The World Series of Poker updated its tournament rules in time for its series in the Bahamas to prevent players and their observing friends from using any “form of electronic assistance in the tournament room.” The changes also bans coaching during the events.
The rule-changes come in time for the WSOP Paradise series and its 13 live events that starts Dec. 6. The full text of the rule reads:
“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.”
Changes stem from 2024 Main Event
The issue of using laptops and devices on the rail came to a head at the WSOP Main Event this year as the poker world watched as eventual champ Jonathan Tamayo went over to his rail between hands at the final table for what he described as “advice.”
It didn’t help that members of his rail, which included 2015 WSOP Main Event champ — and Tamayo’s close friend and occasional roommate, Joe McKeehen — utilized a laptop computer to watch the delayed live-stream, and possibly access GTO charts (Note: This was never proven, and tournament officials allowed it to continue throughout the final table).
If the new rules were in place this past July, tournament officials would have to option to remove Tamayo’s rail from the tournament area and give the player an unspecified penalty which could be as harsh as kicking him out of the Main Event.
The optics of watching the eventual champ consulting a group of players who were using a laptop in the tournament area didn’t sit well for many of poker’s biggest stars, as well as casual fans.
As poker superstar Daniel Negreanu noted, the use of laptops in tournament areas has been going on for quite some time in order to watch the delayed live-stream and pass notes onto the players, but the growing availability of GTO charts tools changes things.
“What’s new now that didn’t exist for the last decade is the tools available today,” he said on a Doug Polk’s podcast. “I think it’s probably a good thing this happened on the biggest stage because now it’s a conversation we all have to have and ask, is this the direction we’re going in or are we going to do something to fix it?”
Other changes
WSOP officials added some other rules changes to the book that governs WSOP Paradise.
Once the tournament gets down to three tables, all electronic devices used by players — including phones, headphones, and devices used to listen to music — is banned.
Also, players are no longer allowed to have their devices sitting on the table or rail at any time during the tourney.
A change to hand-for-hand play might ruffle some feathers. The new rule encourages players to stay in their seats during this portion of the event, preventing players from scouting other tables. From the rule book: “Participants are encouraged but not required to remain seated during hand-for-hand play.
Participants that choose not to remain seated during hand-for-hand play must leave the Tournament area and are not
allowed to observe action at other tables in the Tournament.”
Players who violate the rules are subject to penalties. Those penalties are not specified and are at the discretion of tournament officials.
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