A new book by gambling author Ben Mezrich dubbed "Straight Flush" and talking on the founders of Absolute Poker, has triggered a lot of publicity in the UK mainstream press.
Several reviews have been written on the book, with pictures of Absolute Poker founders Brent Beckley, his step-brother Scott Tom, Garin Gustafson, Pete Barovich, Shane Blackford and Oscar Hilt Tatum IV published, along with details of how they raised funds and enjoyed the good life before the crash.
One of the reviews is that of The Daily Mail, which goes in details, providing images on the rise and fall of one of online poker's biggest and most controversial companies.
In its review, the newspaper said: "Now, a new book traces the chaotic fortunes of the six-fraternity brothers from the University of Montana who set up Absolute Poker. “Straight Flush” chronicles how a weekly poker game in the backroom of a bar in Missoula, Montana was parlayed into one of the biggest online Poker sites in the world.”
The reviews put a particular stress on the role of stepbrothers Scott Tom and Brent Beckley who were the most forceful characters, and who were pushing the project on.
In 2005 and 2006 all was good for the company, which allowed its founders to pursue luxurious lifestyle – that is, until 2011 when on Black Friday federal officials shattered the frat boys' dream, and raised indictments against Beckley and Tom.
Finally, the book is said to offer an update on the founders' life since Black Friday – apparently, Pete Barovich is self-employed and settled in Phoenix, Arizona with his wife and children; Beckley is serving a 14-month sentence in a federal jail in Denver, Colorado, while Tom remains "at large" and is believed to be in Antigua.
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