Ahead of the World Series of Poker (WSOP) Paradise festival, which starts this Friday in the Bahamas, the WSOP has released a series of significant updates to its official rules.
These updates include several changes which appear to have been put in place in response to the controversies at the WSOP Main Event final table in the summer which dominated the post-WSOP conversation, becoming the most talked-about story of the year.
‘Laptop-Gate’ inspires rules adjustment
Back in July, eventual Main Event champion Jonathan Tamayo was supported on the rail by several high-profile pros - including Dominik Nitsche and former WSOP Main Event winner Joe McKeehen - who brought a laptop with them to watch on from the sidelines. Tamayo openly spoke and conferred with them between hands, drawing criticism for what was perceived to be live coaching at best, and the potential use of solvers at worst.
The extent to which Tamayo benefitted from this - whether it was through checking his lines after the fact, seeing his opponent’s hands from earlier via the delayed live stream, or other means - is not something easily measured, though the champion did go on record after his win, saying, “If Joe and Dom weren’t here, I likely do not win this tournament.”
Opinion on the actions of ‘Team Tamayo’ was split within the poker community, though most appeared to agree it was a bad look for poker when a group of experienced pros sought technological assistance to defeat an amateur opponent.
Following Tamayo’s $10M win, it was believed that some relevant updates to WSOP rules would be incoming. Daniel Negreanu, a major ambassador for the WSOP’s new owner GGPoker, spoke to PokerOrg on the subject back in August, saying the incident “should spawn a rule that's clear and that gets that sh*t out of the poker room. It's bad.” PokerStars, organizers of the European Poker Tour, then took steps to amend EPT rules to ban the use of solvers and other software within the tournament area.
Now, with WSOP Paradise just a few days’ away, the WSOP has followed suit with a number of changes aimed at addressing this and other potential issues.
‘Electronic Assistance and Coaching’ addressed directly
The new WSOP rulebook includes a section dealing specifically with electronic assistance and coaching, with potential penalties for infringement involving disqualification from the event.
Rule 63b reads:
Electronic Assistance and Coaching: Players and spectators are not allowed to use charts, apps, or any other form of electronic assistance in the tournament room. Failure to adhere to this policy will result in a penalty up to disqualification for the player and removal from the tournament room for the spectator. Spectators are also prohibited from providing live assistance or coaching. Failure to adhere to this rule will result in a penalty for the player and removal from the rail for the spectator. Non-players on the rail must adhere to the **WSOP Terms & Conditions, including no viewing of live streams on an electronic device.
Furthermore, the use of electronic devices - both at the tables and on the rail - will be banned when any WSOP event reaches its final three tables. This also includes viewing the delayed live-stream, as described in Rule 63c:
Device Removal During Streaming Events: When a tournament reaches three (3) tables, all players’ electronic devices will be removed. Players will only be allowed to have their devices back during player breaks or after elimination. No devices will be allowed to be used on the tournament rail during these late stages of streamed events and no coaching from the rail will be allowed this includes viewing of the tournament stream and usage of any electronic assistance. Failure to adhere to this rule will result in a penalty for the player and removal from the rail for the spectator.
Devices off the table
Some additional rules around the use of electronic devices include:
- No electronic devices may be placed on the table, or rail of the table
- All devices capable of ‘ringing’ must be silenced during play
- Players may only use devices to text/email if their cards are mucked
- No player may use a device to contact a player at their table
- Any phone conversations during play must be taken at least one table length away from the player’s table
- Spectators on the rail may not use devices to view the delayed stream or use electronic assistance
The ban on devices at the table was a move we expected to see, given it was a topic we previously discussed with Matt Savage of the Poker Tournament Directors Association (TDA).
Another notable rule introduction involves the bubble, with any players leaving their seats at the time unable to observe other tables.
What might have been?
Following the Main Event controversy in July, the comeback from Tamayo’s rail was centered around the ambiguity in the rules and the fact no one objected at the time. With more concrete rules now in place, it’s hard to see their actions being repeated, but it does bring to mind an interesting possibility: could a future WSOP Main Event be decided by a player ejection?
Had these rules been implemented sooner, Jordan Griff might have been the name etched in the history books - possibly with an asterisk next to it.
What do you think of the changes? Let us know in the comments below.
