The World Series of Poker (WSOP) has posted an ambitious overhaul of its rules in which it wants to go after players who supposedly use electronic assistance and coaching.
WSOP Changes Rules to Safeguard Integrity
Rule 63b specifically addresses this practice, capitalizing on it as a major trend that WSOP has been forced to move against. The new rules specifically name “Electronic Assistance and Coaching” and it tightens the competitive scene, with players and spectators not allowed to use “charts, apps or any other form of electronic assistance in the tournament room.”
The rules change mostly focuses on the in-person events, which is understandable, since monitoring and policing the online scene would be next to impossible. The full rule continues:
“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.”
The rule change can be traced back to this summer’s WSOP Main Event which saw Jonathan Tamayo with the $10 million top prize. Allegations of dishonesty stemmed from the fact that Tamayo’s coaches, Joe McKeehen and Dominick Nitsche had electronic devices with them.
It didn’t help later when people saw McKeehen and Tamayo hug in celebration, and an AirPod dropped out of one man’s ear. It was McKeehen AirPod all along, but some onlookers were quick to jump to conclusions, accusing Tamayo of having won dishonestly. From that point on, social media amplified the misinformation.
The WSOP dismissed the idea altogether and sided with the winner. Tamayo’s coaches and advisors did not use software on their electronic devices to help Tamayo win, something that has been upheld by the organization.
More for the Sake of PR Than Integrity
However, the controversy was enough to prompt WSOP into action and set new rules that will block future allegations, even if they would inevitably make the sidelines a little duller. To reflect that, once a tournament hits three tables, all players’ electronic devices will be removed, and players may only have them back during breaks or after eliminations.
“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,” the additional rule states.
Regardless of what caused the rules change, WSOP will now be stricter about how it runs tournaments, safeguarding the integrity of the competition, although acknowledging that it may be passing slightly more intrusive rules on participants.
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