Poker legend Sammy Farha accused of assaulting dealer

Sammy Farha, known for his appearances on television poker shows in the 2000s, is alleged to have physically assaulted a dealer at a card room in Texas. The incident took place at around 3:30 a.m. on Thursday at the Houston Social Cardroom. PokerNews confirmed through conversations with multiple sources present at the event that a police report had been filed.

Dealer Doug Caillier was taken to an emergency room in Houston with minor injuries and was discharged after treatment. Caillier is a well-known figure who worked at the World Series of Poker (WSOP) during the Binion's era in the 1990s and has worked at many clubs across the United States, including large rooms in Las Vegas.

According to reports, the dispute began when a player allegedly took cards from the discard pile. Farha questioned the dealer about this, then made harsh remarks. Although security staff came to the table, Farha reportedly approached the dealer, punched him in the chest and finally tried to slap him in the face. Caillier is said not to have retaliated.

Farha has been banned for life from Houston Social. It is not known whether Johnny Chan, one of the club's co-owners, was affected by the incident. Farha's involvement in a physical altercation at Legends Poker Room in 2022 has also been noted. The 67-year-old player has live tournament earnings of $3 million and most recently took part in the Senior Super Seniors event at the 2025 WSOP.