The new possession group of the World Series of Poker model is perhaps making some massive adjustments to who can play occasions this summer season.
Last August, Caesars Entertainment introduced it was promoting the WSOP to NSUS Group for $500 million. NSUS owns and operates the net poker website GGPoker.
If what one in every of GGPoker’s ambassadors stated is true, then these discovered responsible of dishonest whereas enjoying on GGPoker won’t be allowed to take part in WSOP occasions.
Last Thursday, GGPoker tweeted that it blocked 31 accounts for violating their phrases of service. High-stakes event common Patrick Leonard quote tweeted the GGPoker announcement asking if the gamers who’re related to these accounts won’t be allowed to play in WSOP stay occasions.
GGPoker’s official account didn’t reply to the inquiry. However, Fedor Holz, a fellow high-stakes professional and ambassador for the positioning, stated they’d be.
That’s the plan and that’s what is going to occur
— Fedor Holz (@CrownUpGuy) March 1, 2025
Card Player reached out to WSOP officers for remark and are awaiting response.
Blocked Accounts Were Likely Using Real-Time Assistance
GGPoker determined to ban the accounts after consultating with GTO Wizard, an organization that operates a well-liked poker solver.
As solvers turned extra prevalent in poker, and the software program started spitting out info at a extra speedy tempo, many within the poker neighborhood believed there was a giant danger to gamers utilizing it throughout on-line play. This is extra generally often known as utilizing real-time help.
In response, GTO Wizard launched its honest play examine in September 2023. This instrument allowed gamers to examine whether or not specific spots had been seemed up within the timeframe they suspected somebody of dishonest.
Thus, it is smart that these accounts had been utilizing real-time help, and never different types of dishonest like multi-accounting or ghosting.
Real-time help first got here to the forefront as a distinguished on-line poker downside in September 2020 when German participant Fedor Kruse was accused of utilizing it.
According to the allegations from his former roomates, Kruse was utilizing two separate computer systems whereas enjoying on-line. One for the poker website and the opposite to run solvers whereas he was enjoying.
Since then, the variety of real-time help accusations have solely elevated.
In January, sponsored professional Jose ‘Nacho’ Barbero was accused of utilizing the software program whereas enjoying. The accusations got here after Barbero posted an Instagram story the place the software program may very well be seen within the background of his on-line play.
Will WSOP Ban Other Poker Cheats?
If the WSOP bans these accounts, it might undoubtedly set a precedent that dishonest on-line, or at the very least on GGPoker, would have real-life ramifications.
But does this transfer imply the WSOP will take motion towards different gamers who had been discovered to be dishonest?
One of the extra infamous current poker cheats is 2021 Card Player Player of the Year Ali Imsirovic.
In 2022, the Bosnian professional was referred to as out for multi-accounting, ghosting and the usage of real-time help. High-stakes regulars Jake Schindler and Bryn Kenney had been additionally named within the accusations.
In June 2023, Imsirovic launched a video the place he admitted to multi-accounting and stated GGPoker seized $320,000 from his account.
Since then, Imisirovic’s stay event appearances have been sparse. But just some weeks in the past, he registered for a $1,500 no-limit maintain’em event at Champions Club in Houston.
Despite having the required funds, Champions Club employees refunded his cash, eliminated him from the event and banned him from the poker site.
The PokerGO Tour made the identical determination about Imsirovic in 2022, banning him from their occasions. PGT employees made the choice to ban Schindler as properly.
During earlier summers, the duo have taken seats in WSOP occasions. Imsirovic had two cashes in the course of the 2024 sequence. Schindler didn’t have any recorded WSOP cashes final 12 months, however received the $50,000 no-limit maintain’em excessive curler in 2022 and completed third within the $50,000 no-limit maintain’em excessive curler in 2023.
If GGPoker follows via and refuses to let the not too long ago banned accounts play in WSOP occasions, it’s very doubtless Imsirovic and Schindler received’t be allowed on the Horseshoe Las Vegas this summer season both.
Moreover, it might mark a seismic shift in poker coverage, creating critical ramifications for dangerous actors.
