfortable at any point on the set, I’d have discontinued my relationship with the show immediately. As a free person you have the right to make any lawful decision. Nothing can stop you. Julia playing along with an unethical/uncomfortable situation for over a year perpetuates the idea that women in the industry need to accept harassment in exchange for a chance at success.” Magnus argues.
The Russian-born poker player opined that actions taken by both Vertucci and McBride “are harmful to women.” McBride responded to the series of tweets by explaining her reasoning for speaking out against Vertucci.
Magnus had plenty of support in response to her opinion from her followers, much like Airball did from his followers when he tweeted out an opposite viewpoint.