The ongoing scandal involving Nick Vertucci, co-creator of the popular poker live stream Hustler Casino Live, continues to unfold, with the latest twist coming from Veronica Brill. Once Vertucci’s podcast co-host, Brill now reveals her deep regret over trusting him, calling him “a manipulative liar.”
The Allegations Against Nick Vertucci
The controversy erupted last weekend when Julia McBride accused Vertucci of harassment, a claim that has since been backed by other women in the poker community who shared similar experiences. Since then, the poker world has been waiting for Brill’s response, given her close association with Vertucci on The Nick Vertucci Show podcast.
Brill, who first rose to prominence for exposing the infamous Mike Postle cheating scandal in 2019, initially remained silent, sparking curiosity about her stance. In an interview with Poker.org, she broke her silence, explaining that a simple tweet wouldn’t suffice to address the complex situation.
Brill’s Involvement with Vertucci and Hustler Casino Live
In the interview with Craig Tapscott, Brill detailed her introduction to poker broadcasting, meeting Ryan Feldman and Nick Vertucci, co-founders of Hustler Poker Live. While working on Poker After Dark, Brill was approached by Feldman, who was planning to launch his own live stream. Later, she met Vertucci while working on Live at the Bike, and soon after, she was invited to become a regular guest on Vertucci’s podcast.
Brill often stayed at the Vertucci family’s house while recording podcast episodes and hosting sessions of the Million Dollar Cash Game. It was during one such visit that she discovered McBride’s initial tweet accusing Vertucci of misconduct.
Brill’s Reaction to the Allegations
After confronting Vertucci about the accusations, Brill recounts that he downplayed the situation, stating that his conversations with McBride were nothing unusual. She admits to initially believing him, chalking it up to “harmless banter between friends.” However, as more women came forward with similar stories, Brill quickly realized the gravity of the situation.
“I’m deeply ashamed for giving him the benefit of the doubt,” Brill admitted. “I’m incredibly angry at him for lying to me repeatedly.”
Distancing Herself from Vertucci
Brill also shared that she had overlooked Vertucci’s questionable behavior because she wanted to maintain her relevance in the poker world. “From the very beginning, I noticed his creepy demeanor, but I selfishly ignored it because I wanted to stay connected to the show,” she explained.
As more details surfaced, Brill confronted Vertucci again, but he continued to deny the accusations. She shared screenshots of some of their conversations, though sensitive names were redacted.
Vertucci’s Mafia-Like Leadership
Toward the end of the interview, Brill revealed that Vertucci ran Hustler Casino Live like a mafia boss, demanding loyalty from players. If he discovered a player was competing at another casino, they were banned from his show.
Looking ahead, Brill sees no easy path for Vertucci to remain involved with the program. “He’s incapable of being a silent partner because he always needs to be the center of attention,” she said. For Hustler Casino Live to survive, either Vertucci must step aside, or Ryan Feldman needs to buy out his share of the business to remove him entirely.
