Sammy Farha Dealer Video: Footage Released Oct. 26 Shows a Shove at Houston Social
Updated on October 27, 2026.
The Sammy Farha dealer video is out. Surveillance footage published by PokerNews on Monday, Oct. 26, appears to show Farha, the 2003 WSOP Main Event runner-up, shoving dealer Doug Caillier in the chest area during a cash game at Houston Social Cardroom last week, according to PokerNews. Caillier says he was punched and has filed a police report; no arrest or charge had been reported.
Quick summary
- Where: Houston Social Cardroom in Houston, in a $1/$3/$6 Pot-Limit Omaha game with a $15 button straddle.
- When: Around 3:30 a.m., overnight Oct. 21-22. Reports differ on the exact date.
- The video: It has no audio. According to PokerNews, it shows Farha shoving Caillier in the chest area, then a security guard pushing Farha away.
- The dealer’s account: Caillier says Farha threatened him, punched him in the chest and stomach and tried to slap him.
- Where it stands: Caillier filed a police report. No arrest or charge had been reported, and Farha had not commented publicly.
What does the Sammy Farha dealer video show?
The video shows Farha walking around the table, pointing a finger in Caillier’s face and then shoving him in the chest area with his left arm, according to PokerNews, which obtained the surveillance footage. A floor manager first stepped between the two men, and Farha brushed him off. A security guard then pushed Farha away.
The two met again near the cashier’s cage, exchanged words, and Farha walked away. The footage cuts away briefly during that part. PokerNews wrote that the video “appears to show a shove rather than a punch.”
The dispute started over a pot Farha was not playing. Two players went all in on the flop and ran the board twice. After Caillier pushed the pot, Farha reportedly accused him of pulling the losing player’s cards from the muck. The losing player reportedly said his cards had been face up the whole time.
What does the dealer say happened?
Caillier says Farha shouted obscenities, threatened him, tried to slap him and punched him in the chest and stomach. PokerNews and Hoodline both report that Farha threatened to “beat the living f**k” out of the dealer, citing people who were present. Caillier did not fight back, according to those reports.
Caillier was treated for minor injuries at a Houston emergency room and released, according to PokerNews and Hoodline. The claims against Farha remain allegations and have not been proven. In a statement posted on Facebook and quoted by PokerNews, he wrote: “I did not incite the situation or approach this individual.” He added: “I have a police report and the required medical evaluation.”
Caillier dealt at the WSOP in the Binion’s Horseshoe era and has worked at other rooms, including Aria in Las Vegas, according to PokerNews. He has been suspended from Houston Social, PokerNews reported, and he says he is now out of work.
Was Sammy Farha banned, and has he been charged?
No arrest or charge had been reported as of Oct. 26, and neither PokerNews nor Hoodline published a response from Farha. Hoodline’s report included no statement from the Houston police.
The ban is less clear. PokerNews first reported on Oct. 23 that Farha, 67, had been banned for life from Houston Social, a room in which Poker Hall of Famer Johnny Chan is a minority owner. Its Oct. 26 article says Farha was initially banned but was reportedly seen inside the building the day after the incident.
It is not the first time Farha has been in the news over a dealer. In December 2021, PokerNews reported that he was involved in a physical fight with a dealer at Legends Poker Room, another Houston room; accounts differed on who started it.
What it means for players in Texas and the US
Texas does not license commercial casinos or poker rooms, so live poker in the state runs mostly in private card rooms set up as membership “social clubs.” They charge membership and seat fees instead of a rake, a model whose legality is still disputed in Texas. Police raided one of those rooms near Houston last week, as we covered in our story on the 101 Poker Club raid in Katy. Our guide to poker in Texas explains the rules.
Texas also has no state-licensed online poker. Players there can sign up at international rooms such as Ignition Poker and ACR Poker, which accept players from Texas. These sites are not licensed by any US state, so state consumer protections don’t apply. Read our guide to online poker in the USA before you deposit. Most US players fund these accounts with crypto; see the poker sites that accept Bitcoin.
If you open an account through the button in our Ignition Poker review and message us on Telegram, we register it under our deal: 40% rakeback, paid monthly. You can compare Ignition with other options in our list of the best online poker sites.
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Frequently asked questions
What happened between Sammy Farha and the dealer?
During a $1/$3/$6 Pot-Limit Omaha game at Houston Social Cardroom, Farha argued with dealer Doug Caillier over a pot he was not playing. Surveillance video published by PokerNews on Oct. 26 shows Farha shoving Caillier in the chest area before a security guard pushed him away.
Did Sammy Farha punch the dealer?
Caillier says Farha punched him in the chest and stomach and tried to slap him. PokerNews says the video, which has no audio and cuts away briefly, appears to show a shove rather than a punch.
Has Sammy Farha been charged?
No arrest or charge had been reported as of Oct. 26. Caillier says he filed a police report after a medical evaluation, and Farha's side of the story has not been published.
Was Sammy Farha banned from Houston Social?
PokerNews first reported a lifetime ban. Its Oct. 26 article says Farha was initially banned but was reportedly seen inside the building the next day.
Sources
- PokerNews: Video shows altercation between Sammy Farha and poker dealer
- PokerNews: Poker legend Sammy Farha allegedly physically attacks dealer in cash game
- Hoodline: Sammy Farha accused of assaulting dealer in Houston
- PokerNews: Sammy Farha reportedly involved in a physical fight at Houston poker room (2021)
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Who writes this
The RakebackPokerWorld team: professional poker affiliates since 2017, more than 20,000 players helped. We test rooms, payments and rakeback before recommending them.
