This was THE game show scandal of the 80′s. While not a result of the type of rigging seen back during the quiz show scandals of the 1950′s, Larson had managed to memorize the pattern of lights used in the show’s game board to accurately predict exactly when to hit the buzzer for the best outcome.
Ironically, it was right after the film Quiz Show was released to theaters–inspired by the quiz show scandals in the 50′s–that CBS’ producers decided to take a second look at Larson’s winning streak, only to uncover the fraud. It wasn’t the first questionable scheme concocted by Larson, who was also evading the law for previous illegal offenses. In the end, he lost every dirty penny within a span of only two years.
If you run your game board on a pattern, and he’s able to see and memorize the pattern, is that actually cheating?
Well according to casinos, being able to run probability in your head is cheating.
According to the olympics, being born with a trait that gives you an edge in a sport is cheating.
Basically if you are able to do something better than others then you are cheating.
My understanding is counting cards is only “cheating” if you use a computer or something else to assist you in doing it. If you actually do it in your head it’s not actually cheating, but the casino is still free to refuse service to you.
I don’t know what the sports/Olympics thing is referencing.
The OP is incredibly misleading, holy crap. Scheme? Fraud? Dirty Money?!
The guy was shady as heck before, and after, appearing on the show, yes.
But his actual appearance and time on the contest was reviewed and judged to be 100% valid and fair. He never broke any rules, he wasn’t a cheater, and CBS paid his winnings, in full, as agreed in the terms of their game show rules.
They were embarrassed by the incident, and immediately set about reprogramming their board, sure. But they acknowledged that his winning was purely skill based and legitimate.
The fact that he managed to lose the money in “get rich quick” schemes after the fact is pretty much unrelated to the fact that he legitimately beat the game this one time, in a way that was acknowledged as fair (though, again, embarrassing and unexpected) by everyone involved.