LAS VEGAS (AP) - A television producer who believes he was cheated out of half of the $12 million pot won by World Series of Poker champ Jamie Gold is disputing Gold's explanation of why the men agreed to share the winnings.

In a petition filed in federal court Friday, Bruce Crispin Leyser contends he and Gold had a binding agreement to share Gold's winnings in the no-limit Texas Hold 'em tournament last summer.

Gold has said he offered Leyser the money because he felt bad that Leyser could not secure a sponsorship for the tournament.

Gold has since retracted the offer and is seeking to keep the entire jackpot.

Leyser has "shown his true colors by unnecessarily filing suit and attempting to discredit Gold's reputation in the media," Gold's lawyer argument in court paper filed last month.

But Leyser argues the agreement was a business arrangement, not a good will gesture.

Leyser contends that Bodog.com, an online gaming site, offered to sponsor Gold in the $10,000 buy-in event only if he could convince celebrities to wear their garb at the tournament.

He says Gold promised to share the pot if Leyser could arrange for celebrities to wear Bodog gear at the main poker event held at the Rio casino hotel, according to court papers filed on Leyser's behalf.

Leyser persuaded actor Matthew Lillard, who played Shaggy in Scooby-Doo movies, and Dax Shepard, who appeared on MTV's show "Punk'd," to wear Bodog.com apparel.

Leyser's attorney, Richard Schonfeld, scoffed at the idea of Gold offering the money to his client because he felt bad for Leyser.

Schonfeld said the court would have to believe Gold's contention that on the final day of the tournament, he contacted Leyser "to confirm his 'promise' to Crispin that he would receive half the defendant's winnings."

"Clearly, the uncontested evidence in this case demonstrates that the reason Jamie Gold left Crispin Leyser the telephone message on Aug. 11, 2006, was because Crispin Leyser secured celebrities for Bodog who in exchange gave Jamie Gold the seat in the tournament," Schonfeld wrote.

U.S. District Judge Roger Hunt is scheduled to consider the dispute at 8:30 a.m. Thursday.

Gold has collected his half of the winnings, and the Rio is holding the remaining amount. Gold initially said he wanted to learn about his tax options before doling out any money to Leyser. When Leyser filed the lawsuit to collect his share, Gold responded by saying he would fight to keep it all.