Scott Ball Sues Phil Nagy and ACR Poker for $30 Million

The Allegations

The bulk of the dispute centers on Ball’s work through his talent agency, which managed influencer partnerships for ACR Poker. According to the lawsuit, End Game Talent signed a $29.7 million agreement with ACR, outlined in a series of Insertion Orders (IOs). The agreement outlined a nine-month payment plan between ACR Poker and End Game Talent, with $3.3 million installments set to begin in June 2023.

Ball claims the payments stopped after only $3.3 million — split into three Bitcoin transactions — was received in June 2023. He alleges that ACR “ghosted” him shortly afterward, providing vague excuses about financial issues. Messages from ACR representatives, cited in the lawsuit, claimed the company was “low on BTC” and unable to fulfill its obligations. Ball says repeated attempts to resolve the issue went unanswered.

Defamation Claims

This lawsuit doesn’t just focus on unpaid invoices — it also delves into public statements made by Phil Nagy that Ball says crossed the line. During an August appearance on Matt Berkey’s OnlyFriends podcast, Nagy claimed that Ball and his agency dropped the ball on their contractual obligations and failed to pay influencers. Ball’s lawsuit argues that these statements weren’t just inaccurate — they were intentionally harmful to his reputation.

The complaint highlights several quotes from Nagy’s podcast appearance, including remarks that suggested Ball’s agency mismanaged funds. According to Ball, these public comments created a false narrative that blamed him for ACR’s own failures. “Of all the things I’ve been dragged for, this one feels like gross negligence on End Game’s part,” Nagy reportedly said. Ball’s legal team points out that this statement implied incompetence on his part, even though he claims to have fulfilled all his contractual obligations.

The tension between the two escalated in private messages after the podcast. When Ball confronted Nagy about the public comments, Nagy allegedly doubled down, replying with a blunt “Let’s f***ing go” and daring Ball to sue him. Those messages became part of the legal record, adding fuel to an already heated dispute. After Ball confronted Nagy over his public comments, Nagy reportedly replied with “Let’s f***ing go” and encouraged Ball to sue him, which ultimately led to this legal action.

Unpaid Influencer Campaigns

One of the most contentious issues involves payments to influencers who promoted ACR Poker. Ball’s agency recruited high-profile streamers like Ludwig Ahgren and Alexandra Botez to market the poker site.

While some influencers, including Ahgren, were eventually paid, Ball claims others remain unpaid due to ACR’s failure to honor the contract. Public disputes between Ball and the influencers drew attention to the issue earlier this year, escalating the controversy.

Scott Ball and Connected Lawsuits

This lawsuit isn’t Ball’s only legal battle related to the ACR deal. Loaded, LLC, a Los Angeles-based agency representing some of the influencers, previously secured a default judgment against End Game Talent for $718,331 over unpaid fees. Ball’s complaint ties this judgment directly to ACR’s alleged non-payment, arguing that his inability to pay the influencers stems from ACR’s breach of contract.

With a hearing scheduled for mid-2025, the poker community’s attention remains fixed on the unfolding drama.